DUDLEY Council has approved a plan that could radically change the face of local government in the West Midlands.

Councillors at the full council meeting on Monday (July 9) passed the second devolution deal between the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and central government.

The move will see a range of powers shifting to the region’s Mayor Andy Street, including bringing policing under the control of WMCA by 2020 along with powers for further industrial investment and transportation.

The proposal will also allow the Mayor to raise money through a precept on business rates subject to a ballot of affected businesses.

Councillors in Dudley and the six other authorities in the West Midlands are being asked to give their approval to the scheme which will release investment from central government.

Projects in Dudley that could benefit from the moves include £208m for the Brierley Hill Metro Extension, further investment in the Music Institute in Brierley Hill  and a Land Remediation Fund which will develop redundant and contaminated brownfield sites into new employment and housing developments.

During the meeting, Labour group leader Cllr Pete Lowe said: "We want to work with the leading group [Conservatives] to make sure devolution happens."