City expansion option explored in councils shake-up

People are being asked to share their views on changes to local government

Nottingham City Council is exploring further options to expand the city's boundary amid a consultation to reorganise local government.

Residents of the city and the county have been asked to share their views on proposals to replace the existing council structure with two new unitary councils.

Two core options currently being considered in Nottinghamshire include Broxtowe, and either Rushcliffe or Gedling, combining with Nottingham.

But the city council has a preferred option outside of those that would change the existing boundaries of neighbouring boroughs and districts.

The two core options currently being considered in Nottinghamshire are known as 1b and 1e.

This is how option 1b would look

1b would be a new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe, and Gedling, with a second new unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire - Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood, Bassetlaw and Rushcliffe.

1e would involve a new unitary authority combining Nottingham, Broxtowe, and Rushcliffe, with a second new unitary authority for the rest of Nottinghamshire - Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood, Bassetlaw and Gedling.

No final decision has been made on a single option at this stage, and some councils could still explore additional proposals alongside the two mentioned.

This is how option 1e would look

Deputy leader for Nottingham City Council, Ethan Radford, confirmed on Tuesday the authority was in favour of an option that would effectively see only parts of neighbouring districts combined with Nottingham.

He said: "The suggestion that the city expands into the whole of the Rushcliffe district is quite something.

"There are areas and villages or towns in there that don't have a shared identity with Nottingham."

He said comparatively, people living in areas in Gedling and Broxtowe, "say they live in Nottingham".

He added: "Ultimately the end goal here has to be not just lines moved on a map, but services that actually are good value for money that meet the needs of people and create new authorities that actually deliver for people."

Ethan Radford said authorities had a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to shape the city for the next 50 years

The preferred option for Nottinghamshire County Council, which has been under the control of Reform since the May elections, is 1b.

Council leader Mick Barton said: "I've always said all along in the early days of this process, that I would go with the evidence and the evidence to me balances up for 1b.

"That's just me personally. I'm still having discussions with my own group but I believe 1b is the best option moving forward for the residents of Nottinghamshire.

"I can't speak for all of the council - I can only speak for my own group."

He said 1b, which would combine Nottingham, Broxtowe and Gedling, was better "financially" and "per head" in respect of population figures.

Mick Barton said he did not agree with local government reorganisation, but said at the stage the process was at, he had "no choice"

Leader of the opposition at the county council, Sam Smith, said he and his Conservative shadow cabinet wanted to see more options put forward for public consultation.

He suggested a city council expansion that would change the boundaries of surrounding districts and boroughs, using the example of Beeston becoming part of Nottingham, but not the rest of Broxtowe.

Smith added: "Broxtowe residents right now are not seeing options that keep them out of the city."

"We must now see other options coming forward," he added.

The deadline for the final proposal must be submitted to the government by 28 November.

'Cities within cities'

The reforms have attracted mixed feedback among people living in the Rushcliffe area.

Resident Stuart Holmes believed local government reorganisation was a "waste of time and money".

Asked what he thought about West Bridgford potentially combining with the city, he added: "I think it would be bad for West Bridgford, and as far as the city is concerned, they've got bigger problems."

Louise Williams, a teacher from West Bridgford, said: "I often wondered why we weren't more part of the city than we tend to be.

"It seems to have an exclusivity that I don't necessarily think it needs even though people like the fact that it has an exclusivity."

Another resident added that if the city was to expand into areas like West Bridgford, she would hope they would still maintain separate identities.

"Cities within cities - that's my idea," she said.