Council reorganisation being used as political football claim Labour

CONSERVATIVES HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH REFORM ON THE ISSUE

- By JOSEPH CONNOLLY Local democracy reporter

RUSHCLIFFE Borough Council will agree to send its local government reorganisation (LGR) proposal for a 'Greater Nottinghamshire' authority to the Government on Tuesday after councillors voted in favour of supporting the plan.

Almost all of Rushcliffe’s 44 councillors were present at an extraordinary meeting called on Thursday, November 20, to debate the proposal before it went to the council’s cabinet yesterday - ahead of the deadline for authorities submitting their preference on Thursday, November 27.

However, in the passionate 80-minute debate, many councillors expressed their disdain for the national overhaul of the system.

Introducing the proposal due to be sent to the Government, Conservative council leader Neil Clarke said: “The guidelines are not at all ideal, but these are the cards we've been dealt. This process has been instigated by the current Labour government under guidelines which are not favourable and not always logical. But this is a classic case of we are where we are.”

The recommendation to councillors for the meeting was for them to approve the Conservative council’s choice of the 1b) option for reorganisation, now being known as the ‘Greater Nottinghamshire proposal’.

This would see the Rushcliffe area remain part of a ‘county’ council, called Nottinghamshire Council.

The Conservative-led borough council joined forces with Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council to create the draft proposal that will be submitted to the government.

Rushcliffe Labour councillor Jen Walker accused the Tories of using the process as a “political football”.