Issue - meetings

Potential Reorganisation of Local Government in Nottinghamshire

The Report of the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Appendix 2: Letter from CEX of Nottingham City Council to CEX of Nottinghamshire County Council regarding local government reorganisation, item 29 PDF 337 KB

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that:

a) A Cabinet-led cross-party task and finish working group be formed to

consider the potential reorganisation of Local Government in

Nottinghamshire in line with the Terms of Reference as set out in

Appendix 1.

b) the task and finish working group report its progress and findings

back to Cabinet by no later than April 2019.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Borough Wide Leadership presented the report of the Chief Executive which recommended the formation of a cross party working group which would scrutinise and evaluate any recommendations or business case shared by Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council in regards to the potential reorganisation of local government in Nottinghamshire. The Portfolio Holder noted that in December 2017 a resolution had been adopted which welcomed full engagement with Upper Tier Authorities on the reorganisation of local government. (Minute No. 37 2017/18) It was noted that in July 2018 Nottinghamshire County Council resolved for officers to develop a business plan to demonstrate the advantages of a of a unitary status for the County and that in response Nottingham City Council had indicated that if a bid was submitted to the Secretary of State they would request consideration to be given to the widening of the City boundaries both of which would have an impact on Rushcliffe Borough Council, its residents and its businesses.

It was noted that although no official governance arrangements had been made, it was expected that the progress and further recommendations would be presented to Nottinghamshire County Council’s Policy Committee and Full Council in November and December 2018. The Portfolio Holder explained that it was essential for the Council to be engaged, informed and responsive to any future dialogue about the reorganisation of local government. He suggested that a cross party task and finish group be formed in order to investigate the impact upon the Borough and its residents and any financial implications which may occur. It was noted that the findings and the recommendations would be presented to Cabinet before consideration at Full Council. The Portfolio Holder advised that the formation of a working group was pragmatic and timely.

In seconding the recommendations Councillor Mason explained that the formation of a task and finish working group would enable all aspects of an outcome of reorganisation of local government in Nottinghamshire to be investigated.

Councillor Moore noted that the impact of Brexit and the local government elections in May 2019 could affect the outcomes and recommendations of the task and finish working group and so asked officers to consider the time scale of when the findings and recommendations would be presented to Cabinet and Full Council.