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City spirits to be lifted on day of kindness later this month

Gedling Eye
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City spirits to be lifted on day of kindness later this month

People in Gedling borough are being urged to get involved in a day dedicated to compassion and kindness

Volunteers from across the borough have helped formed InKind, a community group that believes being kind is something anyone can do, and it makes a positive impact on you too.

InKind is now planning to host a special day in Nottingham’s city centre on Sunday, July 22. It will be filled with activities to help Notts residents and visitors feel the love, and to promote kindness and compassion “just because”.

InKind member Jeff Buck said: “Nottingham is the best city in the UK. It’s full of energy and packed with good people who look out for each other. But many of us are struggling to deal with loss, stress, ill health, and there can be so much pressure to be seen to be happy and successful.

“We all need to feel cared for, and accepted for who we are. Being offered some time, or just a smile, from a stranger can be unusual in today’s impersonal world but it’s been clear that many people really need that connection, however briefly.”

InKind Notts set up in 2011.  Since then, the group has hosted four Random Acts of Kindness days based in St Peter’s Gate.  At first there has been surprise and some people have been a little wary of accepting compliments or freebies.

old_person
pensioner, old person

Group member Kaye Brennan, who lives in Gedling, recalls: “It started silin’ dahn – as we say in Notts [very heavy rain] – so I took a big golf umbrella out and walked with shoppers to keep them dry. It was quite a strange feeling for both of us! But when they hear more about what we’re doing, people really get behind the idea.

“I spotted one older gentleman who had taken refuge in a shop doorway, when I approached him he told me he had mobility problems and very rarely left his house but he had to pay in a cheque to cover some bills – it had taken him ages to get to town and he was getting really wet and was becoming distressed.

We walked slowly together to the bank, and when he had finished me and my umbrella accompanied him back into the dry of the Broadmarsh Centre. He was so grateful for the shelter and the company even for that short period of time. It made his day – and mine.

“I love being involved in random acts of kindness – it’s a lot of fun and even better, everyone can join in or benefit from what’s on offer.”

The day has attracted hundreds of people each year, with volunteers sharing out sweets donated from local retailers and other freebies, as well as offering conversation, and even hugs. The group set up a mural for children and adults to write messages and draw pictures describing what kindness means to them, and a ‘kindness conga’ weaved through St Peter’s Gate to the Market Square.

The group promises similar activities and more this year, including ‘Get to Know a Stranger’ (two chairs, people sit down and chat to each other) and Kindness Challenges.  Volunteers are welcome to help before and during the event, and InKind hopes to see hundreds of locals drop by on the day.

Nottingham based Robin Hood Energy, the city’s not-for-profit energy supplier, is also getting behind the ‘be kind, just because’ message with their ‘Nottingham Is Kind’ campaign, and will be joining in on the kindness message alongside InKind on July 22.

Gedling MP Vernon Coaker hits out at lack of school funding at crisis conference

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling MP Vernon Coaker hits out at lack of school funding at crisis conference

A Gedling MP has called government funding of schools ‘an absolute disgrace’ at a conference in Nottingham yesterday.

Vernon Coaker was one of the speakers at a ‘crisis’ conference held at Meadow Lane football stadium yesterday to discuss how city and county schools are facing significant funding shortfalls.

Attendees heard that pupils in the county will lose an average of £296 per pupil between 2015 and 2020.

The group Save Our Schools, which campaigns for increased funding, says 82 out of 84 schools in the city will face cuts before 2020.

However the Government says funding is at record levels, and that education outcomes are improving.

At the conference yesterday which was made up of teachers and head teachers from across the East Midlands, several spoke up to say that the reality at their school was that severe savings were having to be made.

The conference heard from one head teacher from a school in Lincolnshire, who said she had been in tears because of the cuts she had been forced to make, which had left her with a stress-related illness.

Speaking at the conference, the Gedling MP for Labour, and former deputy head teacher Vernon Coaker, said: “Head teachers are having to make decisions not about how to improve education at their schools, but about which teaching assistants to get rid of, which teachers to get rid of.

“It is a disgrace for one of the richest countries in the world to be in this position.”

Speaking about the Government’s claim that spending had increased, Mr Coaker said: “The Government’s response is to rubbish our figures, but the figures we use are the Government’s own figures.”

