Devolution: Elected mayor a step closer for Nottinghamshire

The final details of a deal on devolution for Nottinghamshire are being negotiated.

Leaders from the city and county councils met the Government in Westminster to discuss the finer points of a formal agreement which could radically alter the balance of political power.

And Whitehall officials are now asking that the local bid includes a plan to bring Leicestershire and Staffordshire into the deal if either county wants to join in future.

The current proposal already involves a partnership with Derbyshire to create a combined authority.

Talks are also progressing on a condition that the region appoints a directly-elected mayor.

If approved, the agreement will mean local councils get more control over how services like education, health and transport are run and financed locally.

The local delegation met Local Government Secretary Greg Clark early this afternoon.

The group included City Council leader Jon Collins and his Nottinghamshire County Council counterpart Alan Rhodes.

Picture: Notts County Council Leader Alan Rhodes

Coun Rhodes told Notts TV News: “I’m very confident a deal will go ahead. Negotiations are going very well – those were their words, not mine.

“They wanted us to think about Leicestershire and Staffordshire. Neither of them are on the same timetable as us, but they are asking us to provide information about how they would include them should they wish to join the deal.”

Any agreement will be subject to a public consultation and the final agreement of 19 local authorities across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

But Notts TV News understands if the final hurdles are cleared, a poll to choose an elected mayor could be held at the same time as the next Nottinghamshire County Council election in 2017.

Manchester has already signed a devolution agreement with the Government, and several other bids are being prepared across the country.