To consider the recommendations of the General Scrutiny Committee on engagement with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and other partnership options to deliver growth and jobs in Herefordshire.

The then General Overview and Scrutiny Committee established a task and finish group on devolution to conduct a review on a) key issues relating to the government’s devolution agenda, b) the pros and cons of engagement with WMCA, and c) other options on partnership working to deliver growth and jobs in Herefordshire. This would encompass Herefordshire Council’s corporate plans, strategic economic strategy and economic master plan.

To ensure that the council is in the best possible position to continue to secure government funding to support the growth aspirations of the county whilst maintaining the flexibility needed to fully explore the implications of greater engagement in a combined authority engagement.

Cabinet is invited to approve the response to the committee’s recommendations.

That:

(a) the proposed responses to the recommendations set out at appendix 2 are approved.

There are no alternative options to responding; it is statutory requirement that the executive respond to recommendations of the scrutiny committee.

It is open to cabinet to agree alternative responses to the recommendations, but in doing so regard must be had to implications, including financial, legal of implementing any such alternative actions.