Conservative County and Borough Councillors in Broxtowe urge the Government not to include Broxtowe into the Nottingham City Council area, which they say will have significant consequences for local residents.
The Government has proposed abolishing all district and borough councils, as well as county and city councils, in favour of creating larger unitary authorities serving at least 500,000 people. Given that Nottingham City Council’s population falls well short of this threshold, there are concerns from residents that areas of Broxtowe, Gedling, and Rushcliffe could be forced into a new unitary authority under Nottingham City Council’s control.
• 3,500 sign petition launched to protect Rushcliffe from joining Nottingham council area in 48 hours
Councillor Philip Owen, who is the County Councillor for Nuthall and Kimberley and the leader of the Conservative group at Broxtowe Borough Council, commented about the plans: “Joining with the City would be disastrous for Broxtowe residents. Not only would they have to pay for the Labour-run City’s past mistakes which has left the City bankrupt but they would have seriously inferior services imposed upon them.
“The classic example is that the City’s children’s social services are rated as inadequate, thereby putting children at risk. Would any self respecting resident of Broxtowe wish that on the children of Broxtowe?”
Thomas Hall, who launched the petition and is a Deputy Chairman of Broxtowe Conservatives and a Trowell Parish Councillor, also has deep concerns about the potential plans to expand the City boundaries, which the Labour leader of the City Council has already expressed publicly.
He said: “Labour-controlled Nottingham City Council’s financial mismanagement, which has resulted in severe cuts to public services, is in stark contrast to Nottinghamshire County Council where Broxtowe residents benefit from lower Council Tax, no library closures in the entire County and £66.5 million investment this financial year in repairing our potholes. Broxtowe residents simply do not deserve the Nottingham City Council’s poor services.”
The petition has currently been signed by 266 residents and the number is rising. The link to the petition is below:
