Mayor says first year has been 'busy but successful'

HER FOCUS IS ON IMPROVING THE EAST MIDLANDS AND MAKING YOUNG PEOPLE A PRIORITY

- By POST REPORTER

EAST Midlands Mayor Claire Ward has marked 12 months and said it had been "a busy but successful year".

The Labour politician became the first holder of the new post last year and says she is proud to have brought “more investment into the region to help deliver better jobs, better skills, build new homes, improve transport, support a greener East Midlands, and champion the visitor economy.

The mayor secured more than £120million in extra funding and her leadership, she said, boasts “meaningful, noticeable improvements that are already making a difference in people's lives across the East Midlands”.

EMCCA brings together representatives from four local authorities - Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council - who still oversee many public services but the new East Midlands authority deals with broader issues like transport, regeneration and employment although Leicester City and Leicestershire County councils declined to join.

However, despite Labour's strong political presence across the region and a Labour Government, Ms Ward will now have to forge fresh ties with new Reform-controlled Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire county councils but she feels a shared desire for what is best for the region in terms of skills, jobs, industry and homes should unite the authority's board behind the same goals.

Ms Ward said: “Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire's councils are constituent parts and sit on the board of EMCCA and I have been clear... we welcome working with anyone sharing our ambition to share the best for the region.”