06.01.16
Derbyshire and Notts set out combined authority devo deal
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and 19 councils across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire want to create a single combined authority by March 2016, they revealed in the region’s first draft devolution deal. Their proposal is now known as the North Midlands devolution bid, following a request for a name-change from the government.
The combined authority would be the first of its kind, featuring district, borough, city and county councils.
The deal, sent to chancellor George Osborne and communities secretary Greg Clark MP just before Christmas, sets out the region’s final negotiating position, arguing that “now is the time to do the deal”.
Council leaders have subscribed to the government’s recommendation of a directly-elected mayor, who they argue should be granted the powers and resources currently held in the capital.
The proposed package includes thousands of extra homes, private sector jobs, 30 years’ worth of infrastructure investment, a joint transport fund with better co-ordinated systems and smart ticketing, and journey times to London of less than 90 minutes by train.
Requesting ‘London-style powers’ over the region’s transport network, the deal wishes to directly influence improvements to motorways and increase the international trade and passenger transport at East Midlands Airport.
Councillors are also calling for better adult skills provision, more responsive business support, wider apprenticeship programmes and better targeted employment schemes – especially to tackle the root causes of long-term unemployment.
Derbyshire County Council’s leader Cllr Anne Western and Nottingham City Council’s leader Cllr Jon Collins said the regions “can’t stress enough the size of the prize on offer” for the region’s residents and the benefits devolution could bring.
“Following a request from government, we have renamed our bid as North Midlands, which more accurately reflects the geographical area covered and will be able to align with the same name for the combined authority,” Western added.
“We've been working with the government to finalise a deal for some time now and discussions have been extremely positive. Both sides are clearly committed to an agreement and there's no reason to delay any further.”
Cllr Alan Rhodes, Nottinghamshire County Council’s leader, noted that the majority of these proposals have already been agreed and that the regions are now just awaiting the green light from the chancellor.