Nottinghamshire

Mayor of the East Midlands responds to Government consultation on visitor levy powers

The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has welcomed the Government’s consultation response published today, 10 September, on new powers that could allow mayors in England to introduce a small levy on overnight stays, by working with the sector. The proposed Overnight Visitor Levy would support a range of activities to help attract more visitors to the region and encourage them to stay longer. The levy would be paid by visitors staying in commercial accommodation such as hotels, guest […]

10 September 2026 15

Nottingham

Balaclava wearers in Nottingham will now face consequences

Young people who wear balaclavas to intimidate members of the public and cause anti-social behaviour in the city centre will face the consequences from September 15th 2026.Nottingham is set to become one of the first cities in the UK to introduce restrictions on the wearing of face coverings such as balaclavas.The order, which has been backed by the public, will provide us and council officers the power to require a person to remove their face covering where their identity is […]

8 September 2026 9

Borough Wide

Only half of East Midlands primary school children had flu vaccine last year – leaving thousands unprotected

East Midlands parents are being urged to protect their children against flu and keep more vulnerable family members healthy this winter by getting their children vaccinated. Last winter (2025-26), only 52.8% of primary school children in the East Midlands received a flu vaccine – slightly down on the previous winter (2024-25), when uptake was 52.9%. Nationally, just 55.5% of primary school children - around 2.5 million out of a total of the 4.5 million eligible - were protected from flu […]

7 September 2026 28

The Derbyshire LGR decision map. Image from One Derbyshire Two Councils.

Borough Wide

Plans to replace 10 Derbyshire councils with 2 new larger ones, to be paused for a “rapid review”

A major Government decision to scrap Derbyshire’s 10 councils and replace them with two new, larger councils from 2028 is to be paused for a “rapid review”. Sources have confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the decision to pause follows judicial reviews brought over the four council reshuffles agreed by the Government earlier this year. The 14 decisions made in July, including the reshuffle for Derby and Derbyshire’s 10 councils, will now be paused for a review, the […]

7 September 2026 39

Borough Wide

A decade of monitoring shows Farmer Clusters are key to national nature restoration

Recently published reports on two farmer-led conservation groups, supported by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), are a rare, evidence-based success story for nature recovery. The results of 10 years of wildlife monitoring clearly demonstrate how coordinated action across whole landscapes can reverse the long-term decline of some of England’s most threatened farmland birds. Reports from two neighbouring self-funded Farmer Clusters in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, show that by working together and with expert advice, farmers can reverse dramatic […]

4 September 2026 22

Derbyshire

Futures secures over £80m funding to deliver 645 new affordable homes

East Midlands housing association Futures Housing Group has secured £80.6 million in grant funding through Homes England’s new Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The funding will help the social housing landlord to deliver 645 new affordable homes across the East Midlands over the next six years. Futures has secured the funding through its partnership with emh group, which has been selected by Homes England as one of only 33 strategic partners. Futures will act as emh’s delivery partner for the […]

28 August 2026 48

Scott Knowles (Credit: East Midlands Chamber)

Derby

Government scheme good step in getting young people into employment

The East Midlands Chamber has welcomed progress from the government's Jobs Guarantee scheme, with the first young people having begun paid placements, but has renewed its call for greater skills support as outlined in its publication The Framework for Growth, to get more young people into skilled roles. The Jobs Guarantee scheme offers a direct route into work for 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months, with the government funding up […]

27 August 2026 23

Amy Harhoff, the new chief executive of the East Midlands Combined County Authority. Image from the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

Derbyshire

£1m East Midlands payroll and HR contract

Moving payroll and HR services from one council to an authority covering Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire is to cost more than £1 million. Amy Harhoff, chief executive of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, has signed off on a decision to spend £1.2 million on HR and payroll technology for the organisation. To date, Nottinghamshire County Council has been carrying out these duties for the umbrella authority but this is now set to change. This decision comes as all 19 Nottinghamshire […]

24 August 2026 31

Richard Blackmore from The East Midlands Chamber

Derbyshire

Business rates review for pubs and hotels a step forward but wider root and branch review needed

The East Midlands Chamber has welcomed a Government review into pub and hotel business rates valuations but renewed its call for a full root and branch review, to include manufacturing and smaller businesses, as well as the full hospitality sector. The Treasury's independent review and Call for Evidence into the valuation methodology for pubs and hotels follows an announcement in July of an additional 20% cut to business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues, taking effect from […]

24 August 2026 23

Mayor of the East Midlands responds to Government consultation on visitor levy powers

Balaclava wearers in Nottingham will now face consequences

Only half of East Midlands primary school children had flu vaccine last year – leaving thousands unprotected

Plans to replace 10 Derbyshire councils with 2 new larger ones, to be paused for a “rapid review”

A decade of monitoring shows Farmer Clusters are key to national nature restoration

Futures secures over £80m funding to deliver 645 new affordable homes

Government scheme good step in getting young people into employment

£1m East Midlands payroll and HR contract

Business rates review for pubs and hotels a step forward but wider root and branch review needed

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