Derbyshire will need an elected mayor to access sweeping new government powers

The Government wants an elected mayor to oversee Derbyshire so it has “one hand to shake and one ass to kick”, a council leader has said.
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In a meeting hosted by Derbyshire County Council yesterday, district, county and city leadership came together to discuss plans which could see a massive shake-up in the way local government is organised in the area.

Last month it was announced that central Government had awarded Derby and Derbyshire a “County Deal” which would see the area given extra powers and more decision-making control.

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This could include more power and funds for transport, bus services, housing and skills, the county council says.

Derbyshire County Council hosted the meeting of local authority leadersDerbyshire County Council hosted the meeting of local authority leaders
Derbyshire County Council hosted the meeting of local authority leaders

In this week’s meeting, Emma Alexander, the county council’s managing director, said there were three tiers of powers being offered to areas by Government based on what deals they agree.

She detailed that Level 1 would see very few additional powers and this would be balanced with councils across Derbyshire working closely together.

Meanwhile, Level 2 would see significantly more powers such as the ability to have a bus franchise for the county and city, with an ask for an authority to work together across the whole geographical area of Derbyshire – but without a directly elected mayor.

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Level 3, the top tier, would see a vast amount of extra powers but with the mandatory requirement for a directly elected mayor to oversee a form of combined authority.

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Ms Alexander suggested this could cover Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, including Derby and Nottingham, with options for one to cover all of the East Midlands.

This would match the West Midlands Combined Authority, overseen by Mayor Andy Street.

The extra powers in the top tier would include priority for a rail partnership through Great British Railways – currently on the hunt for a national HQ.

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Level 3 would also include powers to group together local transport funding into one spending pot, a long-term investment fund, key route status for road networks and the complete devolution of a brownfield investment fund for the area.

Derby and Derbyshire is one of nine areas to be pitching County Deal proposals, and Ms Alexander said those who jump at the chance of Level 3 – a combined authority with a mayor – would get first priority.

Everyone else, she said, would have to wait until late 2024 for support for their plans.

If, for instance, Derby and Derbyshire were to pitch for a combined authority with an elected mayor, the new authority could be formed in late 2023 or early 2024, with the first wave of schemes to be approved in autumn this year.

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Ms Alexander speculated that the Government’s decision to insist on a directly elected mayor for a Level 3 pitch “is a political decision, not a strategic decision”.

She said this would allow the Government to have “a single line of communication and accountability for decisions”.

Ms Alexander said some powers within the county could be devolved upwards – taken from districts and boroughs – while some may be passed down from the county and city.

Cllr Barry Lewis, county council leader, said there was an amount of “horse-trading” being offered by the Government in exchange for extra power.

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He appeared not to be in favour of a directly elected mayor.

Cllr Chris Poulter, who is the leader of Derby City Council, said: “If we go down the route with a mayor, the Government has more interest. They want one hand to shake and one ass to kick.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Tricia Gilby, who is the leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said that the district authorities had more expertise over housing matters through their council housing and Local Plasn and that they ought to retain power over that area of work.

She said that the area should be pitching for at least Level 2 in a bid to get the level of investment and power over decisions currently sitting with the West Midlands Combined Authority and its Mayor, Andy Street.

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Cllr Poulter said there was the potential for a “major political shift” with benefits available for the whole of Derbyshire, including the Derby city area.

He said: “It is clear the Government wants an elected mayor and with that comes a combined authority and a change to the levels of government.

“We have been told before that it is easier to deal with a local authority if there are fewer levels to deal with.

“The districts will have to think about how best to position themselves.“We all want the best thing for Derbyshire, even if it is on a D2N2 footprint (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire) as the East Midlands Combined Authority, which is what it would possibly be called.”

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He said not jumping at the opportunity for a larger organisation with extra powers would mean “we would be left in the doldrums and left out of future funding bids”.

Cllr Poulter said the area could pitch for a combined authority without a mayor, but it could help push for power and influence on behalf of Derbyshire.

Cllr Lewis said: “I don’t want a directly elected mayor but the Government has the political will to offer us a deal without one and fewer powers and one with a mayor and more powers.”

For all the very latest news on local government and council decisions right across north Derbyshire, from planning decisions to council meetings, visit the politics section of our website at www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/politics