MORNING EDITION: Have say on major council overhaul plans
Good morning 🌅 Happy Friday! Here's today's email updating you on the latest news and information from across Gedling borough. Have a great day. Look out for another update tomorrow morning.
📢 Massive overhaul of Notts councils moves to next stage with major public consultation
The next step in the overhaul of local government in Nottinghamshire took an important step yesterday with the start of a massive consultation exercise.
The government yesterday launched their consultation on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire - inviting everyone to have their say.
Back in November, councils across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire submitted three different proposals to Government setting out alternative models for how services and decision-making could be organised in the future. These three options propose creating two new unitary councils responsible for all local services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, but each option proposes different geographical boundaries.
Councils ran an engagement survey in July 2025 to help shape the proposals submitted.
Now, the Government’s statutory consultation will gather views on the three final proposals. Responses will inform the ministerial decision on the preferred option for the region.
In Nottinghamshire, local services are currently delivered under what is known as a ‘two-tier’ council structure. Nottinghamshire County Council oversees county-wide services such as social care, education, and road maintenance. While several smaller district and borough councils, like Gedling, are responsible for more localised services, including waste collection, and leisure centres.
Nottingham City Council operates as a ‘unitary authority’, meaning it provides all council services within the city of Nottingham.
Nottinghamshire County Council along with Rushcliffe Borough Council developed its own proposal, known and referred to in the consultation as 1b.
Nottingham City Council developed a proposal known as Bii and Gedling Borough Council, Mansfield District Council, Bassetlaw District Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council submitted a joint proposal, known as 1e.
Broxtowe Borough Council decided not to support any of the options and called for a pause on LGR so it could be considered more fully. Ashfield District Council has also stated that they remain neutral and have not shown any preference for any of the alternative models.
The consultation will run for seven weeks and is available for completion at www.lgrnotts.org. It will also be available in all council libraries and civic buildings.
Government will assess the evidence gathered, alongside the submitted proposals, against its established criteria before the Secretary of State makes a final decision in Summer 2026.
😔 STEPHANIE IRONS MURDER: Tributes paid as killer is given life sentence
The parents of murdered Stephanie Irons have shared touching words after her killer was locked up for life with a minimum of 25 years, yesterday.
Irons was fatally assaulted at her address in Mapperley on the evening of Tuesday, October 21.
Her parents paid tribute to their daughter following the sentencing.
They said: “We have lost our beautiful daughter and shining light. Nothing will ever take away the pain that has been caused by this senseless act.
“Steph was the kindest, sweetest person anyone could meet, and our lives will never be the same. She touched so many lives with her personality and kind soul.
“While justice will be done, time will never heal our loss. Our family and friends’ lives have changed forever. Not a day will go by where we will not remember Steph, all the good she brought to the world and a huge hole has been left in our lives.
The alarm was raised by Miss Irons’ co-workers after a series of concerning messages were sent to them from her mobile phone that night.
Emergency services were then called to Westdale Lane West, Mapperley, at 10.07pm where they discovered the 23-year-old in her living room with fatal knife wounds.
She was pronounced dead just after 11pm despite the best efforts of paramedics.
A post-mortem investigation later revealed that she died after sustaining a knife wound to her neck. Defensive wounds were also found on her arms.
Adedapo Adegbola, her former work colleague, took her life after their brief relationship ended.
After the knife assault, Adegbola fled to his property in Mansfield, leaving a trail of discarded evidence including his blood-stained trainers and a jumper, as well as Miss Irons' house keys and mobile phone, on the streets of Mapperley and Carlton.
The 40-year-old remained at the address until around 4.30am the next day (October 22), when he ordered a taxi to Worksop.
From here, he travelled in another taxi to Sheffield, and finally to Hull.
Just before 9am that morning (October 22), he returned to Nottingham and handed himself in at Oxclose Lane Police Station, where he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
He went on to provide no comment to questions posed by detectives in subsequent police interviews.
Despite this, investigators gathered crucial evidence to charge Adegbola with murder.
He then pleaded guilty to murder when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, January 26.
Adegbola, formerly of Woodborough Road, Mapperley, was yesterday (5) given life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years.
Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, lead investigator of the case, said: “Our focus from the very start of this investigation has been to get justice for Steph, her family and friends, and that has been reflected through the results today.
“Adegbola committed a heinous and violent act, and I am pleased he will now spend a very considerable amount of time behind bars.
“Today’s sentence will not bring Steph back, but I hope it gives her family some comfort.”
💪 Gym deal extended
Gedling Leisure have extended their January membership offer until February 15.
You can sign up for a no-contract membership and save £15.
Members get unlimited access to 3 pools, 3 gyms and 100+ exercise classes, as well as free personalised fitness plans and support from friendly instructors to help get started and to achieve your goals.
Find out more HERE
🔗 Highlights from our sister site
Our sister site Stuck in the Middle covers events and culture in the East Midlands. Occasionally we feature links to articles that may be of interest to people across Notts.
Things to see and do across the East Midlands this weekend (February 6 – 8, 2026)
Record Store Day 2026: all the East Midlands record shops taking part
🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE
Looking out the window so you don't have to...
Today will see widespread low cloud and long spells of rain and drizzle expected throughout the day It will be breezy initially, but winds will generally ease through the day. Tonight will see rain becoming more showery in nature during the evening, before clearing around midnight to give brief clear spells and patchy fog. Cloud and rain will return towards dawn. Minimum temperature 3 °C.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with showers or longer spells of rain, these perhaps heavy at times. Breezy. Maximum temperature 10 °C.
SUNDAY: Variable cloud and scattered showers on Sunday, with mist and fog during the mornings. Temperatures near average.
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