Councillors at Bassetlaw District Council have this week decided the authority’s preferred option on how new councils could be created in Nottinghamshire as part of Local Government Reorganisation.
The proposal, known as Option 1e, could see all current local authorities in the county abolished and two new unitary councils created. One in north Nottinghamshire covering Bassetlaw, Ashfield, Gedling, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood council areas, and one in the south of the county covering Broxtowe, Nottingham City and Rushcliffe Council areas.
This option has been debated at Bassetlaw’s Council, Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was submitted to the Government on Friday 28th November, following endorsement by Gedling, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood Councils.
Cllr Julie Leigh, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said: “We feel that this is the best option for Bassetlaw people and businesses and our proposal puts them at the heart of the issue by prioritising sensible geography and established communities.
“At Bassetlaw, we have been working hard to put forward an option that is rooted in community and connected by place, creates a more even split in terms of population, and is financially sustainable.
“The Government has an ambition to simplify local government and replace two-tier council areas with unitary authorities and has set out their timetable for this restructure to take place.
“To have the best possible transition, and to ensure that local services are not impacted for our residents and businesses, this groundwork has to start now, and we will be working collaboratively to achieve the best outcome for everyone.”
Option 1e is a joint proposal that has been put forward by Bassetlaw, Gedling, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood Councils. This model received the strongest support during the engagement process with around a third of respondents viewing it positively, particularly for its clearer North-South split and perceived geographic split.
This model brings together neighbouring communities that share borders, heritage, travel-to-work areas, and housing markets, while avoiding disruptive boundary changes. The proposal is backed by leaders representing over 70% of the region’s geography and 473,000 residents and aligns with similar plans in neighbouring Derbyshire.
Other councils in Nottinghamshire have put forward similar proposals and three options have now been submitted to the Government.
Following these submissions, the Government will consider each proposal and launch a period of public consultation, with a final decision expected in the summer of 2026.
The current nine Councils across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are expected to be abolished on 31st March 2028 with the two new Councils beginning the following day.
You can read the Final Proposal that has been endorsed by Bassetlaw District Council.
To learn more about Local Government Reorganisation and to read all three proposals that have been submitted to Government, please visit lgrnotts.org
Last Updated on Friday, January 23, 2026