He said issues such as an increase in the number of pupils, the introduction of the living wage, increased pension contributions and unfunded pay rises were all contributing to the financial pinch being felt in schools.

He also said the education area facing the biggest shortfall was the provision of care and education for young people with disabilities.

He said: “It is an absolute disgrace and scandal what’s happening to some people with special needs in our country.

“This is not only a political challenge but a moral challenge for us as a country, to say we are not prepared to see this situation in our schools.”

Bus firm step in to get city orchestra out of treble

Gedling Eye
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Bus firm step in to get city orchestra out of treble

Members of a Nottingham orchestra looked set to miss out on a trip to a major concert in Southwell yesterday (July 13) after a coach firm let them down at the last minute – until another firm stepped in to save the day.

Nottingham’s biggest transport operator stepped in to quickly arranging a second bus to run alongside the 09:40 Pathfinder 100 bus from Nottingham – which serves part of the borough, including Carlton and Burton Joyce.

The 72 strong members of the Robin Hood Youth Orchestra were able to perform their outdoor concert in Southwell and enjoy their day of planned activities.

NCT’s Service Delivery Manager, Bob Clarke commented, “When we heard the treble the Youth Orchestra were in, we were only too pleased to help by arranging an additional bus at the last minuet, to ensure they could travel to Southwell for their performance”.

PICTURED: Pathfinder 100 (PICTURE: NCT)

Council Leader Jon Collins said: “I’m pleased that NCT has been able to step in and support the youth orchestra at such short notice. We’ve also arranged with Community Transport for Nottingham, which provides our Link Bus services, to provide buses for several performances around the city tomorrow (Saturday).”

He continued, “The orchestra provides fantastic opportunities for children, and we are happy to have been able to use our connections to make sure they are able to perform – this is one of the great things about having a municipal bus company.

“We’re immensely proud of NCT and CT4N for organising transport at the eleventh hour. This is just another example of our world class local bus operators supporting our city and our communities.”

Gedling Borough Council to vote on opposing plans for unitary council

Gedling Eye
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Gedling Borough Council to vote on opposing plans for unitary council

Members of Gedling Borough Council will next week vote on a motion opposing plans to scrap borough and district councils, it has been announced.

The motion, proposed by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr. Michael Payne and seconded by the leader of the council, Cllr. John Clarke, which was submitted before the County Council’s decision was made on Thursday, can be read in full on the council’s website.

The motion will be presented to Gedling Borough Councillors at Wednesday evening’s Full Council meeting and will call for Gedling Borough Councillors to oppose the County Council’s decision to abolish Gedling borough and the other districts in order to form a single unitary council for Nottinghamshire.

The motion will also condemn the fact that local residents have not been consulted on their views about the future shape of local government in the area.

The motion calls on Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Kay Cutts, to re-engage with leaders of all councils, working transparently and with a manner of mutual respect and to lobby central Government for fairer funding in the region instead of attempting to redraw council boundaries.

This follows a joint letter sent to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Cutts, signed by five district and borough councils, that questions her decision to bring her motion for a single unitary council for Nottinghamshire to County Councillors calling it ‘flawed and inappropriate at such a significant time for the region’.

The letter signed by the Leaders of Ashfield District Council, Bassetlaw District Council, Gedling Borough Council, Mansfield District Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council was sent to Cllr Cutts on July 9 asking her to withdraw the motion presented at Nottinghamshire County Council on Thursday, July 12.

The leader of Gedling Borough Council, Cllr John Clarke has also personally written to Councillor Cutts in June, stating that she should’ve have consulted with borough and district leaders and local residents first.

Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said: “I am proposing this motion to make it crystal clear that we are opposed to the Leader of the County Council’s plans to abolish Gedling and create one super council for the whole of Nottinghamshire.

“This is an unwelcome and disappointing distraction at a time when councils are tirelessly working to make sure local residents are getting their local services delivered to them at a high standard.

“The Leader of the County Council, Councillor Cutts has failed to ask local residents for their views and has herself accepted that there’s currently no business case for it.

He added: “We strongly oppose this ill-timed, half-cooked and sloppy proposal and we call on all Gedling Borough Councillors to do the same at Full Council on Wednesday.

