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	<title>The Chamberlain Files &#187; WM2015</title>
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	<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com</link>
	<description>Politics, LEPs and economic development in the West Midlands</description>
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	<item>
		<title>Sheffield city region deal suggests Greater Birmingham needs metro mayor for devo max</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/sheffield-city-region-deal-suggests-greater-birmingham-needs-metro-mayor-for-devo-max/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/sheffield-city-region-deal-suggests-greater-birmingham-needs-metro-mayor-for-devo-max/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2014 16:30:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ed Miliband]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Birmingham Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sheffield]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sheffield city region]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solihull Council]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17971</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sheffield has become the second English city to strike a post-Scottish independence referendum devolution deal with the Government &#8211; and the terms of the agreement could provide a valuable lesson]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/sheffield-city-region-deal-suggests-greater-birmingham-needs-metro-mayor-for-devo-max/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Heathrow expansion will &#8216;threaten Midlands&#8217;, claims Birmingham Airport boss</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/heathrow-expansion-will-threaten-midlands-claims-birmingham-airport-boss/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/heathrow-expansion-will-threaten-midlands-claims-birmingham-airport-boss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:37:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Airports Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham Airport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Davies Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gatwick Airport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HS2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London Heathrow Airport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paul Kehoe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17582</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe has extended his attack on the proposed expansion of Heathrow, claiming that a third runway for the capital would threaten growth in the Midlands.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/heathrow-expansion-will-threaten-midlands-claims-birmingham-airport-boss/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>If devolution&#8217;s good enough for Scotland, it&#8217;s good enough for England, say council leaders</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/if-devolutions-good-enough-for-scotland-its-good-enough-for-england-say-council-leaders/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/if-devolutions-good-enough-for-scotland-its-good-enough-for-england-say-council-leaders/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:30:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Cameron]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scotland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sir Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Lothian Question]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17545</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[English council leaders are stepping up the pressure on David Cameron to extend Scottish devolution to cities and regions south of the border. The leaders of 119 English councils, including]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/if-devolutions-good-enough-for-scotland-its-good-enough-for-england-say-council-leaders/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8216;No elected mayor for Greater Birmingham, unless you want one&#8217;, says Balls</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/no-elected-mayor-for-greater-birmingham-unless-you-want-one-says-balls/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/no-elected-mayor-for-greater-birmingham-unless-you-want-one-says-balls/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Nov 2014 10:32:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ed Balls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Birmingham Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17487</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A Labour Government would encourage Birmingham and the Black Country to work together as a combined authority but would never insist on a metro mayor for the region against local]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/no-elected-mayor-for-greater-birmingham-unless-you-want-one-says-balls/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The future is Intercommunality – but with whom?</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/the-future-is-intercommunality-but-with-whom/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/the-future-is-intercommunality-but-with-whom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2014 17:06:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Game]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Manchester]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Manchester Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Manchester Police]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Leese]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17449</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following the announcement that Birmingham and the four Black Country councils would form a Combined Authority, Kevin Johnson suggested we need a “wider conversation” Mover and shaker that he is,]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/the-future-is-intercommunality-but-with-whom/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>City leaders issue &#8216;deliver devolution&#8217; demand to Hague</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/city-leaders-issue-deliver-devolution-demand-to-hague/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/city-leaders-issue-deliver-devolution-demand-to-hague/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Birmingham Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[William Hague]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17397</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The leaders of Britain’s biggest cities met with William Hague today to demand that the Government delivers its promise to speedily devolve powers and budgets to the regions. The Core]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/city-leaders-issue-deliver-devolution-demand-to-hague/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8216;You must have metro mayor to get devo-max&#8217; Osborne tells Greater Birmingham</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/you-must-have-metro-mayor-to-get-devo-max-osborne-tells-greater-birmingham/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/you-must-have-metro-mayor-to-get-devo-max-osborne-tells-greater-birmingham/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2014 12:14:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Manchester]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17388</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A Birmingham and Black Country combined authority must have a metro mayor in order to benefit from the type of devolution package given to Greater Manchester, the Chancellor has said.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/you-must-have-metro-mayor-to-get-devo-max-osborne-tells-greater-birmingham/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Devolved transport funding key to long-term economic growth, say city regions</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolved-transport-funding-key-to-long-term-economic-growth-say-city-regions/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolved-transport-funding-key-to-long-term-economic-growth-say-city-regions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2014 12:29:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boris Johnson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[City Regions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Geoff Inskip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Manchester]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Howard Bernstein]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17382</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Birmingham has joined forces with other major English city regions to support new research which demonstrates how devolving transport funding could boost economic growth and create thousands of jobs. Leaders from Birmingham,]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolved-transport-funding-key-to-long-term-economic-growth-say-city-regions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>We need a Combined Conversation</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/a-combined-conversation/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/a-combined-conversation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2014 08:30:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Johnson]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think Cities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17325</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A week is a long time in politics, so they say. Kevin Johnson reflects on developments following last week&#8217;s &#8216;historic&#8217; agreement and suggests we need a wider conversation.  There is]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/a-combined-conversation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>11</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Birmingham-Black Country combined authority: &#8216;What happens next?&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-black-country-combined-authority-what-happens-next/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-black-country-combined-authority-what-happens-next/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2014 13:31:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solihull]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands (county)]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17247</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Agreement in principle has finally been reached, thanks to a powerful kick from Greater Manchester. George Osborne has been sent a letter outlining plans for a Birmingham and Black Country combined]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-black-country-combined-authority-what-happens-next/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Osborne puts Birmingham elected mayor back on the agenda</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/osborne-puts-birmingham-elected-mayor-back-on-the-agenda/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/osborne-puts-birmingham-elected-mayor-back-on-the-agenda/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2014 17:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sir Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands combined authority]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[George Osborne has dropped the broadest hint yet that he believes Birmingham should be run by a directly elected mayor. The Chancellor said he intended to speak to city council]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/osborne-puts-birmingham-elected-mayor-back-on-the-agenda/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>17</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Birmingham devolution: 13 years of talking and the conversation goes on&#8230;</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-devolution-13-years-of-talking-and-the-conversation-goes-on/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-devolution-13-years-of-talking-and-the-conversation-goes-on/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2014 11:38:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Democracy Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joseph Chamberlain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sir Adrian Cadbury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sir Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=17048</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The choice of Joseph Chamberlain’s ancestral home Highbury Hall to stage the latest in a series of Birmingham democracy conventions was symbolic in more ways than one, writes Paul Dale.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-devolution-13-years-of-talking-and-the-conversation-goes-on/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>19</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Midlands left in waiting room as northern cities in for £7bn rail boost</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/midlands-left-in-waiting-room-as-northern-cities-in-for-7bn-rail-boost/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/midlands-left-in-waiting-room-as-northern-cities-in-for-7bn-rail-boost/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:40:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham Airport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Cameron]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Higgins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High Speed 2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High-speed rail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HS2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leeds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manchester]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Midlands Connect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Northern Powerhouse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16967</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Journey times from Manchester to Leeds could be cut from 48 to 26 minutes after the Government embraced plans for a £7 billion HS3 high speed rail track across the]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/midlands-left-in-waiting-room-as-northern-cities-in-for-7bn-rail-boost/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Confidence growing for a Combined Authority for Christmas</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/confidence-growing-for-a-combined-authority-by-christmas/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/confidence-growing-for-a-combined-authority-by-christmas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2014 11:30:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Carter]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City University]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centre for Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lunar Society of Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16893</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We had a great Think Birmingham event on Monday night in the City&#8217;s Council House with a very august panel drawn from the upper echelons of the West Midlands&#8217; political and business]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/confidence-growing-for-a-combined-authority-by-christmas/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Commission says &#8216;Set the Cities Free&#8217;, but West Mids unlikely to head devolution queue</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/commission-says-set-the-cities-free-but-west-mids-unlikely-to-head-devolution-queue/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/commission-says-set-the-cities-free-but-west-mids-unlikely-to-head-devolution-queue/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2014 08:14:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bob Kerslake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[City Growth Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Office for National Statistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16873</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Powerful city regions run by elected mayors with tax-raising and spending powers must be at the forefront of a drive for devolution and economic growth, an influential independent think tank reports]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/commission-says-set-the-cities-free-but-west-mids-unlikely-to-head-devolution-queue/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>20</slash:comments>
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		<title>Council leaders edging towards West Mids combined authority deal &#8216;by Christmas&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/council-leaders-edging-towards-west-mids-combined-authority-deal-by-christmas/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/council-leaders-edging-towards-west-mids-combined-authority-deal-by-christmas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:57:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Birmingham Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local Government Association]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16851</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[West Midlands council leaders are tantalisingly close to agreeing to establish a Combined Authority to take advantage of powers and budgets expected to flow from the Government’s devolution agenda. Months of sensitive]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/council-leaders-edging-towards-west-mids-combined-authority-deal-by-christmas/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>17</slash:comments>
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		<title>Birmingham&#8217;s devolution dilemma: Bore poses the &#8216;West Vesey Question&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birminghams-devolution-dilemma-bore-poses-the-west-vesey-question/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birminghams-devolution-dilemma-bore-poses-the-west-vesey-question/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:35:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish Parliament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Lothian Question]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16727</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[City councillors representing Sutton Coldfield could be barred from voting on matters solely affecting Birmingham if the Royal Borough gets a town council with devolved powers and tax-raising rights. The]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birminghams-devolution-dilemma-bore-poses-the-west-vesey-question/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<title>Birmingham-Black Country partnership is vital to region&#8217;s devolution hopes</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-black-country-partnership-is-vital-to-regions-devolution-hopes/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-black-country-partnership-is-vital-to-regions-devolution-hopes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:30:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence referendum 2014]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16269</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Black Country’s reluctance to join with Birmingham in a combined authority status could result in the West Midlands being overlooked if the Government hands devolved powers to local councils,]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-black-country-partnership-is-vital-to-regions-devolution-hopes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>26</slash:comments>
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		<title>Devolution cat is out of the bag, but Sir Humphrey won&#8217;t like it</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-but-sir-humphrey-wont-like-it/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-but-sir-humphrey-wont-like-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:10:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence referendum 2014]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16259</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Even the most enthusiastic supporters of devolving powers and budgets from Westminster to cities and regions believe the road to decentralisation will be difficult, and many fear that the shift]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-but-sir-humphrey-wont-like-it/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<title>Whitby warns memories of &#8216;loony left&#8217; councils may scupper devolution</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/whitby-warns-memories-of-loony-left-councils-may-scupper-devolution/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/whitby-warns-memories-of-loony-left-councils-may-scupper-devolution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:42:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eric Pickles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Library of Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Whitby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence referendum 2014]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16222</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Paul Dale drops into the Lord Whitby Room at the Library of Birmingham to hear the eponymous Baron speak on the subject of urban conservatism.  Whitehall may try to block devolution in]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/whitby-warns-memories-of-loony-left-councils-may-scupper-devolution/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>Big Eric invokes Chamberlain: &#8216;We must set the cities free&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/big-erics-invokes-chamberlain-we-must-set-the-cities-free/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/big-erics-invokes-chamberlain-we-must-set-the-cities-free/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2014 09:13:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joseph Chamberlain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Party Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence referendum 2014]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16193</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chief blogger Paul Dale braved the warm white wine to enjoy the biennial banter between Big &#8220;localism&#8221; Eric and Sir &#8220;municipalism&#8221; Albert as the city officially welcomed the Tories to town. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/big-erics-invokes-chamberlain-we-must-set-the-cities-free/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>&#8216;Put your money where your mouth is on devolution&#8217;, UK cities tell Government</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is-on-devolution-uk-cities-tell-government/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is-on-devolution-uk-cities-tell-government/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:07:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Core Cities Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scotland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[William Hague]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16122</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The leaders of Britain’s largest local authorities have warned the Government not to water down a pledge to devolve powers and budgets to the country’s largest cities, reports Paul Dale. In]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is-on-devolution-uk-cities-tell-government/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>14</slash:comments>
