Next steps for Local Government Reorganisation
Last updated: 6/3/2025
Plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will take a step forward from next week, as the nine local councils will come together at their Full Council meetings to discuss progress.
At a meeting of Leaders and Chief Executives yesterday (Wednesday 5 March), all nine councils recommitted to working together on a collective response to the Government’s invitation, that ensures the best available options are taken forward for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire residents and businesses.
All nine councils will now hold Full Council meetings between 17 and 20 March to discuss an interim submission to Government (due on 21 March), that outlines three core options.
In February, the Government wrote to local authorities formally inviting them to submit proposals to create new structures of unitary authorities – which is a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. The aim is to create more efficient and effective local government, potentially leading to streamlined services and cost savings for residents.
In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, the nine existing local authorities would be abolished, to create new unitary councils with a higher population of residents.
A spokesperson for the Leaders said:
“This is arguably the biggest shake-up of local government in 50 years. In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire we are absolutely determined to work together to ensure the best outcome for local people.
“Councils will meet to note the submission of a collective interim plan, but it’s important to note that there is no decision being made at this point – this is simply one step in the Government’s process.
“We’ve been given an incredibly tight timescale to pull together these initial submissions, and we don't yet have enough data to make a fully informed decision on a single option, but this is a good first step.
“Between now and November we are committed to further exploration of data that will allow us to make informed decisions, that also considers how we engage with local people and businesses – making our submission evidence-based, and the best one for our people.
“It is accepted that some councils may still wish to continue to explore alternative proposals beyond the three core options being tabled, but we are committed to continuing our work together to achieve an interim submission that will meet the Government’s deadline – to consider the art of the possible, and make the best of this opportunity.”
The Government has given all councils a deadline of 28 November to submit final, much more detailed, proposals.
The core options for discussion at Full Council meetings are:
- A new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe, and Gedling, with a second new unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire.
- A new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe, and Rushcliffe, with a second new unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire.
- Nottingham city remains a unitary authority, with a new single unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire.
At their meeting on 5 March, Leaders accepted that some councils may still wish to continue to explore additional proposals alongside the three core options being tabled.
Leaders also agreed that the next stage of submissions (November) would require a more detailed analysis of individual options, and agreed to emphasise to Government that a review of current boundaries may be required, to ensure that LGR delivers the best outcomes for local communities.
Council Meetings Schedule:
- Monday 17 March: Ashfield, Nottingham City, Mansfield
- Tuesday 18 March: Bassetlaw
- Wednesday 19 March: Broxtowe, Gedling, Newark and Sherwood
- Thursday 20 March: Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire County Council
The nine councils involved are:
- Ashfield District Council
- Bassetlaw District Council
- Broxtowe Borough Council
- Gedling Borough Council
- Mansfield District Council
- Newark and Sherwood District Council
- Nottingham City Council
- Nottinghamshire County Council
- Rushcliffe Borough Council
Rushcliffe Borough Council will take a report on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) to its extraordinary Full Council meeting on 20th March 2025, with papers being published next week (March 12). The report will outline the Council's preferred option along with three other potential options for reorganisation. These have been developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) following discussions with the Leaders of all Nottinghamshire local authorities.
Subject to the vote on 20th March, it is anticipated that Rushcliffe Borough Council will formally propose its preferred option of the City remaining on existing boundaries and the remainder of the County comprising 2 unitaries - which would result in no-parts of Rushcliffe Borough joining the city. This would use current district council boundaries based on the current county boundaries.
The Leader of the Council Cllr Neil Clarke MBE said "My first priority is the residents of the Borough and the high quality of services they enjoy in the Borough and the County, while keeping Council Tax low. We do not want to see any reduction in services or any potential large increase in Council Tax. The County-only option would be our 2nd preference, however, the other alternative proposals, in their current form, are not acceptable to this Conservative-led Council.”
He added: “Rushcliffe Borough Council will fight to protect vital services for all its residents. Many adjoining areas face significant financial cutbacks and any attempt to join Rushcliffe with such Councils would lead to potential closure of services such as libraries, leisure centres and other community and amenity facilities.”
“I emphasise our priority will always be the residents of the Borough of Rushcliffe and by endorsing the first preference of a ‘County 2 unitary’ model, will ensure our stable financial management remains fit for sustainable excellent services for our residents in the future, with high quality services remaining at the top of our agenda.”