The region's public transport watchdog and its executive body are to ‘merge’ it has been announced.

Councillors on the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority voted for the move which is designed to give a clearer, more effective voice for passengers and regional interests.

Public transport promoter Centro and the decision-making PTA will now share a single administration.  Support for councillors on the PTA was previously carried out by officers from Coventry City Council.

''There will be no reduction at all in the very successful partnership arrangements with local councils or other bodies.  But within Centro-PTA the new streamlined arrangements will make us more responsive and efficient," says chairman Cllr Gary Clarke.

The WMPTA was first formed in the late 1960s to cover the Birmingham journey-to-work area and was then re-shaped 20 years ago when the former West Midlands County Council was abolished.  Policy is set by councillors from the seven city and borough councils in the metropolitan area. (see footnote)   For historical reasons Centro, the body that carries out PTA policy, has remained a separate entity.  

“While we work together on promoting and developing public transport, differentiation between what is Centro and what is PTA has been unnecessarily complicated.  It is far more important that we get the job done,” comments Cllr Clarke.  “Providing the region with first-class public transport and working to cut congestion has never been more important.”

“The new arrangements will bring the excellent work of Centro officers and the political direction given by elected councillors into a single organisation.  That gives Centro-PTA even greater ability to get things done and makes us a more effective lobbying voice for transport in the West Midlands,” he adds.

The seven councils are: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton