Member Article

Economic growth is the key to any devolution decision

Businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire have been urged to think carefully about what outcomes they want from devolved powers from central Government before nailing their colours to any geographical mast.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce organised a ‘Big Business Debate’ at the Ricoh Arena to discuss the new ‘devolved’ landscape that is being pushed by Westminster.

The event was hosted by BBC Political Editor for the Midlands Patrick Burns and included Chamber chief executive Louise Bennett, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership chairman Jonathan Browning, MP Mark Pawsey and businessman Larry Coltman on the panel.

More than 100 business people from across Coventry and Warwickshire attended with representation from local authorities around the region.

Burns set the background of the debate after Bennett opened the event by saying whatever the outcome, business should always have a voice.

She said: “There are lots of questions and we must ask if Coventry and Warwickshire is strong enough to be one of the economic powerhouses being talked about by central Government?

“The statistics suggest that, as a region, we don’t punch our weight when it comes to leveraging in funding but does that mean we join other areas? Does it mean we make a knee-jerk decision before the next election?

“The majority of businesses will say that they want more decisions made locally but we have to work out who will be making the decisions and where business will have a voice – because that will be vital.

“The strategy for what this area needs to grow must be set out before the structure that delivers it is decided but we want to take both Coventry and Warwickshire with us.

“What are the enablers that will get the economy moving? For example, skills, infrastructure and transport – we need to know the best way to draw down investment into these areas.”

Points from the floor centred round a range of issues from speed of decision-making, the equality of any regional partnerships and the wider transport network.

A show of hands indicated, anecdotally, that businesses in the area would be willing to work within a larger ‘powerhouse’ combined authority if it helped to meet wider economic needs.

Pawsey said: “These are difficult decisions but Combined Authorities across the country have got to come together and put a case to Government on how they intend to succeed. This isn’t party political as there is agreement on this from all the main parties.

“Some relationships between authorities may not yet be in place but they will have to be bullet proof before the Government is willing to devolve powers and the process really must begin now. It’s important to take the emotion out of it and see that the aim of the game is growth for this region.”

Coltman added: “There is a lot of talk about Greater Manchester but they already had a regional identity before this debate and that is a hurdle we must get over if Combined Authorities are to work here – or elsewhere in the country.

“What we really need to know is what money will we get for this area and what will we spend it on? The old West Midlands Council got a lot of bad press but it actually did a lot of good around Birmingham Airport and other areas of infrastructure.

“There is a lot to think about because not only is there the West Midlands to consider – Coventry and Warwickshire is in the perfect place to connect to the South East.”

Browning emphasised the message that the debate should not distract from delivering on-going projects.

He said: “There are too many open questions and not enough specifics on the alternatives, so it is impossible for business to make any firm choices until that becomes clearer.

“However, it is also key that business makes its views known, so that an educated and representative choice can be made at the right time.

“This is clearly a major move but we must not fall into the trap of debating the hypothetical future possibilities for months and years at the expense of our current priorities.

“Uncertainly is the enemy of investment, so this debate must not be allowed to get in the way of continued growth.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .