WMCA and BCC: Who’s Who in the West Midlands (And How the Money Actually Flows)

This guide demystifies the differences between the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Birmingham City Council (BCC), explaining who they are, how funding and decisions flow, and what each controls. Essential reading for funding applicants, policy professionals, community leaders, and anyone trying to get projects off the ground in the West Midlands, it offers clear scenarios, ecosystem insights, and a detailed comparison table to navigate this complex landscape effectively.

Introduction and Overview

If you spend any time involved in regional development, innovation funding or local government in the West Midlands, you will quickly run into two acronyms that people toss around as though they were interchangeable: WMCA and BCC.

They are not the same. Not even close. Yet the confusion persists. In this article, I will unpack what each does, who is involved, and crucially, how funding and policy responsibilities actually move between them.

Think of this as a field guide to avoid embarrassment at your next stakeholder meeting.

What is WMCA?

WMCA stands for the West Midlands Combined Authority. This is the regional strategic body that covers the metropolitan area of the West Midlands.

It was established to tackle the issues that are simply too big for any one local authority to solve in isolation: large-scale transport, economic growth, housing investment, skills, and climate resilience.

Who is part of it?
Seven constituent councils:

Birmingham City Council
Coventry City Council
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Wolverhampton City Council

There are also non-constituent members like Warwickshire and others who participate to some extent.

The Combined Authority is led by the directly elected Mayor of the West Midlands, currently Richard Parker (Labour), who took his post as mayor after defeating former incumbent Andy Street (Conservative), by just 1,508 votes in May 2024.

Examples of what WMCA does:

Planning and delivering West Midlands Metro expansions
Running Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)
Managing devolved Adult Education Budget funding
Investing in brownfield land regeneration

If you hear about a massive transport scheme, a strategic skills initiative, or a pot of “devolved” funding, WMCA is probably involved.

What is BCC?

BCC is Birmingham City Council.

This is the local authority responsible specifically for Birmingham. Its role is to provide the day-to-day services that residents expect and rely upon.

BCC’s responsibilities include:

Adult social care
Children’s services
Housing allocations and repairs
Waste collection and street cleaning
Local planning applications
Leisure centres, parks and libraries

Where WMCA looks outward to regional priorities, BCC is focused inward on the daily running of Britain’s largest local authority.

A Quick Way to Remember

WMCA: Regional strategy, big-picture investment and major infrastructure.

BCC: Local services and delivery within Birmingham’s boundary.

How Funding Actually Flows

Here is where it becomes more complicated. Much of the confusion comes from the way funding moves between central government, WMCA and BCC.

Below is a simplified overview of the main flows.

1. Central Government

Most funding originates from Whitehall departments such as:

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Department for Transport
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
DSIT and BEIS for innovation and enterprise

They provide two main types of funding:

Core local government funding, which goes directly to councils like BCC
Devolved budgets, which are passed to Combined Authorities like WMCA to set regional priorities

2. WMCA

WMCA receives significant devolved funding streams. These include:

The Adult Education Budget, which supports adult skills training
Housing investment funds, particularly for brownfield site development
Transport capital funding for Metro extensions and regional improvements
Net Zero and innovation-related funding

WMCA then decides which schemes to prioritise across the region. Sometimes it delivers directly, such as commissioning a Metro line. Other times, it routes funding to the constituent councils or runs competitive processes that Birmingham can bid into.

3. BCC

Birmingham City Council receives:

Core local government revenue support grant
Funding channelled via WMCA for strategic projects
Council tax, business rates and fees

BCC then delivers services within Birmingham, from social care to bin collections.

In some cases, BCC co-funds projects with WMCA. For example, major regeneration around Perry Barr involved both organisations pooling resources.

Policy Responsibilities: Who Does What?

To illustrate the division of labour, here is a snapshot of how responsibilities break down.

Area	WMCA	BCC
Transport	Regional strategy and major schemes (e.g., Metro)	Local roads maintenance, parking enforcement
Skills and Employment	Adult skills budgets and regional programmes	Targeted support for residents, NEET interventions
Housing	Regional funds for land assembly and development	Allocating housing and maintaining council homes
Economic Development	Inward investment and regional promotion	Local business support and planning decisions
Social Care	Not responsible	Day-to-day delivery of adult and children’s services
Waste Collection	Not responsible	All household waste and recycling services
Culture and Leisure	Some regional support	Libraries, parks and community leisure facilities

A Few Scenarios to Make It Concrete

Transport Example:
WMCA commissions and funds the Metro expansion. BCC maintains the city’s local roads and enforces parking rules.