“Our residents don’t want the risk of their council tax being sent out of Gedling and spent elsewhere. They want a local council that puts Gedling first – we will defend Gedling from this ridiculous, ill-thought-through attempt at a takeover.

“We will not allow the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to use the residents of Gedling as pawns on a chess board. If she truly believes that the people want to scrap their local councils and replace them with one super council for Nottinghamshire she should give them a vote and let them have their say on the issue.”

Business case for new authority which will replace Gedling Borough Council being prepared

Gedling Eye
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Business case for new authority which will replace Gedling Borough Council being prepared

A business case for a new Authority which would see the scraping of Gedling Borough Council is to now be prepared.

Nottinghamshire County Council will now prepare a formal case to replace the current two-tier system of local government in Nottinghamshire with a new unitary authority, it was agreed yesterday (Thursday, July 12).

Under current arrangements for local government in Nottinghamshire, services like housing, waste collection, leisure and environmental health are provided by seven district and borough councils, with other services such as adult and children’s social care, schools, waste disposal, highways and libraries provided by the County Council.

A new unitary authority would bring all those functions together to deliver more effective services and an estimated £20-£30 million annual reduction in running costs and bureaucracy.

Councillor Kay Cutts, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “The argument for a new, unitary council to deliver services in Nottinghamshire is a compelling one and I am pleased that the Council has sanctioned this important step forward to develop a comprehensive business case.

“A unitary authority would provide accountability and clarity about who provides what, giving us a single body responsible for all council services and joining-up functions like rubbish collection with waste disposal and housing with social care and benefits which are currently provided by different authorities. I hear a lot from residents who are fed-up with being passed from authority to authority, depending on the issue and frustrated by the lack of joined-up thinking which is an inevitable consequence of the current two-tier system, no matter how closely the two tiers of local government try to work together.

“A unitary authority would also give Nottinghamshire a much louder, more influential voice within national Government – giving us the best possible chance of attracting the investment and economic growth and improvements to infrastructure which we miss out on currently, increasing the chances of meaningful closer working with other East Midlands councils and, ultimately, the devolution of powers from central Government to the region to increase local decision-making.

“The whole future of local public services in Nottinghamshire is at a crossroads. With eight years of significant reductions in funding already behind us – and faced with the prospect of further reductions to come – the only option to fundamental change to the current two-tier system is significant cutbacks to the services we rely upon and cherish, coupled with punishing increases in council tax. I don’t think that is in the best interests of anyone.

“Under current arrangements, people are effectively paying for two sets of councillors, two senior management teams and two lots of back office functions. A unitary council for Nottinghamshire would enable us to pool our resources and make significant reductions in running costs.

“I have been involved in local government for many years as a parish, borough, and county councillor and am passionate about delivering good services to the people of Nottinghamshire.  I’m not seeking a unitary council for Nottinghamshire out of self-interest for power or control – in fact my own position and the county council as we know it would be dissolved under our proposals – but to reflect the difficult situation local government finds itself in, and to secure the many benefits this would bring.

“It is not a County Council takeover that’s being proposed, but a new Council built on the best practice of the existing District, Borough and County Councils. I want us to work together to secure a future local government that delivers great services – putting people and outcomes first, rather than party politics.”

The motion, agreed by a majority of 35 votes to 30 at Full Council, will now see a business case prepared which will be brought back to a future meeting of the Full Council. If the business case is subsequently approved, it will be passed to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for consideration.

Any formal process of local government reorganisation would be subject to a comprehensive public consultation.

OPINION: We don’t want to be pawns is a power struggle between City and County councils

Gedling Eye
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OPINION: We don’t want to be pawns is a power struggle between City and County councils

Yesterday, councillors voted in favour of plans that could lead to the scrapping of Gedling Borough Council.

The unitary council plan being proposed could eventually lead to the abolishment of borough and district councils across the area.

At Gedling Eye we feel the removal of Gedling Borough Council and possibly the services they offer would be a huge blow to the area.

Yes, occasionally they may not get round to collecting your bin or cutting a grass verge, but we believe the services they provide for people across the borough are greatly valued – and would be sadly missed if removed.

They have put a cut-price cinema on our doorstep that allows families to see Hollywood blockbusters at a reduced rate is wonderful. This is something that might not be affordable for people when you look at city centre cinema prices.

