URL: https://sandwell.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1179

Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: Approval was sought to delegate powers to the Black Country Joint Executive Committee to approve major transport schemes, which would enable the Joint Committee to oversee and approve transport and highways infrastructure schemes across the four Black Country authorities of Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall, and Wolverhampton, to allow for collective decision-making and coordination on major infrastructure investment, support regional connectivity, growth, and efficient governance across the Black Country.   Reason for Decision The four Black Country Councils collaborated extensively on regional transport and infrastructure matters through the Black Country Transport Officers Group and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) frameworks. There was currently no single governance body with delegated authority to take joint executive decisions on transport infrastructure projects of shared significance.   The lack of regional delegation arrangements for transport projects required decisions to be taken by each Executive whose Local Authority was involved in the transport project concerned. Major transport projects by their nature, often covered two or more local authority areas. If a scheme required approval at each key stage by each of the four Black Country Authorities, this would require sixteen separate approvals across four key project stages. Furthermore, the calendars for meetings of the Executive rarely aligned, meaning a potential delay of more than two months while awaiting all Executives to make the necessary resolutions.   Delegating decision making to the formal Joint Committee would streamline approvals, enhance accountability, and ensure consistent decision-making while retaining local democratic oversight.   Alternative Options Considered Option 1: Maintain existing arrangements. This option would not deliver efficient strategic transport decision-making and would limit the effective co-ordination of the delivery of key strategic highways and transport infrastructure schemes within the Black Country. This option was dismissed.   Option 2: Create a non-decision-making joint committee. This option would not deliver efficiencies in strategic transport decision-making and limit the effective co-ordination of the delivery of key strategic highways and transport infrastructure schemes within the Black Country. This option was dismissed.   Resolved:- (1)           that delegated authority is given to the Black Country Joint Executive Committee to allow for approval and delivery of transport and highways infrastructure schemes that fall within the Council’s executive functions and are identified as strategic Black Country infrastructure priorities;   (2)           that approval is given to amended the Terms of Reference for the Black Country Joint Executive Committee set out at Appendix 1;   (3)           that delegated authority is given to the Monitoring Officer and Service Director of Governance to make any necessary and consequential changes to Part 2.3: Responsibilities for Functions in the Constitution and to finalise these in consultation with the other Black Country authorities for inclusion within the Constitutions of each authority;   (4)           that approval is given so that existing scrutiny arrangements for decisions of the Black Country Joint Executive Committee be retained and be undertaken by each Council’s relevant Scrutiny Committee/Board;   (5)           that delegated authority is given to the Monitoring Officer and Service Director of Governance to make any consequential constitutional or procedural amendments required to give effect to these arrangements.    

Date of Decision: February 4, 2026