Three boroughs surrounding Nottingham have rejected the idea of a merger with the city amid plans to change council boundaries.
In December last year the Labour Government announced plans to reorganise and restructure local councils in a bid to “create more efficient and effective local government” – which some councils say could potentially lead to streamlined services and cost savings for residents.
In Nottinghamshire there are three options on the table, while a fourth has been proposed by one council leader.
Under option one the Nottingham, Broxtowe, and Gedling areas would be combined as one unitary authority, with the remaining districts and boroughs in the county forming the second unitary authority.
Option two would mean Nottingham, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe combine, with the remaining districts and boroughs forming the second unitary authority.
Option three would mean Nottingham remains as its own unitary authority, with the rest of the Nottinghamshire forming the second unitary.
Councillor Neil Clarke, Conservative leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, also called for the consideration of a fourth option, in which Nottingham would remain within its existing boundaries, and the remainder of the county would be split into two unitaries.
All councils have been discussing the options, before an interim plan is submitted at the end of March for assessment by the Government.
Public consultation will then take place over the summer, before a final decision is made in November.
On Thursday (March 20), during a Rushcliffe Borough Council meeting to discuss the plans, Cllr Neil Clarke said: “In meetings with leaders and chief executives, I’ve argued for a three unitary model to be assessed.
“This work should be undertaken to show how it works against the criteria. It also shows we are open to investigating a number of options, while also bearing in mind that there should be no diminution of Rushcliffe’s high quality services.”
Rushcliffe’s Labour Group put forward an amendment to split Nottinghamshire into two unitaries geographically with north and south authorities, however the amendment was rejected.
At a meeting on Wednesday (March 19), Gedling Borough Council’s ruling Labour Group said it would not be stating its preference and would instead be agreeing to put the first three options to the Government under the interim plan.
Cllr John Clarke (Lab), the council’s leader, said: “Whilst each council may ultimately have a different view of which of these options is favoured, at this stage all that is being asked is an interim plan.
“You are making a decision for probably 50 years. I have grave doubts as to if we joined the city, but I’ll save that for another time.”
Cllr Sam Smith, of the council’s Conservative opposition group, proposed that option two – to keep the city boundary the same but include all boroughs and districts in one single unitary authority – should be endorsed.
“I don’t think there are many in this chamber who would like to be talking about the dissolving of Gedling or all the boroughs and district councils, but that is what the Government has expected,” he said.
“The reasons why we think that is important is that any other option within the plan, which includes two districts or boroughs joining with the city, would cost £8m.”
Broxtowe Borough Council also held its meeting to discuss the plans on Wednesday.
Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Greg Marshall, of the ruling Broxtowe Alliance, said the council had voted through amended recommendations calling for a suspension of the process.
He said an assessment of the city’s finances should take place before any potential merger.
The council also agreed that a full consultation in Broxtowe should take place, and a needs-based assessment on a merger should be done on top of this.
It was further agreed that £150,000 from the council would not be provided to support the process.
• LGR: Borough Council proposes no part of Rushcliffe should join Nottingham City
