Gedling Borough Council could be scrapped after the Labour government revealed an overhaul which would bring the biggest local government shake-up in 50 years.
A paper published yesterday (16) confirmed the government’s intention to scrap councils across the country in a bid to “streamline local government to focus on delivering for residents”.
Under the reforms two-tier council areas will be abolished and replaced by new unitary councils and ‘strategic authorities’.
In a speech to an audience of regional mayors, local government and business leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister will say that the proposals in the English Devolution White Paper will put England’s regions centre stage and deliver on the government’s mission to grow the economy and our milestone of building 1.5 million homes and will boost opportunity across the country.
Measures expected to be announced later today include plans for new powers for mayors across strategic planning – giving them the ability to guide infrastructure and developmentprojects across areas, housing, transport and skills.
At a launch event yesterday Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner, said “Our English Devolution White Paper will be a turning point when we finally see communities, people and places across England begin to take back control over the things that matter to them.
“When our proud towns and cities are once again given the powers they need to drive growth and raise living standards as part of our Plan for Change.
“It’s a plan for putting more money in people’s pockets, putting politics back in the service of working people and a plan for stability, investment and reform, not chaos, austerity and decline, that will deliver a decade of national renewal.
“Devolution will no longer be agreed at the whim of a Minister in Whitehall, but embedded in the fabric of the country, becoming the default position of government.”
Currently Nottinghamshire County Council is responsible for services such as adult social care, children’s services, libraries, museums and running tips, while borough and districts deal with housing, leisure centres and parks. Unitary authorities would run all services.
A mayor would have control over ‘big ticket’ items such as housing, planning and transport.
The government said most new unitary authorities will cover populations of 500,000 or more – which Nottinghamshire has.
The government is now inviting areas to submit proposals for reorganisation, but has stressed it does not want “competing proposals”.
Previous attempts at local government reorganisation caused bad blood.
Back in 2018 the then-leader of Nottinghamshire County Council Kay Cutts proposed creating a ‘super council’ and scrapping the county’s borough and district councils.
Its not to hand back decisions to local people!!!! its to Dump a budget and any blame onto Local Civil servants for any failures. But grab the credit when it goes well…. because Labour could not run a XXXX up in a brewery. Politically illiterates.
Good bad or indifferent it will mean local job losses…but yep BIG redundancies and probably march back into an identical job at county level for the elite few. Like the Train Drivers Unions.
A nice Xmas present from Labour to all the council staff that did do a good job,(not all)….
Along with WASPIs, Farmers, Defence budget, Heating allowance etc etc…Lies!!!
The one good point… these will all GUARANTEE Labour and Conservatives will not be getting back into power for maybe a generation now. I am so glad I lived through the 60/70/80’s for the most part.