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"Just last month the West Midlands secured a new Devolution Deal with Government, giving local leaders here on the ground new powers and at least £1.5 billion of new funding to deliver results for local people. This will unquestionably unlock opportunities for businesses here in the Black Country. "The direction of travel is clear, with more decision-making power resting with elected local leadership here in our region. "This was underlined by a Government commissioned review of local enterprise partnerships recommending their work be taken on by local outfits led by elected local leaders - in this case the West Midlands Combined Authority, which I chair. In response to that Government recommendation, The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has taken the sad decision to close. "As a former chair of a local enterprise...