Sub-national transport body, Midlands Connect, is moving to a new mayoral and leader-led model in April next year, with regional mayors taking on the positions of chair and vice-chair.
Following an independent review, West Midlands mayor Richard Parker will become chair of the Midlands Connect Strategic Board, with East Midlands mayor Claire Ward taking on the position of vice-chair.
The regional transport body, which helps advise local authorities and select priority scheme lists for government investment, has been run by chief executive Maria Machancoses and director of corporate services Rachel Martin, alongside a layered system of boards and groups.
The new model is designed to focus Midlands Connect on strengthening the collaboration that it has fostered across the Midlands for the past decade with the support of the Department for Transport (DfT).
Mayor Parker said: ‘Mayors and local leaders will be firmly in the driving seat. By working together, we're securing investment, creating opportunities, and making regional collaboration deliver real results for our towns and cities.'
The partnership is comprised of the West Midlands Combined Authority, East Midlands Combined County Authority, Leicestershire County Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Leicester City Council, Rutland County Council, Worcestershire County Council, Warwickshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Shropshire Council and Herefordshire Council.
It will look to ‘provide a strong collective voice' to both national partners and Government and to identify and strategic transport priorities, technical expertise, support investment and tackle ‘major cross-boundary challenges'.
Efforts have already begun ahead of the 2027 transition, with local leaders working to shape future priorities and new collaboration arrangements.
Maria Machancoses, chief executive of Midlands Connect, commented: ‘For more than a decade, our Mayors, leaders and partners have built a stronger voice for the Midlands and a credible case for investment. This next chapter builds on that foundation, with Mayors and Leaders at the centre.'
