Rushcliffe MP James Naish has said he is “surprised and disappointed” by the Government’s decision on local government reorganisation in Nottinghamshire, arguing that residents were not given a direct opportunity to comment on the proposal ultimately selected.
Ministers confirmed today that Nottingham City Council’s preferred option will be taken forward, creating an enlarged Nottingham authority incorporating areas including West Bridgford, Arnold and Beeston, alongside a second unitary council covering the remaining parts of Nottinghamshire.
The changes will replace the existing city, county, borough and district councils with two unitary authorities, each responsible for the full range of local services in its area.
Mr Naish, the Labour MP for Rushcliffe, said views across the borough had been mixed but claimed the consultation process had undermined public confidence.
He said: “While there were mixed views across Rushcliffe about the best option, local people didn’t get an opportunity to comment on the proposal which has ultimately been selected due to the way the consultation exercise was run, and this is very disappointing.
“In contrast, thousands of people signed petitions and responded to the formal consultation backing alternative models. This undermines the process that so many people have faithfully committed to.”
Mr Naish said he had received little feedback supporting the successful proposal, either from his own constituents or from other Nottinghamshire MPs.
He had backed an alternative arrangement known as Option 1b, alongside Newark MP Robert Jenrick, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.
That proposal would have placed the whole of Rushcliffe within a single authority covering southern and eastern Nottinghamshire rather than dividing the borough between two councils.
Mr Naish said Government assessment data suggested Option 1b had performed strongly against the published criteria and remained, in his view, the best option for Rushcliffe when considered as a whole.
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