Nottingham agrees to public consultation on £1.14bn devolution deal

Nottingham City Council has become the first authority to formally agree to a public consultation over the proposed East Midlands devolution deal.

If the three other councils involved in the plans reach a similar decision this week, members of the public will be offered the chance to give feedback on proposals which could provide the region with a guaranteed income stream of £38m per year over a 30-year period.

The leaders of Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council signed up to work on a devolution deal earlier this year after the Government offered the region a package of new powers and funding worth £1.14bn.

Derby and Derbyshire will decide on the consultation plan tomorrow (2 November) with Nottinghamshire following suit on Thursday (4 November).

Cllr David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “We have been working on agreeing a more detailed proposal, which includes information on how devolution would work and how it would benefit local people. The plans would see a new regional mayor and new type of combined authority created for the area from 2024.

“This deal would bring in more powers and more money and allows more decisions to be made locally. We would make the most of every penny and every opportunity from this deal and it could make a real difference to people’s lives. This includes more and better jobs, more investment, economic growth, better transport, housing, skills training, and an improved and more sustainable environment.”

He added: “All four councils need to agree the proposals before we can move to a consultation, where residents, businesses and other organisations can have their say on the plans.”