Council bosses are expected to be briefed by the Government this week on what the plans will be for potentially scrapping councils and replacing them with one ‘super council’ for the whole of Nottinghamshire.
A public county council meeting due to be held next week has been postponed until the week after, so councillors can report back on what Government ministers have said.
It is not yet known whether the public meeting – now due to be held on Wednesday, September 16 – will contain an agenda item relating to local government reorganisation.
The Conservative-controlled county council has long favoured a plan which would see seven district and borough councils scrapped – as well as the county council itself – and replaced with one single council.
It would likely make it the second largest council in the country in terms of population, behind Birmingham.
A Government document, known as a white paper, had been expected in early autumn, but is now understood to be delayed slightly until October, and will set out the future direction for local government reorganisation.
It is likely to set out the rules which reorganisations will have to follow, specifically on the maximum numbers of residents, and potentially the level of local support needed.
Several district and borough councils have been strongly opposed to the scheme, and Labour councillors on the county council have consistently voted against the proposal.
It comes after a report, commissioned by the County Councils Network, found almost £3 billion could be saved by scrapping the so-called two tier system of county councils and district councils, and replacing them with much larger councils.
However another parallel report, by the District Councils’ Network said reorganisation would distract from local COVID recoveries, and create less agile, less responsive local government.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We have set out a clear commitment to level up all areas of the country by empowering our regions through devolving money, resources and control away from Westminster.
“We are considering a range of options and will set out our detailed plans in the White Paper that will be published this autumn.”
Nottinghamshire County Council declined to comment.
This is an appalling attempt at usurpation of power by a right-wing government. I am proud to live in Gedling. Its services are second to none. it may save money but it flies in the face of democracy, local identity and accountability.