Draft East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024

Lloyd Russell-Moyle Excerpts

Wednesday 7th February 2024 General Committees

[Jacob Young]

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton for his support. It should be said that the spending power of the respective constituent councils within the new combined county authority area increases by 7.4% for Derby City Council, 8.3% for Derbyshire County Council, 8% for Nottinghamshire County Council and 7.3% for Nottingham City Council. We are therefore increasing local funding and giving those councils the funding they need to deliver key services. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that Nottingham City Council issued a section 114 notice. I assure the Committee that such a notice does not affect the new combined county authority as it is a separate institution.

As I said, the regulations, which are widely welcomed by the people of the east midlands, are a significant step forward for the whole area, which includes two cities, large towns and rural areas. This step makes an important contribution to the Government’s levelling-up agenda.

[Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton, Kemptown) (Lab/Co-op)]

The Minister makes good points and this is a welcome devolution deal. Will his Department consider the alternative devolution offers that other counties have put forward? At the moment, it is a one-size-fits-all mayoral option only. Conservative, Liberal, Green and Labour councils in Sussex have asked for a devolution deal that would cover three counties—East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey—but with an assembly rather than a directly elected mayor. It is what we want but the Department has rejected it a number of times. Is it not time for the Department to think about more flexible forms of devolution that work for local areas but still provide all the benefits the Minister espouses?

[Jacob Young]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point. He allows me to draw on the example of Devon and Torbay, in the same area as my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes represents. Just two weeks ago, I signed a level 2 devolution deal there, which does not include a mayor. I grant the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown that that deal does not include all the same functions as the one under consideration today, but it devolves power over the adult education budget, creates a new transport authority and puts the future of economic growth in Devon and Torbay in the hands of local leaders. We are keen to promote that throughout the country.

If the hon. Gentleman has examples of where he wants to see devolution in his area, my door is open. I am always happy to discuss the potential for devolution in Sussex and elsewhere.