Devolution talks could start again in Rutland as the county council's leader has told the government the authority is interested in exploring the issue.

Devolving more power to local government is a key priority of Keir Starmer's Labour government, with deputy PM Angela Rayner writing to all areas not in a devolved situation to ask for their thoughts on settlements for their area.

Rutland has previously been in talks with Leicestershire about a devolution deal, under the former Conservative government, but those talks have not moved forward after they decided against having an elected mayor for the area. A new devolution deal for the East Midlands – which includes just Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire county councils and Derby and Nottingham city councils – was established earlier this year, with a new mayor elected in May.

Devolving more power to local government is a key priority of Keir Starmer's government (Wiki Commons).

Speaking to the local democracy reporting service, council leader Gale Waller, said: "Rutland does not have a view on devolution.

"All the government has said is, 'Are you prepared to talk to others about devolution?' and we said yes." 

She said previous meetings she has had with government officials about devolution had not represented a good deal for taxpayers and wanted to hear more detail from the new government about what it was proposing.

In her letter, the deputy prime minister told council leaders: "We will move away from a deal-based approach, setting out clear conditions and a clear offer in return for places seeking devolution agreement, and will enshrine a presumption towards devolution, so places can take on new powers automatically if they meet certain conditions. 

"Many of you will have struggled to get devolution settlements over the line, or were in the process of negotiating a settlement before the general election. You may have been held up by lengthy negotiations over powers, geographies, or governance. This government will begin to work with you to resolve those issues. 

"My cabinet colleagues and I also understand that all too many councils are facing financial strain and have been left balancing new obligations with higher costs and interest rates after a decade of financial mismanagement from the centre. Rest assured, we will ensure that you have the resources to deliver new devolved powers and functions.

"In due course, the government will publish a new devolution framework, setting out the new powers and flexibilities available to you. While we will not force places to take on a metro mayor, we will not shy away from making the case for their huge advantages, with some powers continuing to be reserved for institutions with directly elected leaders, such as mayoral combined authorities."