A public consultation about Devolution for Nottingham, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Derby has begun and I would encourage everyone to give us their opinions on these proposals.

The consultation is taking place from today until Monday 9 January 2023 and is an opportunity for everyone to have their say, from residents to businesses, community and voluntary groups, and other organisations.

The deal, which offers the region a package of new powers and funding worth ?1.14 billion, or??38 million?a year over the next 30 years, has the potential to make a real difference to people?s lives.

Benefits of devolution include:

• More investment in our area
• Economic growth
• More and better jobs
• Better transport and skills training
• More housing
• An enhanced greener environment
• More power in local hands

Devolution would result in more important decisions being taken in the East Midlands by people who know and understand the region, to bring benefits to people who live in, work in, or visit the area, to improve quality of life.

Devolution would create a new Combined County Authority, with a new directly elected regional mayor covering both counties and cities, with an election taking place in May 2024.

Local councils would still exist as individual councils and would work together on a formal and legal basis to improve the region for our communities and businesses.

You can have your say on the consultation website ? www.eastmidlandsdevolution.co.uk

Nottingham City Council is supporting low-income homeowners in Nottingham to reduce their energy bills by installing insulation and solar panels in homes for free. This Greener Housing scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency of 511 cold and draughty homes that are difficult to keep warm in the winter.

Homeowners are invited to a drop-in event on Wednesday 16^th November at Harvey Hadden Sports Village where they can speak to the team to find out which measures would be suitable for their home, understand the installation process and apply for the scheme.

Representatives from Nottingham Energy Partnership and Marches Energy Agency will also be attending the event to give attendees free, impartial and confidential advice to help reduce energy bills.

The event will be open between 12-6pm, and residents can drop-in at any time.

Find out more about the event

This week is Road Safety Week, highlighting everyone?s right to make safe journeys on our roads.

Accidents on the UK?s roads kill or seriously injure several people a day, with children aged 10-14 the most likely to be killed on our roads. I want to ask everyone who drives a car to remind themselves of the changes made to the Highway Code earlier this year ? which gives drivers the responsibility to look out for people on foot or bikes, and also gives pedestrians the right of way to cross roads at junctions (remember, pedestrians have always had the right of way once they?re already crossing the road ? you must slow down and wait for them to cross).

• Nottingham City Council is working hard to make roads in Nottingham safer ? find out more about what we?re doing
• Get some useful tips on driving in winter and what to keep in your car during the colder months
• Active travel isn?t just for the warmer months! Keep scooting, walking or cycling around this winter using these tips

I have written to BBC bosses today to urge a re-think on plans to reduce the local output of its local radio stations including BBC Radio Nottingham.

The national proposals involve scrapping bespoke local programmes and sharing shows between several regional stations - in Radio Nottingham?s case this will mean receiving shared content from Derby, Leicester, Lincolnshire and Stoke. A reduction in the number of local reporters is also proposed.

I have always welcomed the challenge by BBC Radio Nottingham to the decisions we take, since it is an important part of local democracy that those in power are held to account for their actions. As a public service broadcaster, the BBC has a key role in public life and its local radio stations are an important source of information, especially to those who may not have the means or abilities to access the BBC?s online output.

I know as well as anyone the difficult decisions that must be faced when trying to make savings while carrying out changes to your organisation, but these proposals undermine the purpose of local radio and will diminish rather than enhance its appeal.