Devolution deal meeting ends with 13 councils pressing ahead with plans for a North Midlands Authority

Plans for a new North Midlands Authority are going forward after 13 authorities committed to the devolution deal this afternoon at a meeting in Mansfield
This is a developing story and updates will be provided as and when they come in. Keep checking our website for the latest.This is a developing story and updates will be provided as and when they come in. Keep checking our website for the latest.
This is a developing story and updates will be provided as and when they come in. Keep checking our website for the latest.

The 13 authorities committed to the deal so far which would see transport and economic powers devolved locally from Central Government include:

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.

lan Rhodes, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said:

“We have worked well together over the past 12 months and we have come a long way in the ambition to get the North Midlands to be a player on the national stage.

“Clearly the situation may have changed but we remain convinced that this is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss for the sake of our residents and local business.

“Now is the time for strong leadership - we remain committed that we want to move forward.

“We have 13 authorities that are keen to progress with a deal that benefits residents and we need to talk to the Government about what that could be.

“We leave this meeting with fresh resolve to move forward in a united way to build a stronger economy across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.”

Several Derbyshire councils are going with other deals or have pulled out .

High Peak indicated they want to open discussions with the Northern Powerhouse Greater Manchester Authority, Chesterfield Borough Council have decided to throw their lot in with the Sheffield City Region.

South Derbyshire, Amber Valley and Erewash councils said they were not interested in any new deal.

Bassetlaw District Council is undecided and will decide how to go forward over the coming weeks.

The authorities taking part in the new North Midlands Authority will make their case to the Government and decisions will be made on the positions of an over arching Mayor and the future of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

More when we have it