Housing Example:
WMCA uses brownfield funding to prepare land for development. BCC manages the planning consents and allocates new affordable homes.

Skills Example:
WMCA oversees the Adult Education Budget across the West Midlands. BCC may run specific training schemes in Birmingham to help residents find work.

Why This Distinction Matters

If you are applying for funding, trying to influence policy, or simply trying to get things done in the West Midlands, you need to know which organisation holds the power, the budget and the accountability.

Confusing the two is a fast route to wasted time and missed opportunities.

Ecosystem, Stakeholders and Community

To understand the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Birmingham City Council (BCC), you need to look beyond their formal powers and funding streams. Each sits within a complex ecosystem of elected representatives, civil servants, suppliers, community groups, regulators, and central government departments.

Below, I have set out who they answer to, who answers to them, and how they fit into the wider machinery of governance.

WMCA: The Regional Strategic Authority

1. Who are they ultimately accountable to?
The WMCA ultimately answers to the electorate of the West Midlands Combined Authority area, through the Directly Elected Mayor. The Mayor is held accountable in elections and through scrutiny committees.

2. Are they led primarily by elected councillors, and what is the balance between political leadership and professional expertise?
The Mayor leads the WMCA, supported by a Cabinet made up of the Leaders of the seven constituent councils, all of whom are elected councillors. In practice, most have political experience rather than specialist industry expertise, though officers within the Combined Authority provide professional and technical advice.

3. Which roles and teams report into them?
WMCA employs senior executives, directors, and delivery teams covering policy, programme management, transport, skills and housing. Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is effectively an operational arm of the WMCA.

4. Who are their closest peers or comparable organisations?
WMCA’s closest peers are other Combined Authorities across England, such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and South Yorkshire Combined Authority. They often share good practice and lobby collectively through bodies like the M10 Mayoral Group.

5. Which government departments do they have formal reporting relationships with?
The WMCA has formal reporting lines and funding agreements with:

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Department for Transport
The Department for Education (for skills funding)
The Department for Business and Trade (on investment)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

6. How does national policy and guidance reach them?
Policy reaches the WMCA through several channels:

Devolution deals are negotiated between the Mayor and central government
Statutory guidance and funding frameworks issued by government departments
Local Industrial Strategies and regional economic plans co-produced with stakeholders

7. Who are the main recipients of their services or support?
WMCA’s “customers” are primarily the residents and businesses of the West Midlands region, though it delivers through local councils and partners rather than directly to individuals in most cases.

8. Who are their major suppliers and delivery partners?
Large infrastructure contractors (e.g., construction firms for Metro projects), training providers for skills programmes, consultancy firms advising on strategy, and technology vendors supporting data and operations.

9. Is there any aspect of their ecosystem or role that is important to highlight further?
An important point is that WMCA is also a convenor. It brings together universities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, business groups, NHS bodies, and voluntary sector organisations to shape regional policy. Its role is as much about collaboration as it is about direct delivery.

10. What is their legal status?
WMCA is a statutory Combined Authority established under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016. This gives it legal powers to take on devolved responsibilities transferred from central government, primarily in economic development, transport, and skills.

11. How are decisions made internally?
Decisions are made by the WMCA Board, chaired by the Mayor. The Board includes the Leaders of each constituent council and representatives of non-constituent councils. Major decisions, such as budget approvals and strategic plans, require formal agreement at Board meetings. Specialist committees and advisory boards feed into this process (e.g., Transport Delivery Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committee).

12. How do they engage with the public and stakeholders?
WMCA engages through:

Public consultations on strategies and devolution deals
Regular mayoral question times
Scrutiny Committee meetings open to the public
Targeted engagement with business groups, universities, and the voluntary sector
They also publish updates, plans, and consultation documents on their website.

13. What is their funding model?
WMCA funding comes from:

Devolved funding allocations from central government (Adult Education Budget, transport grants, investment funds)
Contributions from constituent councils
Prudential borrowing for capital projects
Income from fares and charges (primarily through Transport for West Midlands)
It does not raise council tax directly.

