Business leaders have demanded the West Midlands gets its act together and secures powers from government after more devolution to other regions in the Budget.

George Osborne continued to throw powers at Greater Manchester, announcing the region would be allowed to keep 100 per cent of growth in local business rates and referencing the "Northern Powerhouse" no fewer than four times.

Already Greater Manchester has agreed a £1 billion growth deal and handed control of the £6 billion health and social care budget - which seems a distant dream for the West Midlands where Solihull is still to agree to the combined authority required to secure such powers.

Senior business leaders in Birmingham have issued a clear message - we need to secure powers for our region.

Martin Guest, managing director at CBRE in Birmingham, said: "Finally, we can put a price on regional devolution.

"In exchange for electing a mayor, Greater Manchester will get new powers over skills, transport and health budgets.

"In addition, the Chancellor has awarded them 100 per cent of the additional growth in local business rates as we build up the Northern Powerhouse.

"Surely, this is enough of a carrot to push local authorities in the West Midlands into concord?

"If not, maybe the Chancellor's handful of references to the 'Northern Powerhouse' will convince the naysayers. We can't afford to be left behind with other UK regions accelerating at our expense."

Mr Osborne said Greater Manchester's decision to appoint an elected mayor from 2017 was "the most exciting development in civic leadership for a generation".

A transport strategy for the north was due to be published this week, he added.

However, a combined authority is key to even starting to negotiate such powers and, while Birmingham and the four Black Country authorities have agreed to join together, Solihull - which is yet to sign up - remains the log jam.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce said the Chancellor gave the biggest hint yet Birmingham must emulate Greater Manchester by creating an authority that represents the real economy of the region.

President Greg Lowson said: "This is the biggest hint yet Greater Birmingham and the surrounding region must get its act together and create an authority that can speak for the wider economy.

"Only then can the West Midlands begin to enjoy that same sort of treatment the Government has given to Greater Manchester. He also announced Northern Ireland was to be given greater powers to set corporation tax.

"Since the West Midlands has a greater economic output than Northern Ireland, there is a strong case for our region to have greater control of its tax affairs."

Ian Cornock, lead director for JLL in the Midlands, said he welcomed the Chancellor's commitment to enterprise - but devolution was key to this region.

He said: "The Midlands is already proving its might, having outpaced the UK average for employment growth in 2014 and, as the Chancellor said, creating a new job every ten minutes.

"If we are to continue this momentum, we need to work more smartly as a city and region to help businesses build growth through the quality of labour available.

"This will in turn spur greater economic growth and create a stronger case for devolution and, as the Chancellor once again reiterated, his door is open for discussion."