Council leader welcomes Combined Authority board to Rugby

The board had previously agreed to meet at venues across the West Midlands and chose Rugby for their first board meeting to be held “on the road”.

The board meeting, which was open to the public, was held in the council chamber at Rugby Town Hall on Friday (30 September) at 11 am. It was preceded and followed by officer meetings of the combined authority.

Cllr Stokes said: “When councillors agreed that it was in the best interests of Rugby that we joined the Combined Authority they tasked me with bringing the board to the borough and raising issues facing residents and businesses.

"I’m pleased that the board accepted our invitation to visit the borough for themselves, and that the board chose to visit Rugby before any other town or borough in the West Midlands.

“I was able to take the opportunity to discuss ways that the Combined Authority could boost future investment in our economy, while also making sure they were aware of important developments such as the opening of the World Rugby Hall of Fame later this year.

“Next year the Combined Authority will start negotiations with the government over new powers that could be devolved, and it is important that the board is aware of our priorities before those negotiations start.”

Cllr Bob Sleigh, chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “I am delighted the WMCA board met in Rugby.

“The combined authority is a partnership with a wide range of members and it is important that people across the West Midlands can see it in action working to create jobs, enhance skills, develop prosperity and drive economic growth.”

Rugby Borough Council resolved to join the West Midlands Combined Authority as a non-constituent member earlier this year, and currently has observer status while its application is pending. Non-constituent members have speaking and voting rights and are able to influence the work of the combined authority, but do not have to give powers to an elected Mayor and do not have to contribute towards their costs.

The West Midlands Combined Authority is a group of councils in the West Midlands working together to move decision-making powers and investment from the government to the region. Current priorities for the authority are skills, housing and transport.