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		<title>Devolution: time to think the unconventional</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-time-to-think-the-unconventional/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-time-to-think-the-unconventional/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Sep 2014 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Johnson]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence referendum 2014]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=15541</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The impact of the Scottish Referendum campaign and a bulging shelf of policy reports offer the chance for real devolution, writes Kevin Johnson. The city is notching up new records]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-time-to-think-the-unconventional/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<title>All Aboard the Devolution Train (and Bus)</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/all-aboard-the-devolution-train-and-bus/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/all-aboard-the-devolution-train-and-bus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:30:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alex Burrows]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mary Creagh]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16047</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Alex Burrows, a well-known Birmingham-based transport expert and blogger, reflects on a speech at yesterday’s conference that few will have heard but could be significant for the future of transport]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/all-aboard-the-devolution-train-and-bus/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
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		<title>GE2015: The Ukip Factor</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-the-ukip-factor/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-the-ukip-factor/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2014 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2015 General Election]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberal Democrat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigel Farage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UKIP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=15480</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In part three of our GE2015 series, Paul Dale assess the Ukip factor to see where they might build on their “earthquake” at the Euros in June.  If there is]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-the-ukip-factor/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Dash to deliver English devolution is &#8216;cynical&#8217; ploy, claims town hall academic</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/dash-to-deliver-english-devolution-is-cynical-ploy-claims-town-hall-academic/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/dash-to-deliver-english-devolution-is-cynical-ploy-claims-town-hall-academic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:20:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence referendum 2014]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish Parliament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Lothian Question]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16027</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A leading local government academic has urged the prime minister to set up a constitutional convention to consider how a post-Scottish referendum pledge to spread devolution to England might be achieved.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/dash-to-deliver-english-devolution-is-cynical-ploy-claims-town-hall-academic/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>GE2015: WM &#8211; UK Political Barometer</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-wm-uk-political-barometer/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-wm-uk-political-barometer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2014 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2015 General Election]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberal Democrats]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=15479</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the second part of our General Election special, chief blogger Paul Dale turns his attention to seats outside the City of Birmingham. It is often said that the West]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-wm-uk-political-barometer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Politicians urged to deliver a &#8216;devolution revolution&#8217; for English cities</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/politicians-urged-to-deliver-a-devolution-revolution-for-english-cities/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/politicians-urged-to-deliver-a-devolution-revolution-for-english-cities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2014 11:30:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alexandra Jones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centre for Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=16003</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If delegates at this year’s party conferences knew little about devolution before they got to the annual political bun fight, they will certainly appreciate the D-word by the time they get]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/politicians-urged-to-deliver-a-devolution-revolution-for-english-cities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>GE2015: Battleground Birmingham</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-battleground-birmingham/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-battleground-birmingham/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2014 07:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2015 General Election]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberal Democrat]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=15966</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the party conference season gets into full swing, we start a series of special features looking ahead to the General Election next May. Paul Dale assesses the battleground in Birmingham. Birmingham]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/ge2015-battleground-birmingham/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Case for empowering cities to be debated during Conservative Party Conference</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/case-for-empowering-cities-to-be-debated-during-conservative-party-conference/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/case-for-empowering-cities-to-be-debated-during-conservative-party-conference/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Johnson]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Squire Patton Boggs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=15859</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Squire Patton Boggs and Think Birmingham, is staging an event during the Conservative Party Conference to make the case for fiscal devolution. By]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/case-for-empowering-cities-to-be-debated-during-conservative-party-conference/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>27</slash:comments>
