Latest news with #EMCCA
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
East Midlands mayor could get police and fire service powers
East Midlands mayor Claire Ward could be given responsibility to oversee police and fire services in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire under proposed new devolution government introduced its English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in parliament on the slated changes is the transfer of responsibility for policing priorities, currently in the hands of elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs), to regional service policy-making in the two counties currently comes under the remit of authorities, made up largely of appointed local councillors, but could also be handed to the mayor. Derbyshire's current Labour police and crime commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said: "Obviously, this is all subject to the bill receiving Royal Assent. "However, having seen what has happened in other mayoral areas, any change in the governance structure is most likely to come into effect at, or after, the next PCC elections in 2028."The only difference between the East Midlands and other areas is that the role would cover two separate police forces."Importantly, there is already a close working relationship with the mayor, and that will develop further as we work together in the coming months to deliver safer and stronger communities." New powers Under the changes, the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) would become a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA), giving Ward greater powers to issue new Mayoral Development said: "The new Mayoral Development Orders and streamlined planning powers will help us move faster, cutting through delays, unlocking new housing, and delivering critical infrastructure in the places that need it most."The bill recognises my vision for inclusive growth in every corner of the region, focusing on community spaces, thriving high streets, and support for local businesses."Crucially, it also puts more power in the hands of local people, something I've championed from day one."Among the proposed new regional powers are a Community Right to Buy to give communities the first opportunity to buy closure-threatened pubs, shops and sports government said the bill also proposed controls on "unfair" rent rises on small businesses in high new devolution legislation also sets out a route to establishing new strategic authorities in areas currently not led by regional mayors, such as Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Analysis By Peter Saull, BBC East Midlands political editor Ever since she was elected last May, Claire Ward has made no secret of the fact she wanted more first-ever East Midlands mayor was handed responsibility in areas such as housing, skills and argued Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire were missing out because mayors in other parts of the country had a bigger seems the government has listened, giving Ward new planning powers, for most eye-catching of all is the idea that the East Midlands mayor could oversee two police forces and two fire move would spell the end of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire's police and crime commissioners, roles that have existed for well over a voters expressed cynicism about the job of mayor before it was created, but like it or not, Claire Ward's influence is growing.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Calls for mayor to fund £2 bus fare cap in Nottinghamshire
Conservative councillors in Nottinghamshire have called for bus fares to be capped at £2.A cap on fares across England rose from £2 to £3 in January and was recently extended until "at least" March mayors, however, are able to fund their own schemes to reduce fares to lower than £3.A motion due to be discussed at a Nottinghamshire County Council meeting on Thursday calls on the Reform UK-run council to write to East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, asking that she fund such a cap. Responsibility for regional transport will not officially transfer to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), which the mayor leads, until early next was announced at last month's spending review, however, that EMCCA will receive £2bn from central government to improve road, rail and bus motion also calls on the mayor to "continue supporting Nottinghamshire's existing bus services", including those currently subsidised by the councillor Mike Introna, who tabled the motion, said: "Public transport is about habit, reliability and trust. "If people know a bus will be there, they use it. If fares are affordable, they ditch the car. "We proved this works. Now it's up to the new Reform leadership to speak up at EMCCA and encourage the mayor to go even further."A spokesperson for EMCCA said a transport plan will be published in the coming months."Alongside our Bus Service Improvement Plan, it will set out how we'll invest in the region's bus network, from routes and timetables to how people pay to travel," the spokesperson said most of the £2bn secured from central government will be spent on infrastructure."We will have revenue funding to support subsidies to fares and routes, but we need to hear from residents before we prioritise that funding. "Their views will help shape our plans and reflect how residents get around and the services their communities need," the spokesperson County Council has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Extension to tram network 'must be viable'