14. What are their main priorities or strategic objectives?
WMCA’s priorities are set out in documents like the West Midlands Strategic Economic Plan and the annual Plan for Growth, which focus on:

Driving inclusive economic growth
Improving transport connectivity
Raising skill levels and reducing unemployment
Achieving Net Zero targets
Unlocking housing and regeneration sites

15. What external audits or inspections are they subject to?
WMCA is subject to:

External audit by independent auditors appointed under the Local Audit and Accountability Act
Scrutiny by the WMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Annual performance reporting to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Parliamentary scrutiny of devolution arrangements

BCC: The Local Authority

1. Who are they ultimately accountable to?
BCC answers to the residents of Birmingham through local elections. The Council Leader is the political head, while a Chief Executive oversees officers.

2. Are they led primarily by elected councillors, and what is the balance between political leadership and professional expertise?
Yes. The Cabinet and council committees are made up of elected councillors, many of whom are career politicians or local activists rather than subject matter experts. Senior officers provide professional and technical leadership.

3. Which roles and teams report into them?
Thousands of council employees across departments – social care, housing, environmental services, planning, education and more – are responsible for delivery.

4. Who are their closest peers or comparable organisations?
Other metropolitan councils, such as Manchester City Council, Leeds City Council, Sheffield City Council. They share good practice via the Local Government Association.

5. Which government departments do they have formal reporting relationships with?

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (core oversight)
The Department for Education (schools and children’s services)
The Department of Health and Social Care (social care responsibilities)
DEFRA (environment and waste regulations)

6. How does national policy and guidance reach them?
Policy flows down through:

Acts of Parliament and statutory duties
Funding agreements and grants
National policy frameworks and regulatory standards
Inspections (e.g., Ofsted, CQC)

7. Who are the main recipients of their services or support?
Residents of Birmingham, local businesses, community groups, schools and families.

8. Who are their major suppliers and delivery partners?
Major contractors for waste collection, housing maintenance, IT services, highways maintenance and care services. Also, smaller voluntary sector partners delivering community support.

9. Is there any aspect of their ecosystem or role that is important to highlight further?
BCC is the largest local authority in Europe, so it has an unusually large and diverse ecosystem. It plays a central role in place leadership, community engagement, and economic development, not simply in service provision.

10. What is their legal status?
BCC is a metropolitan district council established under the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. It has statutory powers and duties across a very wide range of local services, including education, social care, planning, waste, and housing.

11. How are decisions made internally?
Decisions are made by:

The Full Council, which sets the overall budget and policy framework
The Cabinet, led by the Council Leader, which takes most executive decisions
Scrutiny Committees and Regulatory Committees (e.g., Planning, Licensing)
Delegated authority to officers for day-to-day decisions within policies set by councillors

12. How do they engage with the public and stakeholders?
BCC engages through:

Statutory public consultations (e.g., planning, budget proposals)
Neighbourhood forums and ward meetings
Online surveys and citizen panels
Scrutiny committees open to the public
Dedicated engagement teams working with community groups and voluntary organisations

13. What is their funding model?
BCC funding comes from:

Central government grants and retained business rates
Council tax receipts
Fees and charges (e.g., parking, planning, leisure)
Specific grants for areas such as education and public health
Commercial property income and investment returns

14. What are their main priorities or strategic objectives?
BCC’s priorities are set out in its Corporate Plan, which typically focus on:

Protecting vulnerable people through high-quality social care
Improving education and life chances
Driving economic growth and job creation
Delivering clean streets and good neighbourhood services
Tackling inequality and promoting sustainability

15. What external audits or inspections are they subject to?
BCC is subject to extensive external oversight, including:

External audit of accounts by appointed auditors
Ofsted inspections of children’s services
Care Quality Commission inspections of adult social care
Regular reviews by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, especially due to recent governance and financial challenges
Scrutiny from the Local Government Ombudsman in response to complaints

Why Understanding the Ecosystem Matters

The West Midlands’ governance landscape is often opaque to newcomers. Many well-intentioned projects fail or stall because people do not take the time to understand who holds the purse strings, who makes decisions, and how those decisions are shaped by political dynamics and statutory duties.

