PHOTO: Delegates at the EMCCA Launch Event in Chesterfield
The first board meeting of the newly established East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) took place yesterday (20 March), with council leaders making a series of decisions to establish the organisation’s constitution, budget and plans to improve the lives of everyone who lives and works in the D2N2 region.
The EMCCA Board, made up of the leaders and deputy leaders from Derbyshire, Derby, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham councils, debated a number of key reports at their first meeting held at Chesterfield Borough Council.
The council leaders were joined by D2N2 LEP Deputy Chair David Williams MBE, who has been appointed to the role of interim business representative on the board. David’s role is to establish the new Business Advisory Board for EMCCA, define its terms of reference and its membership and, crucially, how it will ensure the voice of business is represented at the heart of EMCCA governance.
Representatives from district and borough councils across the area will join the EMCCA Board at the next meeting, planned for after the mayoral election. After the election, future board meetings will be chaired by the Mayor.
The inaugural board meeting was chaired by Cllr Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, who said:
“Our shared ambition for our place and the people we serve has united us over the past few years and will continue to be the driving force behind all we do as EMCCA develops and grows.
The £4 billion of government funding on the table for us through the devolution deal is just the start.
We aim to attract more investment by making things happen and turning round historic under-investment in the East Midlands so the regional economy is stronger and better for local residents.”
Following the board meeting, more than 100 partners and stakeholders joined political leaders at the EMCCA launch event in Chesterfield to hear more about the combined county authority’s future plans. The group discussed the strategic framework for EMCCA, that focuses on the importance of growing the region’s economy for everyone’s benefit by targeting investment to speed up economic growth, improving transport links to towns, cities and major employers in the East Midlands and improving skills support and training in key sectors.
PHOTO: David Williams MBE, D2N2 LEP Deputy Chair, asking a question at the EMCCA launch event
The launch event provided delegates with an overview of the devolution journey in the East Midlands so far, what devolution means for our region and what happens next. Delegates debated and discussed the strategic framework for EMCCA during an interactive workshop led by Richard Grice, Interim Strategy and Delivery Lead at EMCCA.
PHOTO: Richard Grice, Interim Strategy and Delivery Lead, EMCCA, leading a workshop on EMCCA’s strategic framework at the EMCCA launch event
Delegates also heard an update from local communications consultancy BakerBaird on plans for an ambitious awareness-raising campaign to inform and engage the 2.2m residents in the EMCCA region about their chance to cast their vote for the new mayor in the East Midlands mayoral election on Thursday 2 May.
More information on devolution in the East Midlands
More information on the elections for the East Midlands Mayor
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) covers the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire region, convening the businesses, universities, colleges and local authorities in our region to drive low carbon, economic growth and productivity, skills & careers, inclusion and delivery excellence. The D2N2 LEP team and functions will transition into the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) during 2024.
For media enquiries, contact:
Nicola Swaney
Head of External Affairs, D2N2 LEP
Nicola.Swaney@d2n2lep.org
