Business organisations support an elected mayor
Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future have come out in support for the proposal for a directly-elected mayor in the city.
Members were recently polled on the issue in advance of the business and professional services organisation making its submission to the government consultation on potential powers for the mayor.
More than 90 per cent of Forward and 100 per cent of Future members who responded to the e-poll confirmed their support, with 99 per cent of total respondents favouring more powers being granted to a mayor with particular backing for them to have a greater influence over major infrastructure projects, planning and transport matters.
The organisation is planning an event on 19 April with a panel made up of many of those who have declared an interest in being candidates for Birmingham's first elected mayor.
A referendum will be held in the city in May to decide if voters want a mayor or not.
A joint statement by the chairman of Birmingham Forward Gary Cardin and Future chairman Gareth Morgan said: "The board of Forward has given the issue a great deal of consideration and we have looked at all of the arguments and believe that moving to this form of leadership would bring significant benefits, not only to our sector but to the city as a whole.
"Our members are particularly keen that key areas that impact on our ability to prosper economically such as planning, transport and major infrastructure initiatives should all be brought under the control of an elected mayor."
