Bassetlaw leader ‘glad the Government listened’ as county unitary bid ignored

Nottinghamshire county council’s plans to ditch district councils in favour of a single unitary authority have been overlooked by the Government.
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The county council said last month the proposals came ahead of a Government White Paper calling for regional devolution and inviting councils to submit their cases for the restructure.

Under the plans all district and borough councils - including Nottingham City - would become one authority - which the county council says would deliver ‘more prosperity for all’.

However last week Local Government Minister Robert Jenrick announced Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset had been invited to make submissions - with no mention of Nottinghamshire.

Councillor Simon Greaves said: 'I’m glad the Government has listened'Councillor Simon Greaves said: 'I’m glad the Government has listened'
Councillor Simon Greaves said: 'I’m glad the Government has listened'

Last month Bassetlaw leader Simon Greaves described Nottinghamshire’s bid as a ‘land grab’ and an attempt to avoid getting ‘clobbered’ during next year’s county elections.

Fearing the rushed plans would leave districts with just a few weeks to come up with counter-proposals he said: “It’s worrying because you cannot realistically prepare proposals about the future of local services which have been in place for over 40 years in a few weeks.”

Reacting to the news this week he said: “The Government’s previously-stated position was that any applications would be considered in batches.

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Nottinghamshire county council’s plans to ditch district councils in favour of a single unitary authority have been overlooked by the GovernmentNottinghamshire county council’s plans to ditch district councils in favour of a single unitary authority have been overlooked by the Government
Nottinghamshire county council’s plans to ditch district councils in favour of a single unitary authority have been overlooked by the Government

“So if there’s been broad agreement between county and district councils in other parts of the country it doesn’t surprise me they would consider those first.

“The way this has been approached in Nottinghamshire there has not been any agreement whatsoever - so the Government has been quite sensible.”

The news comes following a letter co-signed by the leaders of Ashfield and Broxtowe councils in which Coun Greaves demanded the opportunity to develop ‘alternative proposals’ over the coming year.

Councillor Greaves said district councils across the county had made it clear when the county council announced its plans ‘this was not the right time’.

He said: “We have to concentrate on controlling Covid and supporting the local economy and this whole agenda was just a distraction - I’m glad the Government has listened.”

Meanwhile it emerged during the weekend that county council leader Kay Cutts - who championed unitary plans as ‘better value for money and more prosperity for all’ – is set to step down from her role at the next election.

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