Bassetlaw: Leader hails new venture

Bassetlaw is joining forrces with the councils of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales and North East Derbyshire to work together through a new combined authority.

It will have responsibility for transport, economic development and regeneration, and replace the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority.

“It is very important for Bassetlaw to be part of this because if we are not, we miss out,” said Coun Greaves.

“By being part of this, we have a great opportunity to boost our funding and maximise our potential and be in a better position to boost growth.”

“If we are not involved in this, we will not be able to increase our internal investment, or attract new internal investment and local business would lose out.”

The combined authority would allow councils to take decisions jointly across their area with the purpose of driving economic growth.

The scheme also streamlines the decision-making process in areas like transport and means businesses and agencies only have to deal with one decision-making body rather than many.

“We are now discussing major transport proposals we have not been part of before and we also now have access to the Sheffield City fund, which we never had before, and would not have done so unless we had been part of this combined authority,” added Coun Greaves.

Commenting on the propospals, local government minister Brandon Lewis MP said: “By encouraging joint working and having all local authority leaders in a room together at one time, decisions can be made quickly.”

“This boosts economic growth and drives forward business success.”

“Looking at strategic decision-making in this way recognises that an area’s economy, doesn’t stop at a local authority boundary.”