Bassetlaw District Council leader says 'super council' is not the answer to local government reform

It wants to replace Nottinghamshire’s seven district councils with a super council run from Nottingham.

Under their proposals, this super council would serve 828,000 people and be the second biggest council after Birmingham.

I am not opposed to local government reform and when we are the other side of Covid it is something that we need to work with all councils in Nottinghamshire.

That is why I, along with the other leaders of Nottinghamshire’s district and borough councils and Nottingham City Council, have written to the Government asking for the opportunity to bring forward our own proposals.

Reform can be a good thing, but not if it creates a bureaucratic behemoth that is distant and remote from our communities and seeks to serve more people than some sovereign countries.

In August, new environmental enforcement wardens started to patrol the district.

As a councillor, one of the things I get the most complaints about is dog fouling, so it was a key area for the wardens to focus on.

Wardens are targeting areas identified by the public with 16 £100 fixed penalty notices issued.

I welcome the action taken against those not picking up after their dog.

This week new coronavirus rules came into effect which mean that you should not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than six.

I’d also like to remind people of the importance of hands, face, space.

Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, wear a face covering where required, unless you are exempt and maintain social distance of at least two metres from anyone you do not live with (or one metre-plus precautions).

Finally, this week marked the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Churchill’s timeless tribute beautifully sums up the nation’s continuing gratitude to the sacrifice of the allied airmen - ‘never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’

Coun Simon Greaves is Bassetlaw District Council leader.