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		<title>Clegg backs &#8216;decade of devolution&#8217; plan for English cities</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/clegg-backs-decade-of-devolution-plan-for-english-cities/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/clegg-backs-decade-of-devolution-plan-for-english-cities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2014 07:35:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Nick Clegg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Leese]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinkcities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whitehall]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=15697</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A blueprint setting out radical devolution plans for English cities and regions under beefed up councils and directly elected metro mayors has won the backing of the Deputy Prime Minister.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/clegg-backs-decade-of-devolution-plan-for-english-cities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<title>Public mood swings behind localism in boost to town hall power plea</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/public-mood-swings-behind-localism-in-boost-to-town-hall-power-plea/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/public-mood-swings-behind-localism-in-boost-to-town-hall-power-plea/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:48:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Localism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PricewaterhouseCoopers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United Kingdom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=15396</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Support for devolving power and budgets from Westminster to the regions is growing as the localism campaign begins to resonate with voters, a major study has concluded. Almost half of]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/public-mood-swings-behind-localism-in-boost-to-town-hall-power-plea/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>MPs demand more powers for local government as tide goes out on centralism</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/mps-demand-more-powers-for-local-government-as-tide-goes-out-on-centralism/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/mps-demand-more-powers-for-local-government-as-tide-goes-out-on-centralism/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devolution]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communities and Local Government Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joseph Chamberlain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scotland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whitehall]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=14658</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A fast-moving campaign to give local councils more powers to raise and spend their own taxes has been backed by an influential committee of MPs. In the latest contribution to]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/mps-demand-more-powers-for-local-government-as-tide-goes-out-on-centralism/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>Former Birmingham council chief exec Stephen Hughes joins local government finance reform thinktank</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/former-birmingham-council-chief-exec-stephen-hughes-joins-local-government-finance-reform-thinktank/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/former-birmingham-council-chief-exec-stephen-hughes-joins-local-government-finance-reform-thinktank/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2014 12:38:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=14306</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Former Birmingham city council chief executive Stephen Hughes has been appointed to an independent commission investigating the reform of local government finance. Hughes, who took early retirement in March, will]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/former-birmingham-council-chief-exec-stephen-hughes-joins-local-government-finance-reform-thinktank/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Clancy and Henley appeal to Labour&#8217;s heart and soul in battle to win Birmingham city council leadership</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/clancy-and-henley-appeal-to-labours-heart-and-soul-in-battle-to-win-birmingham-city-council-leadership/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/clancy-and-henley-appeal-to-labours-heart-and-soul-in-battle-to-win-birmingham-city-council-leadership/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2014 09:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Local Elections]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham Municipal Bank]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr Barry Henley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cllr John Clancy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=14235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[John Clancy and Barry Henley have launched their campaign to take the leadership of Birmingham City Council with a back to basics manifesto that promises “fresh ideas that connect with]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/clancy-and-henley-appeal-to-labours-heart-and-soul-in-battle-to-win-birmingham-city-council-leadership/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>20</slash:comments>
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		<title>Devolution held back over fears councils will &#8216;do something barmy&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-held-back-over-fears-councils-will-do-something-barmy/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-held-back-over-fears-councils-will-do-something-barmy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:07:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=13130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Promises to decentralise power issued during the 2015 General Election are unlikely to be delivered unless the Government learns from past mistakes including botched plans for regional assemblies and elected]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/devolution-held-back-over-fears-councils-will-do-something-barmy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to solve the &#8216;Birmingham problem&#039;: devolution and an elected mayor</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/how-to-solve-the-birmingham-problem-devolution-and-an-elected-mayor/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/how-to-solve-the-birmingham-problem-devolution-and-an-elected-mayor/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:36:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gisela Stuart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local government]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=13098</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What do you do about a problem like Birmingham? This is a question that has consumed local government nerds for years. The thing is, this city of almost 1.1 million]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/how-to-solve-the-birmingham-problem-devolution-and-an-elected-mayor/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>11</slash:comments>
