Black Country Executive Joint Committee
The Black Country Executive Joint Committee (BCJC) comprises of the Council Leaders of the four Black Country Councils of:
- Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
- Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
- City of Wolverhampton Council
The Black Country is home to over 1.2 million people and 446,000 jobs, generating £22.3bn Gross Value Added (GVA) per annum.
Black Country businesses, public sector partners and local authorities (through the Association of Black Country Authorities) have collaborated for many years to lead the growth of the local economy and have a well-established vision for future growth.
Background
Following a successful application to Government in February 2014, the Black Country achieved a Black Country City Deal under which certain powers were devolved from Central Government to local authorities to increase economic growth. The BCJC was created as the lead decision making forum for the Black Country City Deal and Growth Deal.
Further powers were then delegated by the Cabinets of the four Black Country Councils to enable the BCJC to make decisions relating to funding from and applications through the West Midlands Combined Authority; and to make decisions relating to all current and future funding opportunities secured or operated by or through the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). These include:
- Local Growth Deal
- Growing Places Fund
- Land and Property Investment Fund (LPIF)
- Black Country Enterprise Zone (BCEZ)
- Getting Building Fund (GBF)
- Black Country LEP Reinvestment Fund – collectively known as the Black Country LEP Legacy Funds.
Current delegated powers
In February 2022 the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper signalled a shift in policy direction from Government, requiring the functions of LEP to be transferred when LEPs were abolished.
The Black Country LEP was abolished in March 2023. Management, reporting and decision making for the LEP Legacy Funds remains with the BCJC, although the majority of these funds were mainly spent or committed to projects. Monitoring and reporting of these funds to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities still remains with the BCJC until approximately March 2026.
Decision making on the Black Country Enterprise Zone funding will remain with the BCJC until approximately March/April 2025, when it will revert back to the Local Authority of geographical origin for decision making, management and administration.
Membership and governance
The Leaders of the four Black Country Councils are the voting members of the BCJC.
- Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council - Leader
- Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council – Leader/Cabinet
- Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council – Leader/Cabinet
- City of Wolverhampton Council – Leader/Cabinet
The BCJC will receive information and recommendations in the form of reports from the Black Country Heads of Regeneration Working Group and/or any sub-committee or advisory board of the BCJC.
Walsall Council acts as Secretary to the Black Country Executive Joint Committee.
