The Local Government Reorganisation Select Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss the ongoing reorganisation of local government in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The committee will also review the corporate risk associated with local government reorganisation.

Local Government Reorganisation in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

The committee will receive an update on the current status of local government reorganisation (LGR) within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (N&N). According to the Public reports pack, the government has requested that a final unitary council proposal be submitted by 28 November 2025.

In February 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution invited the nine council leaders within N&N to develop a proposal for local government reorganisation, based on six criteria:

a. A proposal should seek to achieve for the whole of the area concerned the establishment of a single tier of local government.

b. Unitary local government must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks.

c. Unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens.

d. Proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views.

e. New unitary structures must support devolution arrangements.

f. New unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.

An interim plan was submitted in March 2025, outlining three options for unitary councils. Feedback from the government in June 2025 reinforced the need to align with the stated criteria, use consistent data sources, and maintain collaborative working. The feedback also confirmed that final proposals are not restricted to the three options in the interim plan.

Following the submission of the interim plan, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) were commissioned to support the detailed development work, which included:

• Financial modelling
• Sensible economic area
• Sensible geography (housing land supply and employment)
• Homelessness
• Public safety
• Adult social care
• Children's social care and SEND ¹
• Community Engagement and Neighbourhood Empowerment

After PwC presented their options appraisal to the chief executives, leaders and the Mayor of the nine N&N councils in July 2025, Option 2 was discarded as it did not sufficiently meet the government's criteria. Options 1b and 1e are being further developed.

A status update on LGR was presented to the Cabinet on 28 July, and a LGR-State of Ashfield Debate was held as an Extraordinary Council meeting. Presentations were given by Theresa Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of the Council, Ben Pykett and Erica Ballmann from PwC, Adrian Smith, Chief Executive, and Lucy Peel, Director of Public Sector Reform, from Nottinghamshire County Council, and Councillor Arnie Hankin, Chairman of the Local Government Reorganisation Select Committee.

Currently, business cases and final proposals are being developed for options 1b and 1e:

Ashfield District Council (ADC) and Broxtowe Borough Council have not yet stated a formal preference for any option. Nottingham City Council has agreed to explore an alternative 2-unitary option.

ADC will lead and manage a 'Core Programme' to ensure a collaborative and consistent approach to final proposals. This includes overseeing the use of the same data sources, maintaining a repository of data, and supporting a consistent approach to submitted final proposals.

An online survey was launched on 4 August for people who live and/or work within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, closing on 14 September. The outcomes are expected to be shared on 24 September.

Four meetings of the council's Citizens Panel were held on 9 and 10 September at Healdswood Community Centre and Watnall Community Centres to capture feedback. Awareness raising also took place at the Ashfield Show.

The council will be expected to make a decision on a single option/proposal before the submission deadline of 28 November 2025.

Corporate Risk: Local Government Reorganisation

The committee will also discuss the corporate risk associated with local government reorganisation. This risk was created following a LGR-State of Ashfield Debate held on 28 July 2025, where key themes were identified:

• understanding the potential benefits and disbenefits to Ashfield residents of a future 'single tier' of local government
• understanding the potential impacts on community engagement and representation
• understanding the potential staffing impacts
• understanding potential financial impacts including set up costs