By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottinghamshire’s police and crime commissioner says she is “broadly” supportive of the county’s devolution plans – despite the proposals potentially putting her job at risk.
Caroline Henry (Con) says she has had conversations with Nottinghamshire County Council about its devolution goals, which could see a directly-elected mayor and combined authority created for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
If the two counties, plus the cities of Nottingham and Derby received the full devolution package, more decentralised powers and funding would be provided locally to improve healthcare, crime, education and transport among other areas.
But Government documents confirm the mayoral role could also have police and crime commissioner responsibility, meaning their remit would cover the funding of police and setting policing priorities.
It has led to some concern among county councillors that Mrs Henry could face losing her job if the full devolution package goes ahead.
And questions were raised at the authority’s policy committee meeting on Thursday (March 24) over whether the newly-elected commissioner is in favour of the plans.
Now, however, Mrs Henry has spoken out for the first time publicly and confirmed the devolution ambitions across the East Midlands have got her support.
But she says there is a “long way to go yet” before any details are revealed on the future of police and crime commissioning in Nottinghamshire.
Mrs Henry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Broadly speaking, I’m in favour of anything that will benefit Nottinghamshire’s residents.
“I was not involved in [Thursday’s] meeting, so I really am not in a position to comment on matters discussed.
“Certainly, I have met [Nottinghamshire County Council’s chief executive] Anthony May to discuss what may, or may not, happen, but there is a long way to go yet.”
Her comments come after a Labour councillor questioned whether the Conservative-led administration at Nottinghamshire County Council has spoken with Mrs Henry about devolution.
Councillor Michelle Welsh (Lab), who represents Arnold South, said: “In devolution, it’s not just councils that are involved, especially on level three which involves the devolution of police powers.
“This means the police and crime commissioner would cease to exist. I was wondering what the police and crime commissioner thought about these proposals and how much she has been involved with regard to this.
“That is another big change for Nottinghamshire and is something we should be getting out to the public.
“Her role, recently, has brought in some significant funding to Nottinghamshire, including to the borough of Gedling, so where does this fit into the grand scale of planning?”
In response to Cllr Welsh’s question, Mr May reiterated meetings have taken place with Mrs Henry and confirmed discussions are ongoing about the potential role of policing in devolution.
Derbyshire would also be covered under the level three devolution deal, meaning the county’s own police and crime commissioner Angelique Foster (Con) would also need to be involved in discussions.
Mr May said: “The leader [Ben Bradley] and I met with [Mrs Henry] on Monday and agreed we should look at the options available to us to include the powers of a police and crime commissioner in a devolution deal.
“But [we will] not make a judgement at this stage as to how they might be brought down in detail.
“If you tick the box of police and crime commissioner powers for a deal across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, technically you’re speaking on behalf of both counties and cities, and we’re not in that position yet.
“What we have agreed with the commissioner is that we will work with both Caroline Henry and her counterpart in Derbyshire, to consider what options are available.”
Council leaders across both cities and counties will continue discussions about the potential level three devolution deal in the coming weeks and months.
The Government expects many deals to be agreed by autumn this year.
