UKIP councillors have welcomed moves to give people the chance to have their say over plans to create a combined authority for the West Midlands.

The party’s group on Dudley Council voted against the combined authority last year arguing there was insufficient consultation and did not support its “anti-business measures including expensive green levies”.

Group leader Cllr Paul Brothwood claimed pressure from UKIP and changes by central government had led to the launch of the latest consultation exercise.

It has come about by splitting two contentious elements, giving people the chance to have their say on the devolution deal and metro mayor before councillors vote on the combined authority.

The results of the consultation will go to the government and if approved will come back to councillors to vote on.

UKIP argued councillors should not have voted on the combined authority last year as there was insufficient detail and little consultation. Cllr Brothwood said: “Yet another fiasco surrounding the planned combined authority. It started with them planning to build on the greenbelt in Halesowen and then they swiftly moved on to looking at raising business rates for small businesses”

“We have been fighting this for a long time and will continue to do so. Local people need to know the downsides of handing powers over to a Metro Mayor and giving more power to a cash-strapped Birmingham.”

UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge added: “It is vital local residents and business express their concerns during this short consultation period, because if this comes into force they will see power centralised and large levies forced on small business which they can ill afford.”

The consultation survey can be completed here