North Midlands devolution chiefs to meet

The chief executives of the 13 authorities committed to the North Midlands devolution deal will meet later this week to try and decide a way forward for the mooted combined authority, TheBusinessDesk.com understands.

The original 19 authorities that comprised the initial deal has been reduced to 13, and Whitehall is becoming nervous as to whether the entire region is on board, according to our sources.

The authorities committed to the deal are: Ashfield District Council, Mansfield District Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Bolsover District Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Gedling Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Broxtowe Borough Council.

The North Midlands devolution bid has suffered a number of setbacks in recent weeks. High Peak has said it wants to to open discussions with the Northern Powerhouse Greater Manchester Authority, whilst Chesterfield Borough Council have decided to throw its lot in with the Sheffield City Region.

South Derbyshire, Amber Valley and Erewash councils simply say they’re not interested in any new deal, whilst Bassetlaw will decide over the coming days.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are currently pushing for a North Midlands Devolution deal, while Leicester and Leicestershire have submitted a bid to Government to create a combined authority to oversee investment in things like transport, skills and housing. According to the chief executive of the East Midlands Chamger of Commerce, although no formal talks have taken place about joining forces at some point in the future, from a Chamber perspective at least, the door is always open.

Scott Knowles, chief exective, said: “Regardless of whether or not the two areas come together to create an East Midlands super devolution deal, there will be common issues – regional transport links, for example – where collaboration will be key and we will work in partnership towards the best solution, as we have done in the past.

“It’s important to remember that it’s not just about Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire working with Leicester and Leicestershire, though. We have the Sheffield City Region at the northern boundary and we will also need to collaborate with the West Midlands, Manchester and the North East on issues such as HS2, where there is a mutual interest.

“This is why initiatives such as Midlands Connect, which aims to boost transport links between the East and West Midlands, are so important, because they facilitate that collaboration between regions.”