The  councils Arts Festival will next week be enjoyed by many and events during their well-received Heritage Festival were very well attended.

They have given us a country park to be proud of that is the envy of people from other areas of Nottingham.

They are bringing investment into the areas with the creation of a ‘mini city’ being created near Netherfield.

But now our fear is that many of Gedling Borough Council’s services and initiatives could be scrapped just to keep the lights on in West Bridgford.

We want councillors to ensure that people in the borough have a say and are either given a proper vote or consultation before any plans are submitted to government.

The last thing the people of Gedling borough want is to be helpless pawns in a power game between Nottingham City and County Councils.

Councillors back plans that could lead to the end of Gedling Borough Council

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Councillors have today voted to back plans that could spell the end for Gedling Borough Council and other smaller authorities across the county.

Proposals will now be put together on how and when a new ‘super council’ would be put into place for Nottinghamshire.

It would involve dissolving district and borough councils, and the county council, and creating a brand new authority.

However the proposal was watered down at the last minute, ahead of the vote.

The plan had been to vote on whether to put a business case together and send it to the Government.

Now, a case will be put together, which will then come back before councillors.

Should councillors then vote in favour at a future meeting, it would then be sent to the Government.

Nottingham City Council has said if a case is eventually sent to the Government, it will create its own bid to enlarge the city’s boundaries to include West Bridgford, Arnold, Gedling and Broxtowe.

This would mean many urban areas around the city would come under the city’s authority.

Opposition councillors today queued up to attack the plans, and the way they were put together.

But Conservative leader Kay Cutts, who represents the Radcliffe on Trent ward, laid out what she see as the benefits of the scheme, and said it should have happened years ago.

She said: “There is little justification in maintaining the bureaucracy of eight seprate council offices across Nottinghamshire.

“It would make life simpler, and cost taxpayers significantly less.

“The public will at least know who their councillor is, and will have a one-stop shop for all their issues.

“I believe this is what the people of Nottinghamshire want, and I believe it is what the councillors in this chamber want.”

But many people who spoke today at the meeting – which lasted more than six hours – were against the proposal.

Alan Rhodes is the leader of the Labour group. He said the proposal would become the equivalent of Brexit. He said it would be: “Hugely distracting from the job we are all elected to do, deeply divisive, and ultimately doomed to failure with promises broken and expectation failing to be met.”

In an impassioned speech, independent councillor Maureen Dobson, who represents Collingham, said the way the scheme had been handled was a ‘Kay Cutts special’. She said she supported re-organisaiton, but that it had been mishandled.

Speaking to the leader, she said: “For someone who’s supposed to be politically astute, you’ve been very naive, and I’m very surprised about that. This will not be your legacy, this will be your downfall.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Carr described the process as a ‘shambles’, and said: “I am totally opposed to unitary authorities. It doesn’t make sense for an area that stretches from here to Doncaster. We want more power to be held nearer the people.”

“You have turned this issue into something that is as divisive as Brexit.

“There is now a real danger that the city will seek to expand its borders, and this is incredibly unpopular in those areas.

“What you should have done is speak to all those parties, but you have not, and it will inflict huge damage on your party at the next election.

Speaking after the meeting, council leader Kay Cutts said that she was pleased that the council had ‘started the journey’, but couldn’t say whether the business case would be finalised before the end of the year.

The scheme was narrowly voted through today by 35 to 30. A more detailed plan will now be put together by council officers, before councillors vote on the final proposals.

A list of how each councillor voted has now been published, so you can find out how your representative voted:

