Senior Government officials were told that Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are ready, willing and able to deliver on devolution during a high-profile visit to the area.

Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Lord Heseltine were in the area to meet with the 19 leaders of city, county, district and borough councils from Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire about ground-breaking proposals to devolve powers from central Government to local people.

And there was a positive response to the councils’ devolution prospectus, which outlines how a move to more efficient and effective local decision-making could help deliver the creation of 55,000 new private sector jobs by 2023 and 77,000 affordable new homes by 2020 across the two counties and cities.

Councils in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have well advanced proposals for a ‘devo-deal’ in place, which would see the creation of a Derbyshire (including Derby City) and a Nottinghamshire (including Nottingham City) Combined Authority.

The new bodies would take-on further powers and resources for key economic levers like jobs, skills, housing and transport, in addition to their current responsibilities.

A devolution deal would give local people and local businesses greater influence over economic growth in their areas and improve the quality of life and prospects for local people.

Included in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’s devolution prospectus are exciting plans for new ‘London-style’ powers to deliver better integrated public transport, have a direct influence over upgraded motorways and major trunk roads and increase international trade and passenger transport at East Midlands Airport.

Councillor Anne Western, who chairs the D2 Joint Committee − the potential forerunner to the Derbyshire Combined Authority’s decision making body − said:

“We have ambitious plans for growth, jobs and greater economic prosperity in Derby and Derbyshire but are being held back by decisions being taken by people in Westminster who have no connection with local people or understanding of local need.

“The Secretary of State was clearly impressed by our vision for devolution and how we were able to demonstrate the numerous benefits it would create for the people of Derby and Derbyshire. It was hugely beneficial for all the council leaders present to get clarity on the Government’s aspirations for devolution and reassurance that the Secretary of State believes in our bid and our passion and ability to deliver on it.”

Councillor Graham Chapman chairs the Economic Prosperity Committee − a new group made up of leading councillors from city, county, district and borough councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire as the potential forerunner to the decision-making forum for the new Nottinghamshire Combined Authority. He said:

“We feel very encouraged by what we have heard from the Secretary of State today and feel we have made significant progress towards a final devolution agreement which suits Government, local authorities and most importantly of all, will have significant benefits for the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

“Our bid is unique in that it brings together a number of different types of local authority and people of all political backgrounds − all with the same, shared belief that local people and businesses can be better served by local decision-making. The message to the Secretary of State was clear, that Nottingham and Nottinghamshire stands together in that belief and has a shared determination to deliver devolution to the communities we represent.”

Further negotiations over the final shape of the devolution deal for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire will now continue over the summer.

Today (22^nd June) leaders from the public and private sector, represented by Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (SCRA) and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), formalised their existing culture of collaboration to deliver economic growth through a new fit-for-purpose structure.   This vital step in the road to devolution sees the establishment of five new Executive Boards.  The Boards will cover: skills, business growth, infrastructure, transport and housing.  They are tasked with making key decisions on strategy and budget allocation.  The Executive Boards are made up of key players in the public and private sector and have delegated authority from the SCRA and LEP.

Sir Stephen Houghton, Chair of the SCRA and Leader of Barnsley MBC said:

“The new governance arrangements are vital to efficiently progress the devolution agenda and successfully deliver our promises to Government that form the Growth Deal.

“Political leaders have worked together across local boundaries for several years as it is mutually beneficial, this was formalised with the SCRA in 2014.

“The new arrangements mean we will take collaboration between Local Authorities, and public and private sector to a higher level.

“We have worked closely with our private sector colleagues in the LEP and value their contribution to economic success, and their leadership on key strategic programmes.

James Newman, Chairman of the LEP added:

“Since the formation of the LEP in 2010, I have been astounded at the enthusiasm and time the private sector has given for the greater good and economic growth of SCR.

“Their leadership and intellectual contribution to economic strategy means political leaders are willing to share the decision making burden.

“This is a dynamic time for Sheffield City Region, we have achieved much in a short timescale, and we should be proud of what these new arrangements will mean.”

This landmark decision on the road to devolution is the culmination of a successful partnership between the public and private sectors which began when the LEP began in 2010, and further developed when the SCRA was created in 2014.

The results of partnership working and increasing devolution from Central Government are yielding huge benefits to Sheffield City Region.  Key achievements include the trailblazing City Deal in 2011, gaining £28 million Government funding. This enables the highly successful “Skills Made Easy” programme, and the SCR Investment Fund to accelerate essential infrastructure projects.   The next achievement included the award of Enterprise Zone (EZ) status for strategic development sites in the City Region.  The SCR EZ has attracted 18 new companies, helping create over 800 new jobs and is rated one of the most successful in the UK.

