Summer 2017 METRo MAYoR fsB urges new metro mayor to back small businesses Rates, transport and digital connectivity are just some of the issues that the Federation of Small Businesses wants the newly elected official to address Former John Lewis boss Andy Street was elected as the West Midlands first Metro Mayor in early May. The Conservative candidate beat Son Simon, of the Labour Party, in a close secondround contest, after Beverley Nielsen (Liberal democrats), Pete durnell (uKIP), James Burn (Green Party) and Graham Stevenson (Communist) had been eliminated in the first round. Metro Mayors have been introduced in six areas of England, as part of the governments devolution strategy, which allows combined authorities to take on more functions. These authorities are made up of several local councils and the new Metro Mayors will have powers and responsibilities to make strategic decisions across the whole of their region. They will set out a plan for growing their areas economy, and will have certain powers over issues such as housing, transport and skills. Exactly what the mayors can do, however, is determined by the individual deals that each city region has agreed with the government. In February, a delegation from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) invited the West Midlands mayoral candidates to a series of engagement meetings, to outline the concerns and issues it would like the new official to tackle. The FSB would like to see councils, growth hubs and local enterprise partnerships develop a cohesive system of support that is effective, sustainable and adds value The FSB has put together a specially designed manifesto, aimed at addressing seven key issues that its members have said are important to their business, including: Business rates We must ensure that the short-term needs of micro- and small-sized businesses are considered if supplementary levies are introduced to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. land availability As 23 per cent of respondents to the FSBs survey panel said they were looking to move premises in the next 12 months, its important that a pipeline of good-quality and affordable business space is available for those firms looking to expand. Women in enterprise Women set up businesses less frequently than men. This is a major source of untapped potential for the West Midlands economy and more should be done to inspire and support girls and women to start their own enterprises. Business support The business-support landscape is overcrowded and confusing. The FSB would like to see councils, growth hubs and local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) develop a cohesive system of support that is effective, sustainable and adds value, and which businesses can understand. procurement The FSB wants more encouragement and support for small businesses looking to supply West Midlands government and its related departments, through the relevant portals, and for procurement processes to be compliant with best practice. transport/infrastructure Improvements need to be made in the coordination of roadworks and diversions. There is a perception among FSB members that local roads are not regarded by the West Midlands Combined Authority as being as important as motorways or A roads but 69 per cent of all car journeys are less than five miles. digital Broadband and mobile connectivity is a key priority for businesses, and the FSB feels that work needs to be done with providers to eliminate not spots for mobile telephone and data coverage across the West Midlands. metro mayorS: the faCtS areas with mms: West midlands andy street (Con) Cambridgeshire & peterborough James Palmer (Con) greater manchester andy Burnham (lab) liverpool City region steve rotheram (lab) tees valley Ben houchen (Con) West of england tim Bowles (Con) Councils in the Wm combined authority: Birmingham, Coventry, dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton andy Street: Credit: Karen Woolley Images: iStock.com / ChrisHepburn KrisKuzniar / esp_imaging / erreperdomo age: 53 education: university of oxford, politics, philosophy and economics previous employment: managing director, John lewis mayoral salary: 79,000 term of office: 3 years for further information, please contact your local trading Standards Service