Here is the statement in full from the Reform UK leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, who has reacted with “bitter disappointment” to the Government’s decision on local government reorganisation.
The council leader said the authority’s preferred proposal had met the Government’s criteria and warned that legal action, including a possible judicial review, could now be considered.
‘Today, we have received the decision on the city option chosen by the Government for the LGR (Local Government Reorganisation).
‘To say I am bitterly disappointed is an understatement.
‘The Conservatives came up with the concept of Local Government Reorganisation, and the Labour Government carried the legislation forward.
‘The local Conservative group and the Conservative Party had ten years to deal with LGR and did absolutely nothing except kick it into the long grass. This is a further example of the Conservatives’ inability to make hard decisions. They are to blame for the mess we find ourselves in now. They are killing our communities with this legislation.
‘Let me make this clear. If Reform were in Government, we would not continue with LGR. When choosing an option, the County Council carried out its due diligence and sought the services of a professional company to help us do so. The option we chose met all the Government’s criteria and guidelines. Our Option 1B would have made the County Council and City Council sustainable, with services that were deliverable for decades to come.
‘The Government’s decision has gone against its own criteria and guidelines. The City Council was virtually bankrupt six years ago and was subject to financial measures until very recently.
‘This is Labour looking after Labour, trying to protect its own political regions. This decision has not been made for the benefit of the residents. It has been made to benefit Labour councillors and the Labour Government.
‘I shall be reviewing all the options over the next few days once I receive the full details. But, as I have said for months, I will do what is best for the residents. If it means pursuing a judicial review, that is what I will do.
‘We have spent five months working on an option that was evidence-led and met all the Government’s criteria. This has been overturned in favour of a rushed Labour model involving land and asset grabbing, marked out with a squiggly line. This leaves the rest of the county vulnerable.
‘The Labour Government and Labour group members will end up regretting this in next year’s elections in May.’
- Petition calling for Government U-turn on Nottingham City Council expansion launched
- Shadow minister talks about Rushcliffe LGR in the House of Commons
- James Naish MP: Government’s LGR decision is ‘very disappointing’
- These Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Gedling areas will become part of Nottingham city council area
- Nottingham City Council leader ‘delighted’ with Government decision to expand city boundaries
