Chesterfield welcomes new East Midlands Mayor
The first Mayor of the newly created East Midlands Combined County Authority has been welcomed to her new office in Chesterfield.
Claire Ward, who was elected to the position this month, has moved into the new interim mayoral headquarters based at Chesterfield Borough Council’s flagship office development, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.
The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has been created as part of the devolution deal between the Government and the four upper tier councils of Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council – working closely with local authorities across the region, including Chesterfield Borough Council.
The EMCCA has been given powers, functions and funding worth £1.14 billion from the Government. It means that decisions about investment in our areas, which are currently taken by central government, will be made locally. But it is estimated that the region will unlock around £4bn of funding over the coming years because of this devolution deal.
Local authorities still exist as individual councils but the new Combined County Authority, led by the new regional Mayor, will work with all councils across the area to deliver the best possible outcomes for the residents and businesses. There will also be opportunities for private, public, and voluntary sector organisations to contribute and have their voices heard.
As part of the devolution deal, the EMCCA must have a directly elected mayor. A key part of the role is to act as an advocate and global ambassador for the Combined County Authority area and the 2.2 million residents who live here. The Mayor’s term of office will run for four years.
Prior to meeting staff at the office in the heart of Chesterfield, the new Mayor signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office at Bolsover Castle, signalling the start of her duties.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “I welcome Claire Ward to her new position as EMCCA Mayor, and we’re delighted that the combined authority has chosen Chesterfield – and our flagship Northern Gateway Centre – as the home for their region-wide operations.
“In Chesterfield, we’re committed to ensuring that our communities benefit from the opportunities created under devolution, and regional investment. We’re working with other local councils to build on our existing partnerships, and we look forward to building even stronger relationships with our regional leaders and networks to ensure we have a strong voice and influence in the East Midlands Combined County Authority.”
Amanda Mays, Interim People and Operations Lead at East Midlands Combined County Authority, said: “The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is a fantastic office space, with great facilities for our East Midlands Combined County Authority’s growing team.
“Chesterfield is one of many great towns in our region – it boasts a rich industrial heritage and will be a key pillar for our economic growth strategy over the coming years. We’re delighted to call it home.”
Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, commented: “I would like to congratulate Claire Ward on her election as Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority. The board and team at Destination Chesterfield are looking forward to working with our new Mayor to attract further investment to the region, raise the profile of our visitor economy and support our indigenous business to innovate and grow.
“The borough of Chesterfield has an ambitious growth strategy and has an important role to play in achieving the region’s ambitions.
“We are very pleased that the new East Midlands Combined County Authority will be based here in the heart of Chesterfield. The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre boasts excellent facilities and is already home to dozens of brilliant businesses, so I am confident that the centre will provide an excellent base for Claire and her dedicated team.”
