Nottingham City Council will share a £2million fund with Derby to tackle homelessness in both cities and reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation. The authority said it wants to reduce the number of homeless families and individuals having to stay in B&Bs while housing is found for them.
The £2m fund has now been secured as part of early investment under the East Midlands devolution plans. The proposals will see a new authority being created to cover Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Derbyshire and Derby, headed up by a new East Midlands Mayor.
This authority would have more powers over spending and planning and as part of negotiations on it, initial funding for the areas concerned has now been announced. The Government has eventually committed to giving the new East Midlands authority £38m over the next 30 years.
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The £2m homelessness fund has been announced ahead of the process for establishing the new East Midlands authority starting in April. The Government also says that £1.5m will be provided towards a new skills centre run by West Nottinghamshire College.
Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "It's important that we reduce the number of homeless families and individuals in B&Bs and support them into housing, so it is great that this £2m will help create a new long-term private rental scheme in Nottingham City and Derby City. This is just the start of the investment the region would get with this deal.
"Devolution gives us the opportunity to bring in more money and to fund more projects like these for the benefit of Nottingham and the whole region. We will continue to champion the city and the East Midlands area to get the investment we need."
Following the end of the public consultation on January 9, preparations for setting up the new East Midlands Combined County Authority will start in April. The process of establishing a 'shadow authority' will start from that month, before it is then formally established in May 2024, the same month when the first new East Midlands Mayor is due to be elected.
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