Reg Adair, Conservative, Leake and Ruddington, For
Pauline Allan, Labour, Arnold North, Against
Chris Barnfather, Conservative, Newstead, For
Joyce Bosnjak, Labour, Mansfield North, Against
Ben Bradley, Conservative, Hucknall North, For
Nicki Brooks, Labour, Carlton East, Against
Andrew Brown,Conservative, Leake and Ruddington, For
Richard Butler, Conservative, Cotgrave, For
Steve Carr, Liberal Democrats, Bramcote North and Beeston North, Against
John Clarke, Labour, Arnold South, Against
Neil Clarke, Conservative, Bingham West, For
John Cottee, Conservative, Keyworth, For
Jim Creamer, Labour, Carlton West, Against
Kay Cutts (Leader) Conservative, Radcliffe on Trent, For
Samantha Deakin, Ashfield Independents, Sutton Central and East, Against
Maureen Dobson, Independent, Collingham, Against
Dr John Doddy, Conservative, Stapleford and Broxtowe Central, For
Boyd Elliot, Conservative, Calverton, For
Sybil Fielding, Labour, Worksop West, Against
Kate Foale, Labour, Beeston Central and Rylands, Against
Stephen Garner, Mansfield Independent Forum, Mansfield South, For
Glynn Gilfoyle,Labour, Worksop East, Against
Keith Girling, Conservative, Newark West, For
Kevin Greaves, Labour, Worksop South, Against
John Handley, Conservative, Greasley and Brinsley, For
Tony Harper, Conservative, Eastwood, For
Errol Henry, Labour, Carlton West, Against
Paul Henshaw, Labour, Mansfield West, Against
Tom Hollis, Ashfield Independents, Sutton West, Against
Vaughan Hopewell, Mansfield Independent Forum, Mansfield East, For
Richard Jackson, Conservative, Toton, Chilwell and Attenborough, For
Roger Jackson, Conservative, Southwell, For
Eric Kerry, Conservative, Toton, Chilwell and Attenborough, For
John Knight, Labour, Kirkby North, Against
Bruce Laughton, Cosnervative, Muskham and Farnsfield, For
John Longdon, Conservative, Stapleford and Broxtowe Central, For
Rachel Madden, Ashfield Independents, Kirkby-in-Ashfield South, Against
David Martin, Ashfield Independents, Selston, Against
Diana Meale, Labour, Mansfield West, Against
John Ogle, Conservatives, Tuxford, For
Philip Owen, Conservative, Nuthall and Kimberley, For
Michael Payne, Labour, Arnold North, Against
John Peck, Labour, Sherwood Forest, Against
Sheila Place, Labour, Blyth and Harworth, Against
Liz Plant, Labour, West Bridgford North, Against
Mike Pringle, Labour, Ollerton, Against
Francis Purdue-Horan, Conservative, Bingham East, For
Mike Quigley, Conservative, Retford West, For
Alan Rhodes (Labour leader), Worksop North, Against
Kevin Rostance, Conservative, Hucknall West, For
Phil Rostance, Conservative, Hucknall South, For
Sue Saddington (Chairwoman) Conservative, Farndon and Trent, For
Andy Sissons, Mansfield Independent Forum, Mansfield South, For
Helen-Ann Smith, Ashfield Independents, Sutton North, Against
Tracey Taylor, Conservative, Misterton, For
Parry Tsimbiridis, Labour, Mansfield North, Against
Steve Vickers, Conservatives, Retford East, For
Keith Walker, Conservatives, Balderton, For
Stuart Wallace, Conservative, Newark East, For
Muriel Weisz, Labour, Arnold South, absent
Andy Wetton, Labour, Warsop, Against
Gordon Wheeler, Conservative, West Bridgford West, For
Johnathon Wheeler, Conservative, West Bridgford South, For
Yvonne Woodhead, Labour, Bildworth, Against
Martin Wright, MAnsfield Independent Forum, Mansfield East, For
Jason Zadrozny, Ashfield Independents, Ashfields, Against

 

Man arrested over Ravenshead burglary released under investigation

Gedling Eye
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Man arrested over Ravenshead burglary released under investigation

Police have released a man arrested in connection with an aggravated burglary in Ravenshead under investigation.

Officers received a call at 10.10pm on Monday, July 2, 2018 after three men, claiming to be armed police, broke into a property in Kirkby Road threatened the occupants and demanded money from them.

A male occupant was punched in the face and a female occupant was threatened with knife as the suspects demanded to know the location of the money.

The woman managed to escape and ran to a nearby Sainsbury’s store where she called the police. The offenders left the house shortly after.

A spokesman said: “Thankfully the occupants weren’t seriously injured. Three mobile phones were taken from the address but were later recovered. The suspects also took the key to a vehicle and a kitchen knife. The car wasn’t taken.

A 33-year-old man was arrested in connection with the burglary and has been released under investigation.

