As we head towards the local elections this Thursday (02 May) voters in the region will elect representatives to various local government bodies, including the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) who is the region’s directly elected leader.
The WMCA is responsible for strategic decision-making to promote economic growth, improve infrastructure, and address social issues, and coordination of key issues such as transportation, economic development through the attraction of public and private investment, support to local businesses, training and apprenticeships, and housing.
The candidates for West Midlands mayor are Akhmed Yakoob (Independent), Andy Street CBE (Conservative Party), Elaine Williams (Reform UK), Richard Parker (Labour Party), Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Green Party), and Sunny Virk (Liberal Democrats).
For the first time, election of the West Midlands Mayor will take place using the ‘First Past the Post’ system, meaning that the candidate with the highest number of votes wins regardless of whether they have an outright majority.
Our members, Centre for the New Midlands held a hustings earlier in April focussed on housing, communities and regeneration. A helpful summary produced by Anna Cooper, Editor of the West Midlands, The Business Desk.com covers the key points discussed including retrofit programmes, social housing, public transport.
The manifesto’s of the mayoral candidates set out their vision, policies, and priorities with many common themes and it is reassuring to see the focus on sustainable travel, energy efficient homes, and targeted business support for the low carbon sector.
In the BBC programme ‘A Mayor for the West Midlands’ broadcast on 25 April 2024, five of the candidates faced questions from the audience on key issues in the region which we have summarised below, along with some key points from their manifestos. For full analysis of each candidate’s priorities, please see their individual manifestos available through the links above.
Housing
When discussing housing, all five focussed on the need to address housing affordability, reduce homelessness, and promote sustainable urban development.
Siobhan Harper-Nunes highlighted that Government programmes to support housing retrofit are often poorly advertised and hard to access. Siobhan showcased the Retrofit Balsall Heath project, where a collaborative partnership between 23 different local organisations and faith groups has led to a successful community-led home insulation and retrofit programme. You can find out more at their Retrofit Action Day on 18 May 2024.
Andy Street shared his hopes to work with a greater number of SMEs on house building activity and his manifesto sets a target to retrofit over 50,000 homes with energy saving measures by 2028. He will convene a major Mayoral Summit to develop an environmental plan for the commercial property sector in the region, examining issues such as the retrofit of commercial buildings and embedded carbon.
Sunny Virk stated his ambition to create citizen assemblies to inform mayoral decisions and for key workers have first priority for affordable homes.
Elaine Williams, alongside several of the candidates, confirmed her preference to use brownfield sites for new social housing with focus on new technologies to address energy efficiency.
Business support
When asked about their approach to business support, all five candidates spoke of the need to reform business rates.
Richard Parker spoke of a new modern industrial strategy with focus on advanced manufacturing, life sciences, green technology and digital technology. Richard will work with the West Midlands Growth Company to support entrepreneurs and small businesses and would like to see activities from successful Business Improvement Districts across the region built upon. His manifesto sets out his pledge to guarantee a high-quality apprenticeship to every young person who wants one. It also mentions the establishment of several task forces to bring together our ingenuity to tackle key challenges and to offer new ideas and focus on growth, including green growth and a fair transition.
Akhmed Yakoob’s manifesto makes clear his focus on supporting SMEs and particularly those in the green energy and advanced manufacturing sectors. Uniquely, he will use his links with the business sector in the middle-east and far east to bring this to fruition.
Siobhan Harper-Nunes echoed the need for support to small businesses and start-ups, and stressed the need to invest in communities with the creation of a fund for small businesses in areas of biggest deprivation. Her focus is on the greener and cleaner jobs for the future and her manifesto details that she will undertake analysis of skills gaps and set up a SME workspace programme which will focus on clean manufacturing, providing affordable workspace in suitable locations.
Elaine Williams focussed on the need to make our high streets accessible via a range of transport modes in order to drive our spending with small, local businesses.
Sunny Virk picked up on the point that our ability to spend depends on a thriving economy which is dependent on the right type of apprenticeships. He also spoke of his plans to reduce energy costs for businesses through caps on energy companies.
Andy Street highlighted the creation of Business Growth West Midlands as one place for businesses in the region to go for advice and support.
Transportation
All five of the candidates spoke of their support for better public transport covering trains, trams and businesses, and of the need to support active travel options like cycling and walking.
Andy Street highlighted the new Camp Hill railway line in South Birmingham which, after significant delays, is due to open later in 2024 with new stations in Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley. He confirmed that he will retain the Cycling and Walking Commissioner role and that he will increase spend on cycling to £20 per person. HIs manifesto sets out plans to achieve a fully zero emission West Midlands bus fleet by 2030.
Sunny Virk stressed the need for integrated payment options allowing for easier travel across all different modes.
Siobhan Harper-Nunes highlighted that, where cities have implemented free transport systems, these show returns on investment in terms of economy, heath and wellbeing, and her hopes for a feasibility study to look into free public transport options across the region. She would like to see buses taken back into public control. Her view is that priority should be given to those that are retired, to young people, and to those looking for work. Siobhan would like to see 25% of the public sector transport budget allocated to the development of cycling and walking routes to create viable alternatives to car use.
Richard Parker spoke of his support for active travel and safe cycling and walking routes, and the essential role of our bus network in supporting people to access work. He would also like to see buses brought back into public control and his manifesto confirms that this is an immediate priority.
Elaine Williams spoke of the total rethink required in order for public transport to become efficient, cost effective and safer. Her manifesto sets out her plans to reverse traffic schemes such as Low Traffic Neighbourhood areas.
Akhmed Yakoob also states that he will abolish Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and the Clean Air Zone charges that he feels target low income households.
When asked about accessibility of transport options to those with disabilities, Sunny Virk stated that he would issue fines to operators not providing assistance to those in need, and for providing ‘ghost’ buses (i.e. those with low occupancy).
Climate change adaptation and resilience
This was not discussed in the BBC documentary.
Richard Parker’s manifesto states that he will work with councils and environmental charities to set up a West Midlands Flood Resilience Taskforce to protect our homes and businesses from flooding.
Siobhan Harper-Nunes manifesto states that she will champion and seek funding for natural solutions to mitigate flood risk across the region.
Your vote counts
The outcomes of the local elections will influence policies and priorities at local, regional and national levels, and will impacting numerous aspects of daily life for residents in the West Midlands.
Whatever the outcome, SWM will continue to provide independent advice and support to the mayor and the WMCA to help the West Midlands become more sustainable, fairer and greener for everyone.
