Agenda item

The Chief Executive submitted a report to advise Members of progress on partnership work being undertaken by Derbyshire County Council and the Derbyshire district / borough councils on the development of a new collaborative approach to delivering non-structural local government reform in Derbyshire (Vision Derbyshire), and of the Government’s plans to publish a White Paper on Devolution and Local Recovery, and of emerging responses to those plans from Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council.

The report set out the background to, and progress of, the development of Vision Derbyshire, including the ‘Case for Change’, the executive summary of which was attached to the officer’s report at Appendix 1, a high-level ‘Proposition to Government’, which was attached at Appendix 2, and a co-authored letter from the Leaders of Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire district / borough councils to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which was attached at Appendix 3.

The report further outlined the government’s intention to publish a White Paper on Devolution and Local Recovery and the evolving positions of Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council the Derbyshire district / borough councils.

RESOLVED –

1.      That Vision Derbyshire be approved as the Council’s preferred option for local government reform in Derbyshire at the current time.

2.      That the policy direction set out in the Vision Derbyshire ‘Case for Change’ and ‘Proposition to Government’ documents be endorsed and that the emerging governance proposals be noted as drafted.

3.      That the Leader and Chief Executive be authorised to engage in further discussions at local, regional and national level to support and enable the full development of Vision Derbyshire as the preferred option for local government reform in Derbyshire.

4.      That the Government’s plans to publish a White Paper on Devolution and Local Recovery and the potential implications for local government reform in Derbyshire be noted.

5.      That the positions taken by Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council ahead of publication of the Government’s White Paper be noted.

6.      That the Leader and Chief Executive be authorised to participate in discussions with other Derbyshire councils on any alternative proposals that may emerge to the Council’s preferred option.

7.      That the Leader and Chief Executive be requested to prepare regular updating reports for Council on Vision Derbyshire, the Government’s White Paper on Devolution and Local Recovery, when published, and on the details of any alternative proposals as they arise.