Nottinghamshire County Council's leader says that Rishi Sunak is a "big believer" in East Midlands devolution, and that recent instability in Downing Street does not threaten it. The agreement covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire councils was first signed on August 30, when Boris Johnson was still Prime Minister.
Since that time, Mr Johnson left office, Liz Truss was installed as his replacement, Ms Truss resigned and Rishi Sunak has just been confirmed as her successor. But Ben Bradley, Mansfield's Conservative MP and the Nottinghamshire County Council leader, was one of those who signed the deal and says that Mr Sunak is a supporter of it.
Speaking just before Rishi Sunak was confirmed as the next Conservative Party leader, Mr Bradley said: "I don't think the national situation is too big a risk. There's always a risk that legislation might not happen in six months time, but I don't think the current instability adds to that in particular.
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"Rishi Sunak is a big believer in devolution and a big believer in our deal, I think it's very likely now to happen, with all the usual caveats of a week is a long time in politics. I think we're on track for an election in May 2024, the consultation will happen November to January and I'd encourage everybody to take part."
It comes as all four councils involved in the deal, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council, are due to discuss the devolution deal at meetings over the next few weeks. A public consultation will then take place until January.
The deal will see the creation of a new East Midlands Combined County Authority (CCA), covering the areas represented by the four signatory councils. This authority will have 17 members, including a new directly elected East Midlands Mayor, and will be given £38 million every year over the next 30 years.
The authority will also be given powers from Government to make local decisions on issues such as transport and housing. Nottingham City Council will be the first to discuss the proposed deal at a meeting on Monday (October 31), whilst Nottinghamshire County Council will discuss it on November 4.
In terms of the next stages of the deal, the upcoming council meetings will allow councillors to discuss it and for it to be ratified by them. Following the end of the public consultation on January 9, preparations for setting up the new East Midlands CCA will then start next April.
The process of establishing a 'shadow authority' will start from that month, before it is then formally established in May 2024, the same month when the first new East Midlands Mayor is due to be elected. This is the point when the new authority will formally start delivering on its responsibilities.
Ben Bradley has previously said that he would not rule out putting himself forward for the mayoral position and in terms of his latest stance on that, he told Nottinghamshire Live: "The uncertainty nationally does impact on my views as to whether I would or should stand for the role.
"The reason I'd like us to have... a mayor for the region is the opportunity it presents to do things and change things and deliver things on transport, on skills, on opportunities for people who live here. That makes it potentially a really exciting role. But as I've said, a week is a long time in politics and lord knows where we'll be in a year or 18 months time when those conversations are happening about who that mayor should be."
In a joint statement ahead of the consultation starting next month, the leaders of the four signatory councils 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.
"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."
The eight-week consultation will officially start on November 14, mainly through an online survey. Speaking about why it was important for people to take part, Ben Bradley added: "This is a really important thing that's happening, a big change in the way that we do local government, a big change in the way that we manage our services, particularly the things that really matter to people.
"It's really massive in the sense of how we manage and organise those things so it will be meaningful and it's really important that it's shaped in a way that residents are happy with. Whilst it's not a case of do you want devolution yes or no, there is a lot to be understood about residents' views and priorities."
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