Nottinghamshire County Council has formally agreed to submit the plan for local government reorganisation and has endorsed its preferred option for local at its Full Council Meeting on Thursday 20 March.

Following a debate, councillors voted in favour of the county-only solution of two new unitary authorities made up of the existing city council and one made up of the remainder of the county incorporating all current existing districts and borough councils.

Three potential options were put forward including:

A.    One unitary covering Broxtowe, Gedling and Nottingham City; one unitary covering the remaining County including Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe,

B.    One unitary covering Broxtowe, Nottingham City and Rushcliffe; one unitary covering the remaining County including Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Gedling, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood,

C.    One unitary covering Nottingham city (current arrangement); one unitary covering the County of Nottinghamshire.  

Councillors voted 44 to 10 in favour with 4 abstentions of option C.

Councillors also approved the allocation of £500,000 contingency funding to cover the necessary costs in developing the proposal.

Councillor Sam Smith, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said: “This reform being introduced by the government represents an opportunity to change the way local government works, and I am very supportive of reform that delivers real change and better value for money services for generations to come.

“I am pleased this council has chosen to select the option I believe will represent the best possible deal for the people of Nottinghamshire. As the leader, I believe that the county only deal will provide the best possible conditions to help safeguard the best quality of services our residents deserve; protecting their access to libraries, youth service,  good quality care and more than £70m of highway improvement funding”.

Councils will continue to work collaboratively as outlined in the interim plan in developing detailed proposals for local engagement and decision-making before a final proposal is submitted to government by 28 November 2025.

It is expected that government will then consider any proposals including forming necessary legislation and working with councils to move to new shadow unitary councils. 

Potential new unitary authorities are expected to be formed in April 2028 at the earliest.

The nine councils involved are:
•    Ashfield District Council
•    Bassetlaw District Council
•    Broxtowe Borough Council
•    Gedling Borough Council
•    Mansfield District Council
•    Newark and Sherwood District Council
•    Nottingham City Council
•    Nottinghamshire County Council
•    Rushcliffe Borough Council