03.10.18
Consultation into Nottinghamshire County Council unitary merger gets underway
Locals in Nottinghamshire are being invited to give their views on the structure of local government in the area as the county council’s public consultation opens.
Residents, businesses, councils, and other stakeholders are being invited to share their views on the proposals to abolish the current two-tier structure of Nottinghamshire County Council and the seven district/borough authorities within the county and replace them with a singular unitary structure, in an effort to reduce overheads and meet the authority’s £54m budget gap.
In an exclusive interview with PSE last week, leader of Nottinghamshire CC Cllr Kay Cutts rejected calls by opposing councillors for a referendum on the merger, arguing that a local referendum was “a very expensive way of doing a consultation.”
The seven district and borough authorities in the area outlined their challenge against the proposals in July, arguing that the plans were an “unwelcome and disappointing distraction” at a time when councils are working tirelessly for delivery of services.
Councillors will consider responses to this first phase of public engagement, alongside other evidence at its Full Council meeting on 13 December, when they will decide whether or not to pursue a preferred option for change, of which the council will then formally consult the public next year.
The survey closes on 31 October.
Cllr Cutts said local government in Nottinghamshire is “at a crossroads.”
“Due to significant reductions in the funding we receive to provide services, and continually increasing demand for our social care services, we are facing the prospect of huge cuts to frontline services and increasing council tax, year-on-year, unless there is a fundamental change in the way we operate,” she added.
Despite the council saving over £270m in running costs since 2010, Nottinghamshire still faces a budget gap of £54m.
Cllr Cutts said: “We have exhausted all the options available to make the cost reductions we need without significantly impacting local people, and reorganisation of local government in the county appears to be the only alternative.”
The first phase of the public engagement work taking place this month includes an online survey, focus groups with members of the public from across the county, and meetings with district councils, parish councils, businesses, and the voluntary sector.
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Image credit: . Jo Jakeman