Stitch-up claims over Black Country and Birmingham powerhouse authority

The Labour leaders of the five councils have been branded 'arrogant' after signing up to the deal to work together to seek devolved powers and funding.

The intention is to turn the West Midlands into an 'economic powerhouse' and be ready to bid for funding and powers that could be offered by whichever party or parties form the next government.

The name Greater Birmingham is going to be blocked by the Black Country when a title for the authority is chosen.

And Birmingham City Council's chief executive Mark Rogers said he was 'relaxed' about the idea of a Black Country councillor chairing the new body, amid concerns that Birmingham would be the one in control.

Mr Rogers said no decision had been taken adding: "It's perfectly reasonable to expect there will be a discussion about the chairmanship not necessarily having to be held by Birmingham at all. We're really relaxed about that."

But opposition Tories are angry after they say there were not involved or consulted and warned that the public does not know what they have been signed up to.

Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Birmingham councils are all controlled by Labour.

Councillor Patrick Harley, Tory opposition leader in Dudley, said: "This is arrogant. There's been no consultation on this. No one knows whether it is something they should support or oppose.

"It does make sense to work together on regeneration and transport.

"But we have not had any discussions on what this will mean for us."

And Wendy Thompson, leader of the opposition Tories in Wolverhampton, said: "This has been cooked up by Labour.

"And it is difficult to know what it will really mean for us. There should have been consultation with other parties."

Wolverhampton South West MP Paul Uppal said: "It's concerning that this deal was done behind closed doors with little consultation."

Walsall's Tory leader Councillor Mike Bird, however, was supportive.

He had been involved in discussions when he was leader of the council, before it changed to Labour earlier this year.

Councillor Bird said: "I'm pleased that we're retaining our individual identities. It's important to make clear that this is about collaboration and co-operation."

And David Cameron also told the Express & Star earlier this year that the Black Country was 'strong enough' without Birmingham

In April he was asked if the Black Country stood a chance of gaining funding on its own and said: "Yes it does and some areas like the Black Country lost out under the old regional development agencies that were big bureaucracies that spent lots of money on themselves rather than delivering and I think sometimes areas around the big conurbation could lose out whereas the Black Country has its own Local Enterprise Partnership with its own bid, with its own exciting prospectus."

Despite strong assurances that there will be no loss of Black Country identity, UKIP is campaigning against the combined authority.

West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge said: "I think it is a Labour Party stitch up. I am very proud to be a Black Country man and I will not stand idly by while politicians betray our heritage for the sake of grabbing even more centralised power for themselves."

But Darren Cooper, the Labour leader of Sandwell Council said: "This is about working better together. That's all. The Tories and UKIP want to shoot the West Midlands in the foot by making it miss out on the opportunity to boost the economy and skills.

"Nothing will change the way that individual councils work now."