Green Party Councillors Matthew Spoors and Emma Oldham of Newark and Sherwood District Council have today sent an open letter to Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, strongly opposing the proposed devolution plan for Nottinghamshire.
The letter raises serious concerns about shifting decision-making powers from local district councils to a larger, centralised authority. The councillors argue that this move – backed by both the Labour government and Conservative support in Westminster – will undermine local democracy, strip residents of their say in critical decisions, and disproportionately benefit communities further afield at the expense of Newark and Sherwood.
“Local government exists to serve the people, with decisions made by those who truly understand their communities,” said Cllr Emma Oldham. “By handing power to a remote authority, we risk losing that connection, and our residents could be left paying council tax for services that may no longer prioritise their needs.”
Cllr Matthew Spoors added: “This devolution plan is being forced through without a public referendum, denying local people the right to have a say on a decision that will impact them directly. True democracy requires transparency and public consultation, not political manoeuvring.”
The councillors highlight concerns that the restructuring will not resolve financial sustainability issues as promised, leading to job losses and the weakening of local services. They call on Mr. Jenrick to take a stand against what they describe as the “erosion of local democracy” and advocate for a genuine consultation process that gives residents a meaningful voice in shaping their governance.
Cllrs Spoors and Oldham urge residents to join the conversation and to engage with their local council and MP about the future of their local governance.
