Broxtowe Council leader says Government should 'go back to the drawing board' on LGR

Coun Milan Radulovic (Brox All) said he welcomed the the Government’s announcement that its plan to expand Nottingham city’s boundaries has been withdrawn by while all proposals are reconsidered.

The Government chose option bii for Nottinghamshire – put forward by Labour-led Nottingham City Council – which would have seen Broxtowe split in two, with areas like Eastwood remaining in a new county unitary authority while Kimberley would have become part of a new city unitary authority.

The choice was controversial and the proposals have been met with sustained opposition from Broxtowe residents and councillors and Coun Radulovic said the decision to pause and withdraw the proposal was the right one.

But he also criticised the Government for allowing the situation to develop as it had and said it should apologise ‘for the mess it has caused’.

He said: “They are now doing what I said they shoud do all along which is should be reviewed and service-led enquiry should take place into how we provide services to all people in all communities.

"What the Government should now postpone this indefnitely, go back to the drawing board and think about the damage they’ve done.

"This has caused horrendous costs that should have gone into local services.”

"They should fully compensate local authoritys for this and actually say sorry and go back to the drawing board and start a service-led recovery which is what I’ve called for all along.

"Let’s talk about how we provide services for the benefit of everybody rather than just financailly sorting out the mess that some people have got themselves into.”

The Government has confirmed that LGR will continue, with a new decision to be made by early 2027.

A spokesperson on behalf of the nine councils across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire said: "Our priority remains unchanged.

"We will continue to deliver vital services for residents, businesses and communities while ensuring we are appropriately prepared for whatever decision Government ultimately reaches.”

Nottinghamshire Council leader Coun Mick Barton (Ref) said his group’s legal challenge to the Government’s choice of option bii was a big factor in the Government’s withdrawal decision, arguing that option bii had not stuck to the Government’s original criteria.

He said: “It is the right thing to do for residents.

“I am really happy – there will be some unhappy people – but they have made the right decision in my opinion.

“Now we will move on in a positive way.”

Coun Sam Smith (Con), opposition leader Nottinghamshire Council, said: “LGR under this Labour Government has been a complete and utter mess from start to finish and hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ pounds have been wasted on it.

“Nottinghamshire’s Conservative councillors have always fought against districts being split up as it would have involved every household paying higher taxes for worse services.

“The Government have now been forced into withdrawing LGR across Nottinghamshire and if they reintroduce it in the new year we Conservatives will continue fighting for the protection of Nottinghamshire county, good local services and low council tax.”