Devolved commissioning: West Midlands leading the way (Birmingham event)

Reform was delighted to hold a private roundtable on the theme ‘Devolved commissioning: West Midlands leading the way’. The event took place on Tuesday 23 May 2017 at 10.00 for 10.30 – 12.00 in Birmingham.

2017 represents a milestone in the devolution agenda. The election of the West Midland’s first directly elected mayor caps years of transferring powers and investment from Whitehall to the region. Yet it may be just the beginning of the devolution journey. The Midlands Engine promises to boost the economy of the region; complementing this with more control over public-service commissioning, in areas such as healthcare and employment services, could deliver locally tailored, integrated services for residents. This raises important questions over the next five years:

• How far can the devolution of public services go in the West Midlands?
• How does the West Midlands ensure the accountability of public money in the region?
• How does the West Midlands engage local residents?

We were thrilled to be joined by Dr Martin Reeves, Chief Executive of Coventry City Council and Chief Executive and the Head of Paid Service of the West Midlands Combined Authority. Dr Reeves has been at the forefront of the devolution deal in the West Midlands and has a wealth of experience in local government and academia. The event was held under the Chatham House Rule.