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		<title>Booming London makes case for devolution, but whose fingers are pulling the strings?</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/booming-london-makes-case-for-devolution-but-whose-fingers-are-pulling-the-strings/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/booming-london-makes-case-for-devolution-but-whose-fingers-are-pulling-the-strings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2014 14:50:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEPs]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centre for Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[City status in the United Kingdom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glasgow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manchester]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=13014</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The debate about the size of London and its stranglehold over the UK economy has been around for a very long time. Oliver Twist, Dick Whittington, businessmen on the make]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/booming-london-makes-case-for-devolution-but-whose-fingers-are-pulling-the-strings/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
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		<title>London basks in economic boom, while Birmingham &#8216;punches below its weight&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/london-basks-in-economic-boom-while-birmingham-punches-below-its-weight/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/london-basks-in-economic-boom-while-birmingham-punches-below-its-weight/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2014 10:36:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centre for Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[City status in the United Kingdom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy of the United Kingdom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manchester]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=12996</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Britain’s economic recovery is dominated by job creation in London, leaving cities like Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool struggling to keep up, a major economic study has found. Ten times as]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/london-basks-in-economic-boom-while-birmingham-punches-below-its-weight/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<title>Birmingham is shown a clean pair of heels by our friends in the north</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-is-shown-a-clean-pair-of-heels-by-our-friends-in-the-north/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-is-shown-a-clean-pair-of-heels-by-our-friends-in-the-north/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jan 2014 13:30:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combined Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Institute for Public Policy Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Northern England]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=12748</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Birmingham and the West Midlands are at risk of being left in the slow lane by cities in the north of England when it comes to persuading the Government to]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-is-shown-a-clean-pair-of-heels-by-our-friends-in-the-north/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
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		<title>Birmingham and Black Country councils make peace and discuss joint working at historic ‘glasnost’ dinner</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-and-black-country-councils-make-peace-and-discuss-joint-working-at-historic-glasnost-dinner/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-and-black-country-councils-make-peace-and-discuss-joint-working-at-historic-glasnost-dinner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:42:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Councils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=12235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Birmingham and the Black Country councils are edging slowly towards adopting joint working arrangements, possibly through a merged LEP or a Greater Manchester-style combined authority. At what was described as]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-and-black-country-councils-make-peace-and-discuss-joint-working-at-historic-glasnost-dinner/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>34</slash:comments>
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		<title>Unite&#8217;s &#8216;take-over&#8217; of Labour selections is anything but sinister</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/unites-take-over-of-labour-selections-is-anything-but-sinister/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/unites-take-over-of-labour-selections-is-anything-but-sinister/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:30:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Game]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPCs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unite]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=12079</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chris Game argues if these are Unite’s sinister shock troops parachuted to fix selections, they seem pretty well disguised. If you’ve had the misfortune to catch Prime Minister’s Questions recently,]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/unites-take-over-of-labour-selections-is-anything-but-sinister/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
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		<title>A year after Michael Heseltine unveiled his &#8216;single pot&#8217;, MPs tell political parties it&#8217;s time to stand up for LEPs</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/a-year-after-michael-heseltine-unveiled-his-single-pot-mps-tell-political-parties-its-time-to-stand-up-for-leps/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/a-year-after-michael-heseltine-unveiled-his-single-pot-mps-tell-political-parties-its-time-to-stand-up-for-leps/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2013 10:11:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advantage West Midlands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[All Party Parliamentary Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=12147</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A year has passed since Lord Heseltine issued his ‘No Stone Unturned’ report which urged the Government to establish a £49 billion single pot fund that would be administered by]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/a-year-after-michael-heseltine-unveiled-his-single-pot-mps-tell-political-parties-its-time-to-stand-up-for-leps/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>12</slash:comments>
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		<title>GBSLEP flies under the radar with a new West Midlands spatial strategy</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/gbslep-flies-under-the-radar-with-a-new-west-midlands-spatial-strategy/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/gbslep-flies-under-the-radar-with-a-new-west-midlands-spatial-strategy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:32:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEPs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eric Pickles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regional Spatial Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solihull Council]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=11732</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The beginning of what may develop into a 20-year growth plan for Birmingham and a large part of the West Midlands is out for consultation, but it’s highly unlikely that anyone]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/gbslep-flies-under-the-radar-with-a-new-west-midlands-spatial-strategy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
