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Combined authority – a message from Managing Director, Emma Alexander

Published on 31 August 2022.

As you will remember from my last update, we have been working very closely with Nottinghamshire County, Derby City and Nottingham City Councils to achieve a levelling up deal with government. I am pleased to say that government have now agreed the deal and an East Midlands Mayoral County Combined Authority will be set up.


The East Midlands will receive £1.14billion over 30 years to invest in the region and, as one of the largest combined authorities, we will have greater influence at the highest levels to deliver a better quality of life for local people.

There is obviously much more to do and the 4 councils will be working closely together to develop the details of the deal, with each council taking a report through their council meetings. There will also be a public consultation later this year to ensure that the voice of residents, businesses and partners is fully heard.

The deal is one of the first of a new type of combined authority, happening across a 2-tier area, and requires new legislation from central government. The devolution deal is a level 3 deal, which offers the most local powers and funding, and will mean a new elected regional mayor, with elections currently expected to take place in 2024.

As I said in my last update, this is not about local government reorganisation and no councils will be abolished: it is about getting a fair share for the people of Derbyshire and bringing in more jobs and skills, improving housing and transport, and fundamentally supporting a better quality of life for people in the region.

This is a huge achievement for Derbyshire and the East Midlands as a whole, and one that brings powers from Westminster to a local level and will deliver real benefits. I will keep you up to date as we progress over the coming months.