In 2014, SCR was granted an historic £320 million Growth Deal from Government, the fifth largest in the UK.  The deal enables transformational projects to progress including the FARRRs link road to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the Glass Academy, a business support service, and a “Skills Bank”.  With oversight from the new Executive Boards, these programmes will deliver the growth required to boost the economy in both the City Region and the wider Northern Powerhouse.

A number of local organisations have each received £100 thanks to money raised at last year’s Chesterfield Marathon.

More than £3,000 has been shared between charities including Ashgate Hospice, Fairplay, the Mayor’s Appeal and others during a special presentation of cheques, which took place at Maison Mes Amis in Chesterfield.

The rest of the money raised from the race has gone towards children’s charity Kids ‘n’ Cancer UK, which specialises in securing Proton Therapy treatment for young people with different forms of cancer.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield attended to receive their cheque for the Mayor’s Appeal.

Also at the event was 24 year old, Victoria Crampton, who is gearing up to take part in the Marathon De Sables – known as the toughest footrace on earth – in aid of Kids ‘n’ Cancer.

Victoria talked about her preparations for the challenge, which will take place in April 2015 and will see her run 150 miles, the equivalent of nearly six marathons, over six days in extreme temperatures of up to 50 degrees centigrade.

Victoria said: “I know it is going to be mentally as well as physically challenging and will be the hardest thing I will probably ever do. The heat, exhaustion and pain will be overwhelming! But I hope that thinking about the reason I am doing it will spur me on and keep me going.”

Mike Hyman, founder of Kids ‘n’ Cancer and organiser of the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon, said: “We are delighted to donate a share of the funds raised to these extremely worthwhile organisations and we hope the money goes some way to ensuring that the charities can continue the fantastic work they do.”

Registration is open for this year’s Chesterfield Marathon, which will take place on Sunday 20th September.  For more information visit www.chesterfieldmarathon.org.uk.

The recent ‘Ernie Moss Day’ organised by Chesterfield FC saw £3,043.21 raised for Dementia UK.

Held to celebrate the career of the legendary striker, who is suffering from a form of dementia known as Pick’s disease, the match at home to Port Vale featured the sale of limited edition badges, Brampton Brewery’s ‘Ernie 8’ ale and a bucket collection.

A cheque was handed over to Dementia UK representative Will Hampshire at half-time in the game against Doncaster Rovers. Ernie and his daughters, Nikki and Sarah, took part in the presentation, along with Pete Whiteley from the Chesterfield FC Community Trust and Brampton Brewery director John Hirst.

Spireites Chief Executive, Chris Turner said: “It was great to be able to pay tribute to Ernie, who is one of the most popular players in the history of the club. We were delighted to be able to raise funds for a very worthy cause at the same time.”

Hilda Hayo, chief admiral nurse and chief executive of Dementia UK, said: “On behalf of Dementia UK and the thousands of families we work with, I would like to say a huge thank you to Chesterfield FC and all their supporters for supporting Dementia UK.”

Ernie’s family have set up a JustGiving page to raise funds online for Dementia UK. To donate, please visit: www.justgiving.com/Ernie-Moss.

Pupils from schools across North Derbyshire will be at Chesterfield Market on Thursday 5th February to wow shoppers with their products and services.

Chesterfield Borough Council is generously offering their facilities to host the annual trade fair, coordinated by the North Derbyshire branch of the enterprise education charity, Young Enterprise, which aims to equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise.

Eleven teams of students, aged between 14 and 19, will showcase a variety of goods, most of which they have made themselves.

“The scheme is designed to give students an insight into business and to inspire them to ‘learn by doing’. All participants are expected to operate in a professional manner as they would in the workplace,” said Jamie Toyne, Chair of the Young Enterprise’s North Derbyshire Area Board.

“The teams have been encouraged to be innovative and creative in the products they have developed and the ways in which they market their products to Chesterfield’s shoppers. We are all very excited to see what they have done so far and how they put their new skills into practice.”

In addition, two awards will be up for grabs on the day; judges will be visiting each of the stalls to judge the best trade stand and the best product or service. The panel of judges consists of local business people, Laura Jo of Adorn Jewellers, Vittorio Risorto from Calabria Cucina and the Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Alexis Diouf.

Speaking about the upcoming event, the judges said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for these students to get some valuable hands-on experience in business and the retail sector. We’re really excited about meeting the teams and finding more out more about them.”

Students will be trading at the small market place next to Dents Chemist from 9am – 5.00pm.