Councillors have approved a draft report which could signal some of the biggest changes to the way Nottinghamshire County Council operates in its 125-year history

Redefining Your Council outlines how the authority will take a strategic approach to making the changes needed, so that frontline services can be protected as far as possible.

Every part of the council’s operations will be reviewed and affected by the changes in some way. Those services which cost the most to provide will be reviewed first.

Nottinghamshire residents, council employees, trade unions, partner organisations and stakeholders can now have their say on the draft report in a consultation which has been launched today.

A full summary of the proposals in the report and a quick online survey is available to complete at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/redefiningyourcouncil

Paper copies of the survey will be available to fill-in at all Nottinghamshire County Council libraries soon.

The closing date for the consultation is 1th7 June.

Once the Redefining Your Council document is agreed, there will be further consultation about any specific changes proposed to individual services after each one is reviewed.

It is likely that the council will deliver fewer services directly in the future. Some of functions may be provided by mutual companies, charitable trusts or commissioned from the private or public sector.

Closer working arrangements with partners, local communities and the voluntary sector are also likely.

The changes are being considered against the backdrop of the biggest cuts to Government funding for council services in living memory.

Despite already making over £100m in savings over the last three years because of Government funding cuts, the council still needs to bridge a further £77m budget gap by 2017/18.

Meanwhile, demand for services has continued to rise. It is predicted that the number of older people aged over-85 in Nottinghamshire will double by 2030 and there will be a 20% increase in the number of adults over-65 with complex disabilities.

The number of children in care increased at a faster rate than anywhere else in the country between 2008 and 2012, going from 455 to 800.

Coun Alan Rhodes, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We all know that we face unprecedented challenges but I am clear that we do not want to be a council defined by austerity and cost savings. Instead I want us to be defined by the way in which we tackle change, working in new and creative ways to secure the best possible outcomes for local people.

“I want us to be a council driven by our values – a council that treats people fairly, a council that explores new ways of working and focuses on the people of Nottinghamshire rather than who delivers services.

“The report is the starting point of our journey and is an essential document which will shape what services we deliver and how we deliver them in the future. I would strongly urge the people of Nottinghamshire to read the document and give us their views. This is your chance to redefine your council.”