Councillors have formally agreed to submit plans to ministers for how local government in Gedling borough could be reorganised when all nine district and unitary councils are scrapped
The Full Council met last night (19) at the Civic Centre to agree on the next stages of the Local Government Reorganisation set out by central government.
Councillors debated proposals that would see the abolition of all nine district and unitary councils in the East Midlands and the creation of new unitary councils covering larger populations.
Councillors agreed that an interim plan, which sets out three core options for reorganisation, will be submitted to central government on March 21.
- A new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe, and Gedling, with a second unitary authority covering the rest of Nottinghamshire.
- A new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe, and Rushcliffe, with a second unitary authority covering the rest of Nottinghamshire.
- Nottingham City remains a unitary authority, with a new single unitary authority covering the rest of Nottinghamshire.
The agreement follows months of detailed work between the councils, supported by independent analysis, to explore how local government could be streamlined to improve services, increase efficiency, and strengthen local decision-making. The interim plan will inform the next phase of work, leading to a final proposal in November 2025.
The government is expected to provide feedback on the interim plan before councils carry out further detailed analysis ahead of the final proposal later this year.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE, said: “We have taken the next steps towards one of the biggest shake-ups in local government in over 50 years. We have been working closely with all nine authorities in Nottinghamshire, and we have agreed that the three options on the table are the most suitable ones to take forward, as requested by central government.
“I have a view, as do many other councillors, on what the preferred option for Gedling is, but we need to get more facts before we can make that decision. This is just the start of the process, no decision has been made, and there will be much more discussions, debates and we will look at the data to ensure we get the best possible outcome for our residents, businesses, and council employees.
“We now need to have some patience and wait for feedback from the government, the ball is in their court, and they will need to give us steer on what we must do next. We will be asking them for clarification about how people will be consulted as it’s imperative that the residents of our borough will be able to have their say on this incredibly important matter.”
