The nine councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have submitted their joint interim Local Government Reorganisation plan to Government.
It marks the first official step in the process, before final plans are submitted in November.
During nine separate Full Council meetings this week, the councils all endorsed the submission of the interim plan, agreeing to continue to work collaboratively to develop a final proposal, that ensures the best available options are taken forward for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire residents and businesses.
The three core options included in the interim plan are:
1b. A new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe and Gedling with a new unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire;
1e. A new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe with a new unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire;
2. Nottingham City remains as an existing unitary authority with a new unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire.
Nottingham City Council confirmed at a Full Council meeting earlier this week that it favours a ‘Nottingham + 2 model’ including a further option combining Nottingham, Gedling and Rushcliffe.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Neghat Khan said following the meeting on Monday: “Nottingham is a significantly under-bounded local authority, covering a population of 328,000 at the centre of a built-up area of well over 750,000 (and a wider county population of 1.17 million).
“We are responsible for delivering the services expected in a Core City, but many of the people who work in the city, and use Council services currently live in the suburbs, meaning they can’t vote in city elections, and pay council tax elsewhere. We need to address that imbalance.
“And that doesn’t mean suddenly increasing council tax in new areas, like some politicians are suggesting.”
Cllr Khan acknowledged the recent challenges faced by the city but condemned scaremongering by political groups.
“Nottingham has been on a journey over the last year, but we’ve made huge strides in getting our house in order – and that has been recognised by our Commissioners, and by Government.
“We’ve just published our five-year Council Plan, that puts delivering for local people, and leading the city forward at its heart.
“And we’re on track for a fully balanced general fund position by 2027/28. We are not in the doom and gloom position that others are making out. It is unhelpful scare-tactics, in the wake of upcoming local elections.
“Ours is a message of growth, improvement and stability in the city,” she said.
“While this process has been understandably emotive, Nottingham has remained silent on preferred options, as our approach has been to take an objective view of the data, with a genuine interest in what is best for the people, and the delivery of services.
“Backed by interim findings from PwC, at this point we believe that the most sustainable model would be two new unitaries; likely meaning a new authority that combines Nottingham City Council with any two of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe.
“Subject to Government feedback, we are also open to other city + 2 models, that have not yet been fully explored.
“I remain committed to working with my Leader counterparts, especially during the next phase, which will require a more detailed analysis of individual options, to ensure that LGR delivers the best outcomes for local communities.”
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.
The Government gave all councils a deadline of 21 March to submit interim plans, with a 28 November deadline to submit final, much more detailed, proposals.