If you are serious about working with or influencing WMCA and BCC, you need to map this ecosystem carefully and understand where power, accountability and delivery sit.

Ecosystem Comparison Table

Question	West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)	Birmingham City Council (BCC)
1. Who are they ultimately accountable to?	The electorate of the West Midlands Combined Authority area, through the Directly Elected Mayor and Combined Authority Board	The residents of Birmingham, through local elections to the Council
2. Are they led primarily by elected councillors, and what is the balance between political leadership and professional expertise?	Led by the Mayor and the Leaders of constituent councils (all elected), with professional officers supporting delivery	Led by elected councillors (Leader and Cabinet), with a Chief Executive and directors providing professional leadership
3. Which roles and teams report into them?	Senior executives, directors, programme teams and Transport for West Midlands operational staff	Thousands of council employees across social care, housing, planning, education, environmental services and more
4. Who are their closest peers or comparable organisations?	Other Combined Authorities (e.g., Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority)	Other metropolitan district councils (e.g., Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield City Councils)
5. Which government departments do they have formal reporting relationships with?	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; Department for Transport; Department for Education; Department for Business and Trade; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; Department for Education; Department of Health and Social Care; DEFRA
6. How does national policy and guidance reach them?	Through devolution deals, statutory frameworks, funding agreements, and national strategies	Through Acts of Parliament, statutory guidance, regulatory frameworks, inspections and funding agreements
7. Who are the main recipients of their services or support?	Residents and businesses of the West Midlands region (mainly via councils), transport users, training providers	Birmingham residents, local businesses, schools, families, community groups
8. Who are their major suppliers and delivery partners?	Major infrastructure contractors, training providers, consultants, technology suppliers	Waste collection contractors, housing maintenance firms, IT service providers, highways contractors, voluntary sector organisations
9. Is there any aspect of their ecosystem or role that is important to highlight further?	Acts as a convenor bringing together councils, NHS bodies, universities, LEPs, and the voluntary sector	Europe’s largest local authority, with a vast range of statutory responsibilities and a central role in place leadership
10. What is their legal status?	Statutory Combined Authority established under the 2009 Act and 2016 Order	Metropolitan District Council established under the Local Government Act 1972
11. How are decisions made internally?	Decisions made by the Board (Mayor and Leaders), supported by committees and advisory groups	Decisions made by Full Council and Cabinet, with regulatory and scrutiny committees; delegated powers to officers
12. How do they engage with the public and stakeholders?	Public consultations, mayoral question times, scrutiny committees, targeted engagement with businesses and communities	Statutory consultations, ward meetings, neighbourhood forums, citizen panels, online engagement
13. What is their funding model?	Devolved funding from government, council contributions, borrowing, fare income	Central grants, council tax, business rates, fees and charges, commercial income
14. What are their main priorities or strategic objectives?	Economic growth, transport connectivity, skills, Net Zero, housing and regeneration	Protecting vulnerable residents, education, clean streets, economic growth, reducing inequality
15. What external audits or inspections are they subject to?	External audit of accounts, scrutiny committee oversight, DLUHC performance monitoring, parliamentary scrutiny	External audit, Ofsted, CQC, DLUHC reviews, Local Government Ombudsman scrutiny

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

The relationship between WMCA and BCC is sometimes collaborative, sometimes tense, and always evolving. As devolution deepens and regional priorities become more ambitious, the distinction between strategic and local delivery will continue to matter.

When in doubt, remember this:

WMCA is about the big regional picture. BCC is about the local Birmingham detail.

Know the difference, and you will navigate the landscape far more effectively.

Appendices

Glossary

Adult Education Budget (AEB): Funding allocated to support skills training for adults.
Combined Authority: A statutory body formed by councils to exercise certain powers jointly.
Devolution Deal: An agreement transferring powers and funding from central government to a region.
DLUHC: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
DSIT: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
NEET: Young people Not in Education, Employment or Training.
TfWM: Transport for West Midlands, the transport delivery arm of WMCA.
WMCA: West Midlands Combined Authority.
BCC: Birmingham City Council.
Net Zero: The target of reducing carbon emissions to balance the amount emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere.

References

Horkan

a blog by Wayne Horkan