This page brings together key facts about the Government’s plans to reform local government in Derbyshire.
Here you’ll find information on what’s happening, the proposals being developed, answers to common questions, and how local people have been involved and consulted.
The page will be updated regularly as the process moves forward.
Background information
In late 2024, the Government published a white paper describing a national programme of devolution and reform to local government.
It means that the way local councils in England are organised is being fundamentally changed for the first time in 50 years.
In places like Derbyshire, local services are currently delivered under what is known as a ‘two-tier’ council structure.
This means that some services are delivered by a borough or district council, and others are provided by Derbyshire County Council. Within Derbyshire, Derby City Council is also a ‘unitary’ council.
Between them, these councils are responsible for a vast range of local services.
The county council provides things like social care for children and adults, education services and transport, while district and borough councils are responsible for services such as bin collections, planning, and leisure centres. Derby City Council provides all of these council services to the communities it serves.
This structure dates back to 1974. The way we live our lives has changed substantially since then, and the Government believes services could be delivered more efficiently and effectively by having fewer councils.
In February 2025, the Government asked local councils to work together to draw up initial proposals for new organisations that are:
- simpler and more efficient
- better value for money
- closer to communities
- able to deliver joined-up services
Working together on local proposals – 'One Derbyshire, Two Councils'
In response to Government’s call for local councils to work together Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils, and Derby City Council, have been working together to develop a joint approach – called 'One Derbyshire, Two Councils.'
It sets out a plan for Derbyshire's 10 existing councils (Amber Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Erewash Borough Council, High Peak Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and South Derbyshire District Council) to be replaced by two new unitary authorities to deliver all services in their local area.
The plan would create:
- a council for northern Derbyshire
- a council for southern Derbyshire
The One Derbyshire, Two Councils plan includes four separate proposals – each proposes a slightly different boundary line between the northern and southern councils.
In all four proposals Chesterfield will be in the northern unitary with Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak and North East Derbyshire. Amber Valley may be in the north, south or split between the two.
Our 'One Derbyshire, Two Councils' case for change and proposals
This is a complex issue but ultimately, we want to transform and simplify council services, and make sure Derbyshire is a place where people proudly work, live, belong and thrive.
Drawing on a range of evidence, the proposal explains how creating two new unitary councils would:
- keep councils connected to local people – big enough to deliver but close enough to listen and respond to local needs
- better enable the provision of effective and value for money services – councils with the ambition and financial stability to transform the services residents receive, especially those relating to adult care, children’s services, SEND and homelessness
- preserve local identity and protect Derbyshire’s historic boundaries, cultural heritage and environmental assets
- meet Government’s criteria for unitary local government – with the two councils each serving populations of around 500,000 people
- support the Mayor of the East Midlands and East Midlands Combined County Authority to grow an inclusive economy, reform public services and secure better outcomes for the region’s communities
Our 'One Derbyshire, Two Councils' case for change and proposals were submitted to Government in November 2025.
Derbyshire County Council submitted a separate proposal, to create one unitary council covering the whole of the county.
Government will consult on all proposals submitted for Derbyshire in February and March 2026 (you can find more information about this below) before a final decision is expected in early Summer 2026
Visit the One Derbyshire, Two Councils website for more information about all of the proposals which have been submitted for Derbyshire.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s position
In Chesterfield, our Full Council and Cabinet supported the case for change to create two new unitary councils, along with our recommended option (B1) which has a boundary line running through Amber Valley.
The decision to support Proposal B1 was informed by a wide and detailed evidence base, which is set out in our One Derbyshire, Two Councils case for change document.
This included a range of technical data about things like geographic coverage and population size, Council Tax base and income per head of population, and population growth forecasts.
It also included a range of indicators to model how much demand may be placed on council services – for example, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over, the percentage of children living in low income families, unemployment and homelessness rates, and, in turn, how well the new councils would be able to meet that demand.
Technical data like this helps us to understand what local communities will need now, and in the future – including housing needs, opportunities for economic growth including new jobs and skills, deprivation levels, and the health and social care and education requirements of residents now and in the future, including the elderly and vulnerable who rely on local councils.
You can view the information which was considered by Full Council on 5 November 2025 on our website.
Consultation on all proposals for Derbyshire
The Government opened a formal consultation on Thursday 5 February, and rubs until 26 March 2026.
It asks for views on five proposals for the future of local government in Derbyshire, submitted last November:
- four proposals from the ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ plan, all of which would create two new unitary councils covering the whole of Derbyshire including Derby City. The following councils all support the principle of creating two councils but differ on which of the four variations they support: Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derby City, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire councils*
- a separate proposal from Derbyshire County Council, which would create a single unitary council for the whole county including Derby City
The statutory consultation is a formal, legally‑required process which must be carried out by the Government before it can make a final decision on local government reorganisation.
It is separate to the two local LGR public consultations (one ran by Derbyshire County Council and one by the districts, boroughs and Derby City Council) which ran last summer and helped to shape the proposals.
The Government’s consultation is primarily targeted at key national, regional and local stakeholders (referred to as named consultees), but staff, residents, businesses and community organisations can also have their say.
All of the ten affected councils in Derbyshire, including Chesterfield Borough Council, are a named consultee and have been asked to submit a formal response to the consultation.
The results will help the Government understand what people and organisations think about each of the proposed changes in Derbyshire, before ministers make a final decision in the summer.
You can find out more and have your say online here.
* Derbyshire Dales District Council resolved not to approve the main ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ case for change, but did formally support Proposal A1 as its preferred option for local government reorganisation.
Next steps
The closing date for the consultation is Thursday 26 March 2026.
The final decision about which model of local government reorganisation will be implemented in Derbyshire rests with the Government, and we expect this in early Summer 2026.
Other key dates under the Government’s current timetable are set out below:
- it will make a final decision about which model of local government
- reorganisation will be implemented in Derbyshire summer 2026
- elections for new shadow authorities would take place in 2027
- new councils would start to operate by April 2028
For more information, including frequently asked questions about local government reorganisation and devolution, please visit the One Derbyshire, Two Councils website.