Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Father Philipp Ziomek, addressed council and gave a reading from Sir Thomas More’s book, Utopia. The message surrounded thoughts about trying to make as little wrong as possible in the world.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Pauline Allan, Councillor Roxanne Ellis, Councillor Paul Feeney, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth and Councillor Julie Najuk.

The Mayor addressed the council and gave a short speech. He expressed his pleasure to have recently attended Coppice Lodge Care Home for their Annual Summer Fair and gave thanks to the people who organised the event for the community to enjoy.

He was also pleased to have attended Nottingham Pride in his official capacity as mayor, thanking Nottingham Front Runners and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and congratulated the organisers for creating a safe and inclusive event for everyone.

He also noted that he attended Springwater Golf Club in Calverton for their Gedling Borough Challenge and thanked club captain Brad Fields for the warm welcome and for raising a generous donation to the Mayor’s charity, The Motor Neuron Disease Association and Motor Neuron Disease Association Nottingham.

None.

Report of the Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive which had been circulated prior to the meeting, to provide full Council with an update on the Government’s requirement for Local Government Reorganisation, including the work undertaken to determine which option to develop as a final proposal for submission in November 2025.

Councillor Brocklebank joined the meeting.

An amendment to the original recommendation was proposed by Councillor Whiting and seconded by Councillor Meads. The amendment added the following to the original proposal:

6. Calls upon the Secretary of State to make provision for the public to have the final say on any proposals through a Nottinghamshire wide referendum prior to implementation. 

An adjournment of 10 minutes was proposed, seconded and agreed by members to allow them time to review the amendment.

On returning to the meeting, a recorded vote on the amendment was proposed and seconded. On being put to vote, the amendment was lost.

Members debated the original recommendations and gave their views on the best way forward with Local Government Reorganisation.

Councillor Paling left the meeting.

A recorded vote on the original proposal was proposed and seconded. On being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED to recommend that Cabinet:

a. Considers the options appraisal and summary document provided by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) (Appendices 4 and 5).

b. Develop Option 1e as set out in the Appendices, as this Council’s preferred option for submission as a final proposal to Government by 28 November 2025.

c. Further considers other viable options (should they be developed) that stop any part of the current Gedling Borough being merged with an expanded City area.

d. Supports a countywide approach to engagement activities during the period August to September 2025 tailored for different stakeholder groups across Gedling and Nottinghamshire.

e. Supports continued collaborative working with other local authorities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire with a view to developing a final proposal for Local Government Reorganisation.