Anyone with any information about the aggravated burglary is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 1127 of 2 July 2018, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.・@ ・@

Mapperley man charged after incident at Waterfront pub in city centre

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Mapperley man charged after incident at Waterfront pub in city centre

A Mapperley man has been charged after a 21-year-old male suffered a serious injury following an incident at a pub in Nottingham city centre.

Police were called to reports of an argument at the Waterfront pub where a man had been hit in the neck by a glass at around 5.10pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

The 21-year-old man was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre for treatment. A 19-year-old woman also suffered minor injuries.

Paul Campbell, 25, of Westmoore Close in Mapperley was arrested and charged with two counts of malicious wounding with intent.

He’s been remanded to appear at Notts Crown court on August 9.

What would super council plan mean for people in Gedling borough?

Gedling Eye Reporter
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What would super council plan mean for people in Gedling borough?

The future of Gedling Borough Council hangs in the balance today as councillors prepare to vote on plans to abolish all seven county and district councils across the county later today.

If plans are approved, Nottingham City Council said it will begin formalising its own rival plan to more than double the size of Nottingham, by taking control of Gedling, Arnold and Carlton as well as West Bridgford and Hucknall.

These plans would then be considered by the Government.

If either of them go ahead, it would mean lots of changes for people living in the borough – but how exactly would it affect you?

There’s a huge amount still up in the air, and the scheme may yet fall at the first hurdle tomorrow, but we’ve had a look at what the re-organisation could mean for residents.

So what are the options?

There are three different options.

Option One – Do nothing. Currently people living in Nottinghamshire are covered by a district or borough council, and the county council. This is called two-tier authority.

Option Two – Scrap all seven district and borough councils, and the county council, and create a brand new council for all of the county. This is called a unitary authority. Opponents say this would remove local decision making. Supporters say it would save money.

Option Three – Create a unitary authority for Nottinghamshire, and eventually expand the city’s border to include the wider urban area.

Would I be affected?

If you live in Nottinghamshire, then yes. If the borders of Nottingham are changed, people in most parts of Arnold, Carlton, Gedling would come become part of the the city council.

Complex laws mean the city boundaries are unlikely to change at the same time as the new council being created – but possibly a few years later.

Why is this happening?

There are lots of reasons, but money is central.

The amount of money councils get from the Government has fallen dramatically.

At the same time, demand on the council for social care and children’s care has gone up.

This has caused a financial squeeze on councils.

Loxley_House

Has this happened elsewhere?

Yes and no. Some areas have created unitary authorities from two-tier before, but they have tended to be in areas dominated by either Labour or the Conservatives, so consensus was easier to come by.

Nottinghamshire’s politics is about as diverse as it gets. Of the districts and boroughs, three are run by Conservatives, two by Labour and two by independents. The county is run by a Conservative-led coalition, and the city is dominated by Labour.

This has meant it’s been difficult to get everyone to agree.

Who will collect my bins?

If the new super council goes ahead, then it will be the new council that provides all services.

Currently, some services are done by the county, and some by the districts or boroughs. The new council would stop that and become responsible for all services.

What will it be called?

It wouldn’t be a county council, so the new authority would likely be called Nottinghamshire Council.

Where will it be based?

The most obvious place would be at County Hall, but this is yet to be confirmed. Or even discussed!

How much will it save?

The cost savings could be significant. In Dorset, where a similar scheme is in the pipeline, bosses hope the £25 million investment would be paid back in less than a year, and that there would be savings of around £28 million a year afterwards.

Leicestershire is also considering a similar scheme, and bosses there say it could save £30 million a year.

When might all this happen?

It’s likely to take two years at the very least. Dorset, where there is a lot of political consensus, hope to finish the process in two-and-a-half years.

What are the benefits?

Supporters of the scheme say the huge amount of work that would go into re-organisation would pay off in the end.

They say it would make things simpler for residents, who would only have one council to interact with.

Those in favour also say it would mean the council could take a county-wide approach to infrastructure such as roads and house building.

What about the drawbacks?

The many vocal critics of re-organisation have raised a wide range of concerns.

They say it would take decision making away from local people.

Some say the new council would ‘asset-strip’, by selling off council-owned land and buildings.

There is also a fear that the new authority would simply be ‘too big,’ and would lose touch with the residents.

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