Council launches consultation on plans to restrict new small HMOs in Netherfield

Gedling Borough Council has opened a public consultation on a proposed Article 4 Direction for the Netherfield area, which would remove permitted development rights allowing houses to be converted into small HMOs (Homes in Multiple Occupation) of up to six residents without planning permission.

If introduced, the Direction would mean that any future change of use from a family home to a small HMO would require a full planning application. The Council says the measure is intended to help manage the concentration and distribution of HMOs, support balanced and sustainable communities, and respond to concerns raised locally.

Residents, landlords and businesses are being invited to share their views before any final decision is made. The feedback gathered will help determine whether the Article 4 Direction is implemented and, if so, in what form.

Further information — including the full Direction notice, maps of the affected areas and guidance on how to respond — is available on the Council’s website: https://orlo.uk/0agMu

Comments can be submitted by emailing pandeservicesupport@gedling.gov.uk.

The consultation closes on Friday, August 21.

Fundraiser launched to pay for improvements to 14th century Sheriff of Nottingham memorial in Burton Joyce

A new effort is underway to properly commemorate Sir Robert de Jorz, a 14th‑century Sheriff of Nottingham whose tomb lies in St Helen’s Church, Burton Joyce.

Local heritage supporters say the current signage—an ageing board propped against the stone effigy—is no longer fitting for a figure of his historical importance.

Sir Robert de Jorz was a prominent knight of Nottinghamshire, serving as a Member of Parliament and as a Verderer of Sherwood Forest, one of the most significant legal roles in medieval woodland governance. His duties also included serving as Sheriff of Nottingham, placing him among the most senior officials in the county during the reign of Edward III.

His tomb, an impressive medieval monument carved with a detailed effigy, is one of the few places in Nottinghamshire where visitors can see the face of a real medieval Sheriff of Nottingham. Supporters say this makes it a unique and valuable link to the region’s past.

A proposal has now been put forward to install a high‑quality wooden lectern beside the tomb, complete with a new plaque explaining Sir Robert’s life, roles and legacy. The aim is to provide visitors with clear, accessible information while giving the monument the respect it deserves.

Those behind the project hope the new display will help raise awareness of Sir Robert’s contribution to Nottinghamshire’s history and encourage more people to visit Burton Joyce to learn about the county’s medieval heritage.

You can donate to the fundraiser HERE

Council shake-up myths lambasted by City as legal review branded 'waste of money'

"To anyone putting these myths about; do not for a minute think the council is going to allow our city to be used as a political football – they will be robustly and firmly challenged,’ says Nottingham City Council’s deputy leader Ethan Radford.

The Bulwell councillor, who is also in charge of finances, has lambasted what he has described as myths concerning the city ahead of the biggest local government shake-up in 50 years.

By 2028, Gedling, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe will be carved up, and border towns such as Arnold, Beeston and West Bridgford will join an expanded Nottingham city boundary.

These plans were approved under the Labour Government’s local government reorganisation (LGR) programme, which aims to simplify structures and save money by abolishing smaller councils.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s nine existing councils will be abolished in favour of two new unitary authorities.

However, the journey to the decision has been far from smooth sailing.

Cllr Radford says while it is important the pros and cons of the merger are debated, discussions must be “based in fact, not myth”.

One of the most frequently cited “myths”, he says, is that the council is in great amounts of debt and bankrupt.

While the authority did declare what was effectively bankruptcy in 2023, the council is now reporting a £20 million underspent, is reinvesting in services, and has reduced debt from £827 million in 2020 down to £292 million.

“Any suggestion we are bankrupt is just categorically not true,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, after publishing a joint statement with finance director, Stuart Fair, to address what they consider factual inaccuracies.

“Don’t just take our word for it, look at the facts. If we were bankrupt we wouldn’t have set the lowest council tax in 18 years, we wouldn’t be investing £45 million in frontline services, we wouldn’t have cut our debt by over a half in the last six years. It is a complete fallacy.”

He said the boroughs and districts do not have debt because they do not run costly services such as adults and children’s social care, and highways maintenance.

These are all covered by Nottinghamshire County Council under the current two-tier structure that operates in the county.

“Rushcliffe as a borough doesn’t need debt, it has the county council to do all that for them. It is totally artificial,” he added.

“If LGR for Nottingham city was about a cash grab, a land grab, and an asset strip, we wouldn’t have put in for the option we asked for. The option we got wasn’t the most financially beneficial to the council, it was the best option for the region.”

His comments come following statements made by senior politicians, including Sir James Cleverly, who is the Conservative Party’s shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.

On July 16, he told the Commons: “Take Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe council, a Conservative-run council, well-run, financially secure, yet under [the] plans it will be carved up, with most of its assets to a debt-ridden Labour Nottingham City Council.

“How on earth can weakening well managed councils to prop up bankrupt ones create a stronger foundation for local government?”

The leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council has said he is considering taking a judicial review forward but as a council any review has not yet proceeded. 

Judicial reviews involve a judge reviewing the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body, but they can only be launched to challenge the way in which a decision was made, rather than the rights and wrongs of that decision.

Rushcliffe’s leader, Cllr Neil Clarke, has argued the Government has gone against its own criteria, which originally included existing districts and boroughs not being split up and new councils having a minimum population of 500,000.

Cllr Radford added: “It’s a question for the Government. As far as I’m concerned it is a political stunt. If they want to waste taxpayers’ money going down a rabbit hole they can crack on.

“The taxpayer will have to fund it. You must reach your own conclusions as to whether you think the Government has followed the processes it needs to follow.

“And they have been very clear throughout this that they anticipate authorities to put in judicial reviews, and have been following the process rigorously.”

By Joe Locker (Local Democracy Reporter)

📸 Photo of the Day...

🌤️ Weather update

Your borough weather forecast for the next few days...

TODAY: ☀️ Monday will be a generally dry day across the region with bright or sunny spells. Some more prolonged sunshine is possible later. Becoming warm in lighter winds. It will remain dry overnight with clear spells for many, however variable amounts of cloud will feed in across the borough.

TUESDAY: ⛅ A bright start before becoming cloudy but conditions will improve as cloud lifts during the day. Feeling very warm.

WEDNESDAY: ☀️ It will remaining largely settled over the coming days with plenty of sunshine. Very warm, with temperatures rising further and becoming hot.