Tamworth Council votes to join West Midlands authority

The decision to join the combined authority was a unanimous one

Tamworth borough councillors have voted in favour of joining the new West Midlands Combined Authority.

A unanimous decision was made with cross-party support, the authority said.

Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton authorities want more devolved powers from the government.

The authority said it still wants to keep close working relationships with the other councils in Staffordshire.

Steve Claymore, cabinet member for Economy and Education, said: "I am delighted that this has been given cross-party support...while at the same time retaining our distinct Tamworth identity."

Proposals for the combined authority were submitted to government earlier this month.

The government would then carry out its own consultation process from November until January, a spokesman for the combined authorities has said.

Council leaders have previously said the combined authority, which could serve four million people, would help attract hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment.