Nottingham City Council, along with Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Derby councils, has approved plans to create the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

This means residents will get the chance to vote for the first-ever East Midlands Mayor next May.

The EMCCA is set to bring in around ?4 billion of funding for the region, alongside devolved powers for transport, skills and adult education, housing, the environment and economic development. The extra funding this deal will bring will make a huge difference, with the people in Nottingham seeing real benefits with more investment in jobs, training and housing.

All four councils have now agreed to the creation of East Midlands Combined County Authority and the legal regulations around creating this new authority.

The Government will need take the deal before Parliament, as this is first of a new type of combined authority and it requires fresh legislation. If this is passed in the coming weeks it would come into force by March 2024, meaning the EMCCA will officially come into existence.

The inaugural election for East Midlands Mayor will take place on 2 May 2024.

I was delighted to see that the winners of the interior design challenge we ran with Bulwell Academy in 2021 have seen their designs brought to life this week.

The competition was part of the community engagement work associated with our new-build programme. We set the then Year 10 students an interior design challenge to come up with designs for interiors of new homes at the Eastglade development in Top Valley.

Winners Eva and Caitlin visited the site to look at the finished works. Caitlin commented: ?It feels weird to see my designs come to life, and the fact that I can walk around and interact with things that two years ago were just drawings on a floor plan is just amazing This is one of the best experiences I've had. It's definitely a memory that'll be with me forever, and hopefully this will be a good start for my future in the industry.???

The new homes at Eastglade will be let before Christmas and are the latest to be completed as part of our Building a Better Nottingham programme. When completed, the development will comprise 106 new council homes - 23 one-bed apartments, 63?two-bed houses, and 20 three-bed houses.

It?s the most wonderful time of the year! There is so much to do in Nottingham this winter.

Christmas at Wollaton

Christmas at Wollaton?s festive light trail is now open until Sunday 31 December.

This year the design team has created a whole new look, with picture-perfect moments around every corner. Experience new and exciting installations including Robin Hood?s Roses, Field of Flames and the Jingle Bauble.

Nottingham city residents can save 10% on tickets for selected timeslots. Book tickets here.

Christmas at Woodthorpe Park

Woodthorpe Christmas Weekends. Visit the Plant Shop to choose your Christmas tree (from mid-November every year) There are lots of beautiful ones to choose from, from a huge stock of Nordmann and Fraser Firs.

Find out more here

Christmas at Nottingham Castle

Enjoy ?Christmas Through The Ages? at Nottingham Castle, a great chance to walk through time as see how Christmas traditions have evolved over the years. You will be greeted by ?Christmas Present? and guided down through the medieval cave system of Mortimer?s Hole, to be welcomed by ?Christmas Past? at the atmospheric Brewhouse Yard.

At Santa?s Grotto, meet Father Christmas ?or his friends at the festively decorated Robin?s Retreat of Nottingham Castle.?

Chag sameach! Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating in Nottingham. May the festival of Hanukkah bring blessings upon you and your family.

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