29.01.16
Midlands Connect to explore formal powers with Whitehall
Midlands Connect, the devolved partnership created to boost rail connectivity across the region, is keen to sit down with Whitehall to explore options for making it a statutory body following the government’s royal assent of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act yesterday.
The group, first announced in October along with a £5m government fund to take the strategy forward, said the Act enables sub-national transport bodies to be formally set up across the country.
If moved onto statutory footing, Midlands Connect – a joint effort by LEPs, councils and national transport agencies – could gain a raft of formal and strengthened powers to develop a region-wide rail strategy.
The group is in the process of identifying rail, road and other transport improvements needed to unlock regional growth, as well as to maximise the jobs and infrastructure benefits embedded in HS2.
Its board member and leader of Derbyshire County Council, Cllr Anne Western, said: “The passing of this legislation gives the Midlands an opportunity to have greater control and influence over investment and should be warmly welcomed.
“Our existing Midlands Connect partnership is already a strong one and is making great progress in drawing up the transport strategy needed to release untapped growth across our region.
“Having a sub-national transport body could bring the relevant parties together on a formal footing to develop that strategy, making it even more co-ordinated and effective.”
The partnership argued that a formal strategy is quickly needed to alleviate “constraints” on the region’s rail and road networks currently making Midlands businesses “less competitive”.
Transport minister Andrew Jones said: “This is a major step forward for devolution, giving local people a say in transport for their area.
“The potential to give Midlands Connect statutory status will ensure it has impact, influence, and the certainty to plan and drive forward its transport strategy, which is a vital part of the Midlands Engine for Growth.”
The Act, which gained royal assent yesterday afternoon, also opened up similar possibilities for sub-national body Transport for the North, which expects to receive statutory status by 2017.
Already endorsed by the government through a £50m fund promised over this Parliament, the body now expects to move its partnership “to a new level” in order to speak with one voice for the whole of the north.