Chesterfield Borough Council Leader, Councillor Tricia Gilby, has welcomed today’s Government announcement about the future of council services in Derbyshire.
The announcement sets out the Government's decision to create two new unitary councils to serve the county’s communities – one covering the north of the county and one covering the south, with a boundary line through Amber Valley as set out in the submitted proposal known as ‘B1’ within the One Derbyshire, Two Councils ‘case for change document submitted to Government in November last year.
Councillor Gilby said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redesign and modernise council services so that they better meet the needs of our residents and businesses, and I welcome today’s news that, subject to formal Parliamentary approval, Government is to establish the creation of two new unitary councils to best serve the needs of Derbyshire’s diverse communities, including the people and places of Chesterfield.
“Two new councils – one covering communities in the north of the county, and one covering those in the south – will keep councils connected to local people. They will be big enough to deliver effective and value-for money services, but close enough to listen and respond to local needs, both now and in the future.
“The specific proposal which has been supported by Government, option B1, was the option formally endorsed by Chesterfield Borough Council. Based on a strong and robust evidence base, we are confident it provides the best foundation to plan for the future needs of our communities, ensuring local government has the capacity, resources and resilience to support growth, deliver vital services and respond to changing demands in the years ahead.
“Today’s announcement marks the start of the next significant phase of our preparation work for local government reorganisation. Here in Chesterfield, we look forward to continuing to work with our partner councils and communities to build a strong and effective unitary council serving communities in the north of Derbyshire – while forging strong strategic links with the new neighbouring unitary council in the south of the county,
“Our priority remains delivering high-quality services while working positively and constructively with all Derbyshire councils to ensure the transition is well planned, well managed and delivers the best possible outcomes for our residents – making sure we continue to put our communities first.”
Reflecting on Chesterfield’s role within the next chapter of local government in Derbyshire, Councillor Gilby added: “We know that local people want services that work for them and their families and want to live in communities that offer opportunity and growth for the future.
“Chesterfield is a place with a long-standing commitment to growth, jobs and prosperity for residents and businesses. Chesterfield’s ambition and potential will continue to be a powerful driving force for our county and our region. We will carry that commitment and momentum into this next chapter for local government.”
Under the Government’s current timetable, the new unitary councils will ‘go live’ from 1 April 2028.
Residents can be assured that Chesterfield Borough Council will continue to operate as normal during the transition period, and they should continue to access services in the same way they do now.
More information will be provided as preparations for local government reorganisation continue to progress.
