It would cost an estimated £15 million a year to free up the M6 Toll, according to leaked documents revealing the West Midlands’ devolution wish list.

The Post reported yesterday that making the toll road free at the point of use, along with giving an elected mayor control over raising taxes, formed part of demands from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to government.

The full document has now emerged revealing the authority, made up of seven councils in the region, is also calling for control of youth justice, air passenger tax for Birmingham Airport and a £500 million housing fund.

The documents, leaked to our sister newspaper the Coventry Telegraph, also reveal the region is looking into a bid for the 2025 World Expo, a giant global event.

But plans to make the M6 Toll free stand out, with the authorities claiming an estimated cost of £15 million a year would generate £1.2 billion for the local economy.

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The councils – Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country and Coventry – also want a region-wide mayor to levy extra business rates from companies in the region.

Negotiations also include the desire to take away the ability of local councils to retain future business rates growth and to hand that cash to the WMCA, who would decide how it was spent across the region instead of by individual local authorities.

Aeroplane taking off on the runway at Birmingham Airport
Aeroplane taking off on the runway at Birmingham Airport

The guidance suggests a two per cent rates rise would generate £30 million a year, supporting capital expenditure of £400 million.

Talks also involve the possibility of allowing the mayor to apply discounts and exemptions to council tax payers, while suggesting a £10 Band D precept would generate £6 million per year, giving the capacity to support £78 million of investment.

The document also details the “West Midlands Investment Programme”, which councils say would total around £8 billion.

There is also the suggestion a city in the region could bid for the World Expo in 2025, something the councils believe would attract 25 million visitors and £5.6 billion in spending.

Councils also want to create a National Innovation Centre in the region and are in talks to relocate some national art collections to the region.

Here is a list of the powers being sought by the WMCA and its mayor from central government:

Powers sought for an elected West Midlands Mayor

* To be the chair of the WMCA
* Power to increase tax on businesses in the region by adding a supplementary rates levy
* Power to add a precept to the council tax bills of residents
* Transport powers including control of investment in the area
* Power to introduce an Oyster-style pay-as-you-go card for the region’s rail and bus network
* Power over the region’s highways
* Power to enforce restrictions on commercial freight
* The ability to discount travel for specific groups
* Control over the commission of transport infrastructure projects
* Control over a devolved £1.3 billion transport fund for the next 10 years
* Strategic compulsory purchase order powers

Powers sought for the WMCA with the mayor as chair

* Control of youth justice
* Control of ‘Troubled Individuals’ programme
* Control of air passenger tax for Birmingham Airport

Powers sought for WMCA away from the mayor

* Control of HS2 growth strategy and funding
* Power to retain business rates growth across the region and allocate money
* Control of land development funding
* Power to create local enterprise zones
* Control of £500 million housing fund
* Adult skills and careers budgets
* Joint commissioning of employment services
* Business support and inward investment
* Arts, culture and visitor funding

Additional items being discussed

* A potential bid for the 2025 World Expo
* Mental health care
* Establishment of a national innovation centre
* Moving national art collections to the region
* Control of police, fire and rescue services
* Governance of criminal justice system and probation service
* Greater flexibility for individual councils in terms of council tax setting
* EU funding bids
* Ability to make the M6 Toll “free at the point of use”