Agenda item

The Committee considered the report presented by the Transformation & Service Improvement Officer which sought to update Members as to the latest position in respect of local government reorganisation following the submission to Government in November 2025 of the North-South Proposal (Option 1e).

The report set out that following the submission, Newark & Sherwood DC had worked with other councils, beginning to focus on the next phases of work and planning the steps required between now and the Government’s decision.  Details of the Government’s statutory consultation were reported and how organisations and members of the public could engage in the process.   The Chief Executive had undertaken drop-in sessions with staff and held online briefings with town and parish councils.  It was reported that a virtual listening meeting had taken place on 27 February with councils and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).  Members were also advised that arrangements were being made for a visit and tour by the MHCLG.  Details of the LGR Programme were reported which included: the interim overarching structure; thematic workstreams; LGR principles; internal arrangements; establishment of an LGR working group and guidance from MHCLG.  The report also set out the timeline of the next steps leading up to vesting day in April 2028. 

In considering the report Members raised a number of queries, one of which related to how the uncertainty of the changes were affecting staff and whether there was an increase in staff looking for alternative positions.  In response, the Transformation & Service Improvement Officer advised that the Chief Executive had sought to reassure staff as much as possible.  She added that the annual staff survey would be launched in the summer which would provide the opportunity to share views and concerns.  A Member asked that specific questions be included in the survey so that a track of responses may be made. 

In response to whether there was any budget provision for future redundancies, the Director – Housing, Health & Wellbeing, who was in attendance at the meeting, advised that any redundancies resulting from the reorganisation would be at the chief officer level.  She added that in the interim the work of the Council needed to continue and thatmost likely, when appointed to the newly established unitary authority, the new Chief Executive and Chief Officers would determine the staffing structures.

In relation to the Thematic Workstreams, a Member queried when the democratic process would be conducted and how local members would be involved in that process.  The Transformation & Business Improvement Officer advised that legal & governance and Information & data protection would all be considered.

In noting that the current list of thematic workstreams appeared to be inward facing, a Member queried as to whether outward facing workstreams would be considered.  In response, Members were advised that the current 9 priorities would increase and that it was an iterative list. 

In response to when work would commence to align services with other local authorities, Members were advised that the Council’s Business Manager – ICT & Digital Services was joint lead on such issues with an officer from the County Council.  They were currently setting a base line to enable work to commence as soon as the Government’s decision was announced. 

A Member referred to the issue of sensible geography for the unitary authority boundaries.  He noted that the Council had followed Government guidance and had not attempted to amend the current district boundaries when formulating their submission, but that the Leader had included comment that the Council would wish for future consideration to be given to keeping the whole of the current Newark constituency within the proposed Sherwood Forest unitary boundaries.  The Leader, who was a Member of the Committee, stated that he would expect to push for this consideration once the shadow council had been elected to, adding that any proposed change must be operationally effective.  It was suggested that the issue of sensible geography be raised with the MHCLG at their visit and tour as referred to above.

AGREED     (unanimously) that the Governance, General Purposes & LGR Committee note the progress update provided in respect of local government reorganisation.