27.04.18
East Midlands explores devolution deal to ‘match clout’ of WMCA
A devolution deal extending across the whole of the East Midlands is being explored, council leaders have confirmed.
It is hoped that the deal would provide balance across the Midlands Engine (ME) area to match the clout of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire County Councils are believed to have been involved in preliminary conversations.
Cllr Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council leader, said that the possibility of a wider devolution deal is being explored, working with all the upper tier authorities including the cities.
“This, we hope, will provide balance across the Midlands Engine area, to match the weight and clout of the West Midlands Combined Authority and its elected mayor,” he explained.
He added: “Since the notion of elected mayors is off the table, and had proved controversial here in the past, there seems to be a feeling that this is the right time.”
It is hoped that this new way of working, under the banner of the Midlands Engine, would enable the region to compete with the Northern Powerhouse, which Lewis said could add real economic drive to the vision outlined by the ME and Sir John Peace recently.
The leaders hope that the deal will allow them to “pull critical levers” with the government to devolve a range of powers and investment opportunities to the East Midlands - an area that Lewis says has been identified as being weak in attracting government support.
The Derbyshire leader concluded: “Working with the East Midlands Councils the input of district and borough colleagues will be valued.
“It’s still early days but we hope to have a working outline to test government support soon.”
The region has tried for devolution deals in the past, but in 2015 and 2016 faltered over the requirement to adopt an elected mayor.
Last year Nottingham and Derby city councils were accused of “secret and underhand” plans to expand their boundaries without proper consultation, which left the leaders of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire county council concerned that large areas of the counties could be swallowed up into a huge new authority.
Top image: Dave Bevis
Enjoying PSE? Subscribe here to receive our weekly news updates or click here to receive a copy of the magazine!