Discussions are taking place regarding the feasibility of repurposing space within current buildings
The assembly room at Nottingham’s Council House was already close to capacity with 55 representatives
Discussions are occurring about how Nottinghamshire’s biggest-ever local authorities could occupy a single building, with concerns raised about expenditure on new office facilities.
Very few of the current council headquarters buildings throughout Nottinghamshire would accommodate just under 100 elected members, and sources indicate that authorities are now exploring different options.
The government has verified that as part of the most significant boundary changes in half a century, all nine councils currently serving Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will be abolished.
These nine councils will be replaced by only two substantial authorities – one covering an enlarged Nottingham and another serving the remainder of the county.
It has been confirmed that each authority will have 99 councillors, representing the largest member numbers the county and city have experienced.
The new authorities will formally commence operations in 2028, and ahead of that date, numerous matters are being addressed regarding how these new councils will function.
One such matter concerns how all 99 councillors per authority could occupy one building during full council sessions.
The biggest existing council is currently Nottinghamshire County Council, comprising 66 members who convene in the recently constructed Oak House facility in Hucknall.
While Oak House’s assembly chamber is among the largest, it appears close to capacity with 66 councillors, and the majority of other existing council premises in Nottinghamshire would prove insufficient.
Councillor Ethan Radford, deputy leader of Labour-controlled Nottingham City Council, indicated that the Council House at Old Market Square could potentially be suitable if properly arranged.
The deputy stated that local authorities throughout the proposed new area are collaborating to evaluate various possibilities. This encompasses examining future meeting and facilities needs. The city council is investigating how current space within the Council House and other locations might be used, though any future arrangements will be addressed through broader consultations with partner councils.
Additional larger council chambers in Nottinghamshire include County Hall in West Bridgford – which similarly would prove inadequate in its present state for 99 councillors – although this will now fall within the expanded city’s jurisdiction and previous proposals existed to dispose of the site.
Councillor Andy Meads, an independent member of Gedling Borough Council, considers that expansions to current council chambers would be necessary at minimum – if not entirely new facilities. He noted that they will ultimately spend a considerable amount. This is common nationwide, they establish these new councils and spend on new office facilities. None are currently large enough. With 99 councillors, it will resemble the European Parliament.
The government confirmed in correspondence to current Nottinghamshire council leaders on Thursday that joint committees would be established for each new council to address various matters in preparation for the new authorities becoming operational.
Beatrice Andrews, the deputy director for the local government reorganisation programme, wrote in the correspondence that they are dedicated to maintaining collaboration with council leaders toward a shared goal of establishing new unitary councils in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham that deliver excellent public services for residents.