Leaders have approved the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s (EMCCA) budget today, with a planned total spend of £385 million over the next year.
This funding includes £120 million in extra money that the region wouldn’t have received if it didn’t have the Combined County Authority.
Devolution has enabled the creation of EMCCA and a Mayor, which has meant that the region is getting millions more to invest in improving the lives of people who live, work, and visit the area.
The bulk of EMCCA’s budget spending will be on public transport and highways maintenance. This includes £66 million to fund major transport projects, £12.8 million to support smaller transport schemes, and over £40 million to support and improve bus services across the area. There is also over £75 million to give to local councils to fix their roads – that’s £21.7 million more than the region has had before.
EMCCA is also investing in the region’s future and its workforce, with funding to help boost employment and upskill workers. This includes helping low-earning adult learners get the training they need to develop in their careers, as well as supporting projects that help those with disabilities or health conditions get into work.
This year’s budget will also help fund projects that work to improve the economy and make the region greener, while boosting advanced manufacturing, such as the East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ).
There is also funding going towards improving the visitor experience across the region, supporting efforts to make the East Midlands a great destination to visit and stay.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “We are committed to investing money into areas and projects that make a real difference and are important to local people. This year’s budget shows that devolution is working for the East Midlands, as we are getting an extra £120 million that we wouldn’t have received if EMCCA didn’t exist.
“I know that public transport and fixing the state of our roads is hugely important to people, which is why I have allocated over £75 million to our county and city councils to get the potholes filled. We want to make it easier and cheaper for you to get around the region on public transport, and we want to give adults and young people the skills they need to get jobs and progress in their careers.
“In the face of financial challenges, I want to ensure we are working with our local council partners to make sure they are getting their fair share of regional funding and that they use this funding to benefit everyone.
“We have ambitious plans for our region, and this budget will help us deliver them throughout the next year and beyond.”
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