A feasibility study has been commissioned to explore extending Nottingham's tram network, it has been confirmed. The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) approved £300,000 to fund the study at a board meeting on Monday. The BBC understands Gedling is among three locations identified as potential candidates for an extension. A major housing development at Fairham Pastures, near Clifton, is also being considered along with a potential development on the site of Chetwynd Barracks in Chilwell. Regional mayor Claire Ward said she has had "lots of conversations" about tram extensions. "We know that tram extensions are a really big investment and they also take a long time, so we've committed £300,000 for a feasibility study to look at some of those options and to just give us more information," she said. The network started operating in 2004, with the first line linking Hucknall and Phoenix Park to the city centre. It was last expanded in 2015 with two further lines to Toton and Clifton. Ward added: "Ultimately it has to be a viable option, and we won't know whether it is or whether any of those are options until we've had some feasibility work done." She added that EMCCA will not take on responsibility for the tram network until 2034. Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. NET tram
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Long-awaited £35 million scheme to slash traffic on key Nottinghamshire route 'under review'
The Department for Transport has confirmed that it is reviewing a major £35 million scheme to ease congestion along a key Nottinghamshire route. Funding uncertainties have blighted a project to upgrade roundabouts and junctions along the A614/A6097 corridor between Ollerton and East Bridgford, which was first proposed back in 2019. The Government has now confirmed that it has received Nottinghamshire County Council's full business case for the scheme and that this is "currently being reviewed". The major project was originally due to get underway in August 2024, but the general election last year threw promised government funding into doubt. Nottinghamshire County Council previously said the overall scheme would cost £34.4 million, with the previous government pledging £24 million and the Conservative-run council investing £10 million. Former county council leader Ben Bradley has said every six months of delay on the project was costing £1 million and stretching the project's viability. READ MORE: All of Nottinghamshire's secondary schools ranked in our Real Schools Guide READ MORE: 'Unforeseen delays' in bringing national retailer to empty Broad Marsh units Councillor Neil Clarke, the cabinet member for transport and environment at the county council, therefore says the overall project could now cost between £45 million and £50 million. The Department for Transport says it does not recognise this figure. "We continue to work closely with Nottinghamshire County Council and will make any announcements in due course", the Department for Transport said. Councillor Clarke now hopes new investment by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), led by East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, will act as a "catalyst". The EMCCA says its investment "will address a cost shortfall and thus enable the Department for Transport to consider the full business case and potentially allow the scheme to progress." Nottinghamshire Live previously revealed the county council had spent over £3,000 on banners to promote the project before government funding for it had arrived. The county council then took all 17 of the banners down in late 2024 after they had been damaged by weather conditions. The authority said it was hoping to reinstall the banners in February, but they are yet to reappear and the council has still not confirmed whether it will still put them back up.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Demolition of former shopping centre 'to cost £30m'
The continued demolition of the former Broadmarsh Centre will cost almost £30m and begin in the summer, new documents show. Nottingham City Council took over the derelict shopping centre in 2020 after previous owner intu went into administration. The authority hopes to secure more than £3m funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). If granted, the money would be used to continue demolishing most of the remaining shopping centre structure, paving the way for the site's redevelopment. Documents reveal the entire demolition project would cost £29.3m, begin in July this year and take a year to complete. Construction firm Willmott Dixon finished demolishing a section of the shopping centre in 2022, before work on the Green Heart city park began. Once the shopping centre is demolished, close to 1,000 new homes will be built alongside 20,000 square metres of employment space as part of the Broad Marsh development scheme. "Broad Marsh is Nottingham's highest priority regeneration project," documents seen by the LDRS said. "The masterplan for the scheme envisages that the former Broadmarsh Shopping Centre will have been replaced with a lively urban quarter, creating just over 2,000 jobs and providing a wide range of facilities, entertainment and attractions. "With the demolition of the eastern side of the frame, this unlocks the site for investment and development partners to de-risk and deliver investment to the project." The LDRS said a business case would be discussed at an EMCCA investment committee meeting on Monday, where regional leaders will review the case for the Broadmarsh demolition. The documents added: "The demolition of the southern part of the frame structure will serve to reduce holding risk and make the site more market-ready. "The funding for the demolition not being available would not give the market certainty to be able to deliver the project." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Plans for ex-shopping centre 'to be revealed' Plan for former shopping centre frame scrapped Three years to finish Broad Marsh plan, council says Local Democracy Reporting Service Nottingham City Council
