The set-up would mean the urban centres of Rushcliffe, Gedling and Broxtowe would fall under a new authority along with the city
The plans are set to involve huge changes for Nottingham City Council (Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)
Nottingham’s three MPs are backing proposed changes to the city’s boundaries ahead of the biggest shake-up in local government for 50 years.
All nine councils in Nottinghamshire have been drafting plans for a complete transformation, under the Labour Government’s proposals for local government reorganisation as announced in December 2024.
At a Nottingham City Council Executive Board meeting on Tuesday (November 25), senior councillors agreed to submit a proposal to create two new unitary councils; one covering the rural north and east, and another for more urban areas in the south and west.
This model would mean the urban centres of Rushcliffe, Gedling and Broxtowe would fall under a new authority along with the city.
It’s known as “option bii (2)”.
Cllr Neghat Khan (Lab), the leader of the city council, said the proposal has the support of the city’s three Labour MPs – Alex Norris, Nadia Whittome and Lilian Greenwood.
“The official city population is 328,000, yet the built-up area houses more than 750,000 people,” Cllr Khan said.
“Over 51 per cent of Nottingham’s workforce lives outside the city boundary, they commute into the city, rely on our services, use our infrastructure and contribute to our success, yet have no say in how those services are run.
“We need boundaries that strengthen democratic accountability, support efficient services, and free us from outdated constraints on planning and service delivery.”
Nottingham’s tight boundaries – drawn up back in 1997 – have long been cited as one of the reasons for the council’s financial difficulties, with around 80 per cent of all homes sitting in the tax brackets that bring in the least amount of money.
This means there is less tax money available to cover the growing demand for vital services, particularly adult social care, which has been putting strain on council budgets.
A map of what the Nottingham Labour Group would like to happen under LGR(Image: NCC)
Cllr Khan added: “[This option] produces a balanced financial profile across both unitary councils.
“Council tax bases are almost identical, 181,328 versus 190,814 band D equivalents. It is the most balanced of all options.
“Social care spend versus council tax receipts delivers a near-perfect ratio. [This option] is by far the fairest and most sustainable model.”
Council leaders have been bandying words over the planned changes, with some councils coming together to submit their preferred options for government review.
At the moment, council services in Nottinghamshire are delivered under a two-tier structure.
Outside the city, Nottinghamshire County Council runs services such as social care, education, and road maintenance, while several smaller district and borough councils are responsible for more localised services, such as waste collection and leisure centres.
Nottingham City Council operates as a unitary authority, providing all council services within the city boundary.
Under the shake-up, all nine councils would cease to exist, and new unitary councils with a higher population of residents would be created.
The Government says it is hoped this would streamline services, prevent overlap, and save taxpayers’ cash.
Nottinghamshire County Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council are supporting what’s known as “option 1b”, under which a Nottingham Council – representing the city and surrounding communities of Broxtowe and Gedling – and a Nottinghamshire Council – serving towns, villages, and rural communities across Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe – would be created.
Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood, Mansfield, and Gedling are all supporting a separate option, “1e”, under which a Sherwood Forest (North Nottinghamshire) authority – comprising Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Gedling, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood council areas – and a Nottingham and South Nottinghamshire (South Nottinghamshire) authority – comprising Broxtowe, Nottingham city, and Rushcliffe council areas – would be formed.
All councils must submit their proposals to the Government for review by the end of November.
The Government said it would accept boundary review options, like the one put forward by Nottingham City Council, where there is “strong evidence” for it.
Sajeeda Rose, the council’s chief executive, said the proposal “makes sense”, providing two unitary councils that can deliver services based on the needs of a more urban population in the south and west, compared to those in more rural areas in the north and east.
“The Government was clear they would consider boundary changes where there is strong justification. I am confident we’ve been able to provide that justification, underpinned by evidence,” she said.
Stuart Fair, the council’s director of finance, added that it was “the most financially stable option of the three”.
The decision on which model to implement will be made by the Secretary of State in the summer of 2026 following formal consultation.
Shadow elections are expected to take place in 2027, before the new authorities are set up in 2028.
