Council leader backs plans to expand city boundary

Nottingham City Council leader Neghat Khan has supported proposals to merge the authority with two Nottinghamshire neighbouring councils.

The Labour politician set out her thoughts on the future political map of the city and neighbouring county at a council meeting on Monday night.

Ministers announced plans in December to reorganise local government and scrap the current two-tiered system used in some areas.

Khan said she was in favour of the so-called "Nottingham + 2" model which could see the city form a new unitary authority with any two of Broxtowe Borough Council, Gedling Borough council, and Rushcliffe Borough Council.

The remaining five Nottinghamshire districts could then be joined together to form a second single-tier authority.

Initial proposals published earlier this month suggested combining the city with either Gedling & Broxtowe or Rushcliffe and Broxtowe.

A third option would see the city council remain within its current boundaries and the eight other districts form one authority.

Khan, however, said she would be open to discussing other options beyond those already published, which could involve the city, Gedling, and Rushcliffe joining together.

Khan said: "Nottingham is a significantly under-bounded local authority, covering a population of 328,000 at the centre of a built-up area of well over 750,000 - and a wider county population of 1.17 million.

"We are responsible for delivering the services expected in a core city, but many of the people who work in the city, and use council services currently live in the suburbs, meaning they can't vote in city elections, and pay council tax elsewhere.

"We need to address that imbalance."

She added: "While this process has been understandably emotive, Nottingham has remained silent on preferred options, as our approach has been to take an objective view of the data, with a genuine interest in what is best for the people, and the delivery of services.

"At this point we believe that the most sustainable model would be two new unitaries, likely meaning a new authority that combines Nottingham City Council with any two of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe."

Councils have been given until 21 March to submit interim proposals ahead of final plans being lodged in November.

Ashfield District Council and Mansfield District Council were due to meet on Monday to debate their preferred options for the future.

Bassetlaw District Council is set to meet later on Tuesday with the remaining districts and borough discussing the issue at meetings later this week.

Nottinghamshire County Council's Conservative leader Sam Smith has already voiced his support for the "county only" unitary model under which the current city boundary would remain the same.

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