It would be madness to exclude the name of Birmingham from a West Midlands city region, the city council was told last night.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of the Labour opposition, said he could hardly believe that the area's seven councils plus Telford & Wrekin were prepared to pay consultants £10,000 to find a title for the proposed city region.
"You don't need to hire expensive consultants to come to the conclusion that Birmingham, as the largest city and main economic driver, has to be in the name," he claimed.
Councils will be asking the Government to confer city region status on the West Midlands, giving the area's council leaders new strategic powers over transportation, economic development, housing and planning.
Sir Albert said he thought it was likely that the Government would order the West Midlands to use Birmingham in the title. "Ministers would be amazed if we wanted to do anything else," he added.
Mike Whitby, the leader of Birmingham City Council, urged his fellow council leaders in the West Midlands to adopt a "level of sophistication and maturity" in reaching a decision about the name.
He said the title had to be something that would be recognised in the global context.
Earlier this week the Birmingham Post reported how Coventry City Council leader Ken Taylor said it would be unacceptable to have Birmingham in the city region title.
His council would not accept Greater Birmingham or the Birmingham city region.
Coun Whitby said: " Ultimately it is up to the leaders of the councils to decide whether they want to be part of this city region. No one can hold another local authority to ransom."
