The WMCA has approved a £3.4 billion transport blueprint to transform the city’s tram routes, new suburban rail lines, cycle routes and motorways.

MPs in the House of Commons have backed the EU Withdrawal Bill by 326 votes to 290 in the first Parliamentary vote on the Brexit legislation.
The Repeal Bill aims to end the supremacy of EU law in the UK and will now move onto the next stage of the Parliamentary process.
Despite some ministers being warned that the bill signalled a ‘power grab’ by the Conservatives, Prime Minister Theresa May hailed the first success as offering ‘certainty and clarity’.

Birmingham council leader John Clancy has resigned following weeks of criticism over the authority’s handling of industrial action by refuse workers.

The government, businesses and civil society will be working together in a partnership to identify and develop solutions to societal challenges.
Leaders from business and civil society organisations have come together to create an Inclusive Economy Partnership that will tackle significant challenges facing the community.
The partnership will address issues relating to financial inclusion and capability, mental health and transition to work,

A minimum of 2,050 affordable homes are hoped to be built in the city between the current financial year and 2022/23.

The next steps in the £1 billion flagship regeneration scheme in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter have been outlined in a new report.
Approval will be sought at Liverpool City Council’s cabinet on 15 September to kick start a multi-million pound programme of site works on seven plots to pave the way for the firs phase of construction at Paddington Village - including a new car park, hotel, office space and a district heating system.

The expansion of Universal Credit is a ‘disaster waiting to happen’, according to government’s flagship welfare reform.
New findings have shown that Universal Credit is pushing people further into debt.
The Citizens Advice charity says the government’s plans to accelerate roll-out of the benefit from five to 50 areas a month from October could have catastrophic consequences, as there are still many problems with the system.

Thousands of children are playing in school playgrounds near roads with harmful levels of illegal air pollution, new research has found.
Environmental law charity, ClientEarth, which is behind the ‘poisoned playgrounds’ campaign that aims to protect children from polluted air, found the data as part of a campaign which claims over 950 schools are situated near roads which suffer from harmful pollution levels.
The findings are based on an analysis of the latest government data.

The government is to lift the one per cent public sector pay cap for the first time for police and prison officers, the BBC has reported.
Ministers are expected to accept recommendations for higher pay rises and also pave the way for similar increases in other sectors.
Unions, the opposition and some Tories are calling for the cap to be cut.
But there are warnings that police forces have budgeted for a one per cent rise and without extra money, jobs will be at risk.

An £8 million investment in Somerset children’s futures has seen pupils and staff returning after summer through the doors of two new primary schools.