All four councils agree to consult public as £1.14bn East Midlands devolution deal edges closer

The four council leaders with former Secretary of State Greg Clark (centre)
By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter

Nottinghamshire county councillors joined neighbours in Nottingham, Derbyshire and Derby in approving the next stages of the East Midland’s £1.14bn devolution deal.

The deal with the Government promises £38m for the region per year for three decades if the area creates a new elected regional mayor.

It will now go out for an eight-week consultation so more than 2.2 million people can have their say.

Nottinghamshire politicians approved the survey at an extraordinary council meeting at County Hall on Friday (November 4).

It followed similar meetings at Nottingham and Derby City Councils and Derbyshire County Council this week.

Devolution could lead to more powers and funding to determine locally-led projects in areas like housing, education and skills and transport.

During the Nottinghamshire meeting, concerns were raised that the region could be “short-changed” by the plans.

But there was also cross-party praise for the deal, with the plans hailed as a starting point for redressing funding “imbalances” in the region.

However, longstanding concerns that residents could be asked to foot the bill of a new council were aired again.

The deal will bring a mayoral combined authority to the region – chaired by a directly-elected mayor.

But documents reveal the combined authority would likely receive funding either through a mayoral council tax precept or a ‘levy’ on the city and county councils.

Councillor Ben Bradley (Con), the county council leader and Mansfield’s MP, has repeatedly said devolution will not lead to council tax rises.

But some Independent Alliance politicians questioned this and said the promise is not something Cllr Bradley can guarantee.

Calls were also made for the consultation to “be honest” with residents about both the “positives and negatives” of the deal.

Cllr Dave Shaw (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall West, said: “I have great concerns that this will burden the people of Nottinghamshire too much.

“While we have agreed not to raise a precept, that doesn’t mean – once we’ve got devolved powers – this will not happen.

“It’s really important that the public can have a robust, true and transparent consultation across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Derby city.

“It must have the same positives and negatives in that consultation. This should be the people’s consultation, not ours.”

Some Labour members also questioned the funding due to be given to the region and whether the East Midlands will be better off.

The annual £38m amounts to £17.27 per person per year – and Labour’s leader suggested the devolution agreement will not help the region when climbing the ladder of Government investment priorities.

Cllr Kate Foale (Lab) told the meeting she has always been in favour of devolution, but said: “We’ve some way to go before we can get anywhere near levelling up after years of underinvestment in our region.

“This region has been decimated now by 12 years of Conservative Governments, austerity and mismanagement of our economy, which is continuing.”

But Cllr Bradley said the East Midlands deal is the “single biggest devolved investment pot of any kind”.

He added: “Comparing with our most comparable partners – West Midlands and Greater Manchester – their funds were something in the region of £10 and £13 per head, to our £17.

“This is just phase one and, when we get these structures in place, we can go back at any spending review or budget opportunity to go and ask for more.

“On the council tax question and whether it’s going to have direct costs to residents on a precept, we’ve been clear in this chamber and agreed that we’re not doing that.”

Fifty-six Nottinghamshire councillors voted in favour of the consultation, with two abstaining.

The deal will now go out to the public for eight weeks between November 14 and January 8.

The deal depends on Westminster approving the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in the spring and, if approved, a ‘shadow’ combined authority would be created.

This would set the policy plans and governance of the main combined authority before it is established in full following a mayoral election in May 2024.

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