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		<title>Birmingham teams up with Boris and London councils to fight for devolution</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-teams-up-with-boris-and-london-councils-to-fight-for-devolution/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-teams-up-with-boris-and-london-councils-to-fight-for-devolution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 10:52:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boris Johnson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Core Cities Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mayor of London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Travers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=11728</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Birmingham has joined forces with Boris Johnson and London councils to demand greater financial freedoms and devolved powers from the Government. In a unique cross-party initiative, England’s Core Cities group]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-teams-up-with-boris-and-london-councils-to-fight-for-devolution/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
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		<title>Politicians take control of Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, in the name of accountability</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/politicians-take-control-of-greater-birmingham-and-solihull-lep-in-the-name-of-accountability/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/politicians-take-control-of-greater-birmingham-and-solihull-lep-in-the-name-of-accountability/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2013 10:51:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEPs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Andy Street]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=11407</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership will come under direct political control for the first time with the formation of a supervisory board consisting of council leaders. One]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/politicians-take-control-of-greater-birmingham-and-solihull-lep-in-the-name-of-accountability/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Birmingham props up unemployment league of shame with fifth of adults out of work</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-props-up-unemployment-league-of-shame-with-fifth-of-adults-out-of-work/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-props-up-unemployment-league-of-shame-with-fifth-of-adults-out-of-work/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Sep 2013 09:48:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[European Regional Development Fund]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[west midlands economic forum]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=11154</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It seems unlikely that unemployment will be a topic that dominates the 2015 General Election in the way that contests in the 1970s and 1980s were gripped by vicious debate about ever-lengthening dole queues.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-props-up-unemployment-league-of-shame-with-fifth-of-adults-out-of-work/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>West Midlands outstripped by Yorkshire in dash for regional goverment</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/west-midlands-outstripped-by-yorkshire-in-dash-for-regional-goverment/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/west-midlands-outstripped-by-yorkshire-in-dash-for-regional-goverment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:07:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department for Communities and Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sandwell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Yorkshire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=10954</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While the West Midlands continues to turn its back on regional governance, local authorities in the north of England are burying historic jealousies to form powerful joint boards to run]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/west-midlands-outstripped-by-yorkshire-in-dash-for-regional-goverment/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Black Vote in Birmingham in 2015</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/the-black-vote-in-birmingham-in-2015/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/the-black-vote-in-birmingham-in-2015/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Aug 2013 06:30:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Game]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BME]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conservative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hodge Hill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Major]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OBV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Operation Black Vote]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Perry Barr]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=10543</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Suppose the headline of this blog were slightly different: “UNEMPLOYED VOTE CAN DECIDE 2015 GENERAL ELECTION IN 6 BIRMINGHAM CONSTITUENCIES&#8221;. I’d guess you’d be pretty sceptical. You might accept that]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/the-black-vote-in-birmingham-in-2015/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is transport the first step in Bore&#8217;s vision for Greater Birmingham?</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/is-transport-the-first-step-in-bores-vision-for-greater-birmingham/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/is-transport-the-first-step-in-bores-vision-for-greater-birmingham/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Aug 2013 10:54:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Benjamin Mulvihill]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Manchester]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Express West Midlands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solihull]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=10505</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a radical step the leaders of seven West Midlands councils, collectively the Joint Committee, have agreed to form a new regional Integrated Transport Authority. The new ITA will take]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/is-transport-the-first-step-in-bores-vision-for-greater-birmingham/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8220;Absentee landlords&#8221; are a recipe for economic failure</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/absentee-landlords-are-a-recipe-for-economic-failure/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/absentee-landlords-are-a-recipe-for-economic-failure/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:12:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Leach]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Absentee landlord]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community-based economics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy of the United Kingdom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local multiplier effect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Localise WM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social exclusion]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=10329</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To me, the emperors-new-clothes issue around delivering local powers and progress as we approach the 2015 elections &#8211; ignored by politicians of all localism-embracing colours &#8211; is that of the]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/absentee-landlords-are-a-recipe-for-economic-failure/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>London&#8217;s