New communities secretary Sajid Javid has announced the transfer of the first cash injection to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), proclaiming it is now time to ‘fire up the Midlands Engine'. 

The £36.5m transfer is the first of 30 yearly payments expected to total £1.1bn as part of the region's devolution agreement, which aims to boost long-term growth, create jobs, improve skills and invest in transport and innovation.