Big changes in Newark & Sherwood amid concerning ‘national political instability’

A collaboration has been announced between the Liberal Democrats, the Newark & Sherwood District Independents, the Labour group, and Independents for Newark & District.

The authority’s current leader, Coun Paul Peacock (Lab), said the political changes have been made due to concerns with growing political instability across the country, and ahead of local government reorganisation (LGR), the biggest shake-up in the make-up of councils in 50 years.

Last year the Labour Government asked all authorities to come forward with options to reorganise the current council system into larger, single-tier authorities.

The Government said it would make councils more efficient and cost-effective, and under the changes, all of the nine councils in Nottinghamshire will be merged into two new, unitary authorities.

It proved to be a contentious debate, and all councils have submitted their preferred options for a merger to the Government, which will make a final decision this year.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the changes in Newark & Sherwood, Coun Peacock said: “The focus is always on what’s best for our residents.

"But I think the problem local government reorganisation is bringing for some authorities is that it is a lot of extra work, politically, the amount of work that is coming senior politicians’ way is massive.

“Work will start in earnest when the Government announces its decision.

"Primarily it is about LGR bringing a considerable amount of extra work our way, and we need to rearrange our cabinet to suite, to make sure we cover all the service areas we need to cover as politicians.”

Coun Peacock also agreed changes have been made in response to an unstable national political picture, with voters turning to parties offering an alternative to the status quo – through Zack Polanski’s Green Party and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

For example, Birmingham City Council has been left with no overall control after the recent local elections.

No two parties have enough seats to assume control, which has led to difficult and uncertain negotiations between parties with an array of opposing values and policy ideas.

Coun Peacock added: “I am certainly concerned, as are my colleagues within those four groupings which are the Liberal Democrats, the Independents for Newark & District, and Newark & Sherwood Independents.

“We are worried about the national political instability.

"We’ve taken this sensible decision to try and make Newark & Sherwood Council as politically stable as possible by coming together and working together, sharing challenges and sharing goals.

“The focus is to do what is best for our residents, and that is clearly to widen that decision-making process to other political colleagues.”

In 2024, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens withdrew their support from Newark & Sherwood’s Labour group due to leadership concerns at the time.

The Liberal Democrats have now pledged to work with the three other groups at the council, with the party’s Coun Peter Harris becoming the new portfolio holder for corporate services at the council.

He said: “I am delighted to be working collaboratively with fellow councillors to ensure we deliver the very best services for our residents across the whole district.

“I am committed to preparing our services effectively for LGR, supporting a seamless transition to the new unitary authorities.

“It is vital that we invest the necessary time and focus to ensure our corporate services are well positioned for the future.”

Coun Debbie Darby is the leader of Newark & Sherwood District Independents, while Coun Simon Forde is the group head for the Independents for Newark & District.

The changes will be formally put into place at full council on May 19.