§ Earl Ferrers rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 12th June be approved [23rd Report from the Joint Committee].
§ The noble Earl said: My Lords, I beg to move. This order gives effect to the Local Government Commission's recommendation that the City of Nottingham should become a unitary authority on its existing boundaries. The rest of Nottinghamshire will retain the existing two-tier structure of local government.
§ The structural change will take effect on 1st April 1998. We shall be making separate provision for ceremonial arrangements, under which Nottingham will be deemed to be part of Nottinghamshire.
§ There will be all-out elections to Nottingham City Council in May 1997, after which the order provides for the city council to return to its regular electoral cycle.
§ Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 12th June be approved [23rd Report from the Joint Committee].—(Earl Ferrers.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.