Selston Reform Councillor Speaks Out on LGR

The Reform UK Councillor for Selston division and Underwood ward, Dawn Justice, who also sits on the Cabinet at Nottinghamshire Council for Communities and Public Health, has spoken out on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) following an important vote at Oak House.

Cabinet Member Dawn Justice, like her Reform colleagues, voted in favour of option 1B for Local Government Reorganisation.

She took to social media to post a statement following a vote that saw Broxtowe and Gedling joining Nottingham City in one of two new Unitary Authorities, the other covering the remaining Districts in Nottinghamshire.

She wrote:

"Today saw a very difficult decision at Oak House. Local Government is being re-organised in a White Paper set out by the Labour Government. The seven borough and district councils in Nottinghamshire (Mansfield, Ashfield, Rushcliffe, Broxtowe, Bassetlaw, Gedling and Newark and Sherwood) will be disbanded as will Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council."

"Under the legislation there will be two new Unitary Councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and each will have a minimum of 500,000 residents. The most popular option with most councillors was one which puts Nottingham City, Broxtowe and Gedling as one Unitary Council, with Mansfield, Ashfield, Rushcliffe, Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood forming the second Unitary Council and I also spoke in favour of this."

"Given the criteria set out in the legislation it is the best option to move forward and provide good services for our residents. The opposition groups were very negative, framing the whole thing as a hostile takeover by the City Council. Ultimately, the decision will be made by the Secretary of State at Westminster, but today the Reform Group and some opposition Councillors made a decision to put forward a proposal to Government for the most sensible split into two new Unitary Authorities - one that fits the Government's criteria, and which might also lead to a smooth transition into the Unitary Authorities for all residents."

"It was like choosing the best worst option - but sometimes politics means making difficult decisions!"