'Confusion' as seven Nottinghamshire councils could disappear under new plans

Seven Nottinghamshire councils could be completely scrapped under government plans which some say will cause "years of uncertainty and confusion". A paper published by the Labour government this week (December 16) confirms its intention to scrap councils across the country in a bid to "streamline local government to focus on delivering for residents".

Nottingham City Council is a unitary authority, meaning it has responsibility for all services in its area, ranging from social care and education to bin collections and parks. Outside the city, local government is split into two.

Nottinghamshire County Council runs services including social care and roads maintenance for all areas outside the city. There are then seven district and borough councils across Nottinghamshire managing more localised services including waste collections and parks.

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The new plans could see all seven district and borough councils being abolished, with Nottinghamshire County Council becoming a unitary authority like Nottingham. That would mean councils like Gedling Borough Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Mansfield District Council and Ashfield District Council all disappearing.

Nottinghamshire County Council could end up delivering all services for the seven areas where a district and borough authority is set to be scrapped. Alternatively, Nottingham City Council could end up taking some of them on, with the Labour-run authority having previously suggested it could expand to cover Gedling, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe.

Nottinghamshire County Council leader Sam Smith said: "Let me be very clear about what reorganisation in Nottinghamshire must mean for residents. It must deliver high-quality and sustainable services, better efficiencies and value for money.

"It must streamline services and decision-making, with a clear picture about which politician is accountable so that residents get services under the one roof – a one-stop shop. What it must not do is create more bureaucracy, higher taxes or reduced services. If it is a good thing for Nottinghamshire taxpayers, then I'm fully supportive of it.”

Councillor Smith says he "will now work closely with our district and borough partners, as well as the mayor's office, to draft proposals focussed on streamlining services and the decision making process locally, while investing savings from local government reorganisation into better services across the county".

The county council leader noted that the Nottinghamshire county population is within the "500,000 or more" threshold for creating a new unitary authority. Councillor Smith added: "I will do all I can to preserve the existing boundaries of this great county.

"I will fight tooth and nail to get the best deal for Nottinghamshire's residents. I look forward to the discussions that will take place in the weeks ahead after receiving a letter from government that seeks proposals."

Councillor Helen-Ann Smith, Ashfield District Council's deputy leader, said: "We all saw through the Covid lockdowns the importance of local councils like ours in Ashfield. This was nationally recognised and the fact that the disgraceful Labour government are planning to scrap our award-winning council at the stroke of a pen will be a bitter pill to swallow and will be resisted at every level.

"There are now real fears that these plans will create one huge council including Nottingham and Nottinghamshire or that these plans will realise Nottingham City Council's ambition to take over Broxtowe, Gedling and Hucknall.

"Super councils are a step backwards and not devolution. In Ashfield, which has existed since 1974, there will be no spring clean, no new swimming pools, no transformation of parks, no Ashfield Show and other high-profile events and much more if these backward plans get the go-ahead."

The government's initial plans have been laid out in a white paper and, although they are at an early stage, ministers have refused to deny that they could end up seeing planned local elections for May 2025 being scrapped. Nottinghamshire County Council is the only authority in our area set for elections in May.

In its white paper, the government confirms that it expects all areas where there are two tiers of local government to "develop proposals for reorganisation". For unitaries like Nottingham, the government also says it wants reorganisation for councils where "their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality services for their residents".

No details have been confirmed at this stage, but the government's wording strongly suggests that all seven district and borough councils in Nottinghamshire will be scrapped and that their services will be shared between the city and county councils. Councillor Steve Carr, an independent county councillor for Bramcote and Beeston North said: "I find it appalling that the government wants to abolish borough and district councils. They want to create more elected mayors and very large unitary councils.

"To move services away from smaller councils will be a further disconnect for residents. Who will take over the 4,000 Broxtowe council-owned homes? What will happen to their rents?

"Broxtowe has amongst the lowest rents in the East Midlands. With all the pressures councils have at the moment with homelessness, spiralling care costs, child safeguarding and many more, this is an unwanted distraction. This move will cause years of uncertainty and confusion."

Others have been more positive about the plans, with Nottingham Labour councillor Steve Battlemuch posting online: "This is a great opportunity to restructure local councils here in Nottinghamshire. We have too many tiers of government and clearly mayors are here to stay. Let's start a discussion around a greater Nottingham council taking in the southern districts and a separate North Nottinghamshire one."

The government says in its white paper: "We will deliver this process as quickly as possible, including through legislation where it becomes necessary to ensure progress. Clear leadership locally will be met with an active partner nationally.

"New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis."

Nottinghamshire's governmental structures have already seen significant change, with the creation of the East Midlands Combined County Authority. Led by East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire-focused authority has millions of pounds a year and the ability to make decisions on issues like housing and transport previously made in Westminster. The government's December 16 white paper also sets out plans to grant significant new powers to elected mayors across the country.