News - 26 March 2015

Devolution for area would be a “game changer” says D2N2 Chairman

Devolution for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – switching millions of pounds in public spending power from Whitehall to local control – would be a “game changer” for the area, claims D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Chairman Peter Richardson.

Mr Richardson was speaking after yesterday’s (March 25) ‘Devo Day’ initiative, when Nottingham City Council Leader Councillor Jon Collins outlined to local business leaders how devolution for the D2N2 area – of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – would substantially benefit from devolved powers to decide issues over skills and employment, training, transport, housing, business investment and other matters important to local citizens.

The City Council leader also took to the Twittersphere yesterday evening, answering questions via the #NottmDEVO hashtag through Twitter on what devolution would mean for the D2N2 area.

Ian Curryer and Jon Collins at Nottingham Station 

Jon Collins (Leader) and Ian Curryer (Chief Executive) of Nottingham City Council (L-R) holding copies of the D2N2 Devolution Prospectus before embarking to London.

Both he and the D2N2 Chairman were part of a delegation, along with politicians and business figures from the two cities and counties, which met earlier this month (March) with Minister for Cities Greg Clark and his Labour Shadow Hilary Benn MP to formally open devolution discussions, which the next elected Government will have to take forward.

A ‘Devolution Prospectus’ has been published – setting out the D2N2 area’s argument to Government in detail – and can be read on the Local Enterprise Partnership’s website at http://www.d2n2lep.org/News/d2n2-devolution-prospectus 

Commenting after Devo Day, Mr Richardson said: “I was heartened by the response we got in London, with support for our prospectus, which was better and stronger than I had anticipated.

“Whoever wins the General Election, they will look to move forward with it very quickly.

“This could be a game-changer for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, which will deliver some very significant opportunities for businesses.”

Councillor Collins has called devolution an “historic opportunity” for the area, which has broad cross-political party support.

Any Devolution deal would be conditional on city, county and most borough and district councils forming a ‘combined authority’; one serving Nottinghamshire and a separate one for Derbyshire. A combined authority is a statutory body which takes a collective councils’ approach to decisions on transport, regeneration and economic development.

The two new combined authorities which Derby and Derbyshire, and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, are currently working towards are expected to come into effect by the end of this year (2015). It’s thought any new devolved powers held by these two combined authorities are unlikely to be developed until 2017 at the earliest.

Latest News & Events

19 July 2024

Local business support boosted with launch of Early Stage Angel Investment Fund

Read Article

21 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: Scott Knowles, Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber, on the D2N2 LEP transition and East Midlands devolution

Read Article

11 June 2024

The D2N2 LEP staff team joins the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)

Read Article

07 June 2024

Becky Rix, Marketing Director at Roadgas, explains why Roadgas is a proud member of the East Midlands Hydrogen Consortium

Read Article

05 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Natasha Johnson, Director of Partnerships at Global Entrepreneurs UK

Read Article

05 June 2024

Free Expert Business Advice and Support available through East Midlands Chamber’s Accelerator Programme

Read Article

03 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Professor Edward Peck CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President, Nottingham Trent University

Read Article

24 May 2024

Focus on the East Midlands: our time is NOW!

Read Article

24 May 2024

D2N2 LEP CEO, Will Morlidge, shares our East Midlands Hydrogen ambitions at UKREiiF

Read Article

24 May 2024

East Midlands Freeport and Freeport East Sign Green Freight Corridor Initiative at UKREiiF

Read Article

Get in touch.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up
Address

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
8 Experian Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP

Social

Our Partners