To set out the case for the Marches LEP becoming a “Non-Constituent” Member of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the potential long term economic growth benefits to the Marches LEP in so doing.

THAT:

a) the Marches LEP applies to become a Non-Constituent Member of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) at a cost of £25k for 2016/17; and

b) the Chair of the Marches LEP, or his nominated substitute, be authorised to represent the LEP at the WMCA board and subgroups as appropriate as a nonconstituent member.

To ensure that the Marches LEP is in the best possible position to continue to secure government funding to support the growth aspirations of the LEP area and to influence regional policy as appropriate.

It should be noted that the three Local Authorities have decided to pursue Non-Constituent Membership of the WMCA rather than submit a Marches Devolution proposal. This is because the Government was unlikely to have progressed our Marches proposal due to it not meeting its Combined Authority and Mayoral governance requirements.