Discussions are continuing over whether or not Nottingham (shire) and Derby (shire) should be governed under a new super authority and a mayor. Such plans would bring the region into the so-called "Premier League" of local governance and give it similar decision making powers to that of the West Midlands.
Labour-led Nottingham and Conservative-led Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire city and county councils respectively have submitted a bid for a 'county deal' after the Government's Levelling Up white paper named the four areas in its plans to hand down powers and, ultimately, more cash. To get the most out of the deal however a combined authority, complete with a mayor, would be required.
The super authority has before been criticised, particularly by district and borough councils which fear their influence would be reduced, however leaked bid documents reveal a full “scrap and merge” of the two city and two county authorities and deletion of the district and borough councils is not proposed.
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If approved the East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority (East Midlands MCA) would be the third largest in England, overseeing 2.2 million people. Providing an update during a meeting of executive councillors on Thursday (April 28), David Mellen, Dales ward Labour councillor and leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "It is clear that in the East Midlands we have not received our fair share of Government funding for infrastructure, transport and capital projects generally.
"We look to other parts of the country and it is clear they have far more money going to them. We are in a situation where we are able to work with other authorities in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and at Derby city to apply for an arrangement with Government to have those powers devolved down to us, so that we can have decisions made about our region made nearer to the people."
Councillor Mellen has before raised his "scepticism" over what the deal could bring to the city. However he said: "The opportunity is to have a mayoral combined authority and there is ongoing discussion about this."
The county deal bid calls for a mayor to have the power to introduce an extra precept – an additional section on your council tax bill – which could see residents across the two counties and two cities paying more every year. The new mayor would also take on some of the powers of the police and crime commissioners for both counties and cities.
Among other asks the bid is also requesting the ability to introduce bus franchising across the two counties and two cities, as is being rolled out across Greater Manchester, in which the authority takes control of the bus network in a bid to improve services and reduce fares. The four authorities would like priority for a new rail partnership with Great British Railways, saying Derby is a “prominent” contender for the new headquarters and the East Midlands being the “rail capital of the UK”.
Sajeeda Rose, corporate director for city growth, said the council is in discussions with regards to how a combined authority could affect the city and its residents. She added: "This is an opportunity for the city to be involved in a devolution deal which would put Nottingham in parity with other cities.
"It is the only core city that isn't in a combined authority and, therefore, doesn't have access to the same level of funds that those authorities benefit from. With regards to what this would mean this is bringing powers that currently sit with Government and made centrally closer to Nottingham."