Calling</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/londons-calling/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/londons-calling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 2013 16:31:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Benjamin Mulvihill]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BBC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Distribution of Industry Act 1945]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ganesh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Janan Ganesh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liverpool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=10069</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to Janan Ganesh, the jig is up: it’s time to accept that the UK is London-centred. For Ganesh this is the product of organic processes within the economy, and]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/londons-calling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fresh hope for a Greater Birmingham authority &#8211; but only if council leaders can agree</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/fresh-hope-for-a-greater-birmingham-authority-but-only-if-council-leaders-can-agree/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/fresh-hope-for-a-greater-birmingham-authority-but-only-if-council-leaders-can-agree/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 2013 09:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEPs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department for Business Innovation and Skills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greater Manchester]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=9962</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A little over two years ago the metropolitan councils of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan formed the Greater Manchester combined local authority with powers]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/fresh-hope-for-a-greater-birmingham-authority-but-only-if-council-leaders-can-agree/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>21</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seconds out for the great Local Growth Fund fight</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/seconds-out-for-the-great-local-growth-fund-fight/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/seconds-out-for-the-great-local-growth-fund-fight/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:41:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department for Business Innovation and Skills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=9943</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Half of the £2 billion a year Local Growth Fund earmarked for Local Enterprise Partnerships will be subject to a competitive bidding process, the Government has confirmed. The country’s 39]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/seconds-out-for-the-great-local-growth-fund-fight/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Everything you need to know about LEPs, regional government and grand devolution promises</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-leps-regional-government-and-grand-devolution-promises/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-leps-regional-government-and-grand-devolution-promises/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 2013 06:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Country LEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Prescott]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local enterprise partnership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Blair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands Regional Assembly]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=9782</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is almost 30 years since the West Midlands County Council disappeared along with the other English metropolitan counties and the Greater London Council, sacrificed on the altar of Thatcherite]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-leps-regional-government-and-grand-devolution-promises/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>17</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>WM2015</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/wm2015/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/wm2015/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 2013 05:59:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Johnson]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Popular]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Cameron]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lord Heseltine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Heseltine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spending Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[West Midlands County Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whitehall]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=9837</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An Introduction to WM2015 by Kevin Johnson The Coalition Government began its administration signalling that ‘localism’ and locally driven economic growth would be among its principal priorities. Prime Minister David Cameron]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/wm2015/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>11</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bore&#8217;s first year overshadowed by Birmingham&#8217;s gravest financial crisis</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/bores-first-year-overshadowed-by-birminghams-gravest-financial-crisis/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/bores-first-year-overshadowed-by-birminghams-gravest-financial-crisis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jul 2013 08:47:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Dale]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Bore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equal pay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Osborne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Service Birmingham]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=9648</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A little over a year ago, Sir Albert Bore returned from an eight-year exile in opposition to form his second Labour party administration in charge of Birmingham City Council. The]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/bores-first-year-overshadowed-by-birminghams-gravest-financial-crisis/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Never knowingly undone</title>
		<link>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/never-knowingly-undone/</link>
		<comments>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/never-knowingly-undone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:40:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Johnson]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[#ThinkBirmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WM2015]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSR2013]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GBSLEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Heseltine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thechamberlainfiles.com/?p=9297</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s difficult not to acquire a sense that whatever situation Andy Street finds himself in, he will always see the bright side. No doubt he’s a demanding boss for his]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://thechamberlainfiles.com/never-knowingly-undone/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>22</slash:comments>
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