£1.14bn devolution deal proposal to be discussed by councils

Councils across the East Midlands are set to discuss plans for a devolution deal, which could be worth £1.14 billion to the region.

Back in August, the leaders of Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council met up at Rolls-Royce, in Derby, to sign an agreement to work together on a deal, after the Government offered the region a package of new powers and funding.

Now, each individual council is due to decide whether to formally agree that a public consultation about the devolution deal proposal should take place.

Both Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council are set to discuss detailed proposals about the deal, and what it would mean for the area, on Wednesday 2 November.

In a joint statement, the four leaders, Chris Poulter, of Derby City Council, Barry Lewis, of Derbyshire County Council, Ben Bradley MP, of Nottinghamshire County Council, and David Mellen, of Nottingham City Council, said: “Formal agreement by each council to go ahead with a consultation is the next step towards securing a devolution deal.

“It is about us getting a better deal for our area and getting a fairer share for both counties and cities.”

Since August, all the councils have been working on agreeing a more detailed proposal, which includes more information about how devolution would work for the region.

If the proposal is agreed by all the councils involved a full consultation would follow, giving residents, businesses and other organisations the chance to have their say on the plans for a devolution deal, which would see a new regional mayor and new type of combined authority created for the area from 2024.

The deal would provide the region with a guaranteed income stream of £38 million per year over a 30-year period, and would cover around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.

The leaders joint statement said: “It would mean more funding for our region, and the opportunity to have more meaningful decisions made here, near the people they affect, rather than in London, so they can be better tailored to local needs.

“We don’t want to miss out on the advantages that devolution would bring, which other parts of the country have already benefited from.

“We’ve seen how devolution has given other areas more influence, a bigger presence, and helped them make the most of their strengths.

“We want to make the most of every opportunity, and of every penny, that this deal would bring in.

“It could make a real difference to people’s lives. More and better jobs, more investment, economic growth, better transport, housing, skills training, an improved greener and more sustainable environment.

“These are the things we all want to see, as we work together for a better future for the East Midlands.”

If the devolution deal goes ahead, the Government would pass legislation bringing a new mayoral county combined authority for the East Midlands into existence.

The first election for a regional mayor for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham would be in May 2024.

The regional mayor would lead the new combined authority, which would also include representatives from local councils, with decision making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands.

Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.

The devolution deal would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area.

The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.

To find out more about the East Midlands devolution deal visit www.eastmidlandsdevolution.co.uk.