Agenda item

Report of the Leader of the Council

Councillor Neghat Khan proposed the report seeking Council’s consent to the making of the Combined Authorities (Borrowing) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (Borrowing Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 that will confer certain additional powers, including the general power of competence for economic development and regeneration, and the power to borrow, on the East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA).  She highlighted the following information:

a)  The Regulations will bring the powers and functions of the EMCCA in line with the expectations of the original proposal, which Council approved and enable the EMCCA to operate to its optimal potential, which will be of benefit to Nottingham.

b)  It is important that the Council works collaboratively with the other Constituent Councils and the Mayor on matters of economic development and regeneration.

c)  Conferring the general power of competence for economic development and regeneration does not remove it from the Constituent Councils, and each Constituent Council will continue to hold the full general power of competence as outlined in the Localism Act 2011.

d)  The power to borrow will operate in a way that is consistent with other Combined Authorities and local authorities, including the controls placed on local authorities.  The EMCCA will be required to have regard to the Prudential Code in the same way as other authorities and a maximum annual borrowing limit will be subject to the agreement of the specific debt cap with His Majesty’s Treasury, which cannot be exceeded.

e)  Decisions to utilise the powers will be made by the EMCCA Board, of which the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council are members.

f)  The delegation to the Chief Executive to make the final approval requires this to be done in consultation with the Leader of the Council and in light of further legal advice.

The report was seconded by Councillor Ethan Radford.

During the subsequent debate the following points were made:

g)  There is a need to be mindful that different areas will have different and distinct visions and priorities for economic development.  These could be a risk to Nottingham and it is important to ensure that Nottingham’s vision and priorities are clearly articulated and incorporated so that Nottingham gets what it needs.

h)  The East Midlands region has historically been left behind on economic development and regeneration and it is important that this work now moves at pace.

i)  There should be a communications strategy both at an EMCCA level and at a local authority level so that Nottingham citizens understand who makes decisions, what decisions they are making and what those decisions mean for the City.

j)  While transport provision within the City is good, there are challenges for people travelling into the City and also for City residents travelling to other areas for work.  Improved transport links to other areas of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire will help boost economic development.

Resolved to:

(1)  consent to the proposed content of the Combined Authorities (Borrowing) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (Borrowing Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 as described in the report, including the conferral of a general power of competence in respect of economic development and regeneration functions, as required by relevant enabling legislation, including the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023; and

(2)  delegate to the Chief Executive authority to consent on behalf of Nottingham City Council to the making of the Combined Authorities (Borrowing) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (Borrowing Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 including the approval of any additional technical amendments, which the Chief Executives of the other three Constituent Councils and the Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority also agree to.  This delegation is to be exercised in consultation with Leader of the Council and in light of further legal advice from the Director of Legal and Governance.