We've put together some background information to explain the Government's plans for local government reorganisation.
In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government.
The current Government has made devolution a priority and set out plans to create a new network of Strategic Authorities that will cover the whole of England by 2029. The new authorities will be led by elected mayors and will cover a number of local council areas.
Derbyshire is already covered by a strategic authority, since the election of the East Midlands Mayor and establishment of the East Midlands Combined County Authority in 2024.
The Government explained these plans in an English Devolution White Paper, published in December 2024.
This paper also set out plans for local government reorganisation.
Local government reorganisation is the process by which the geographic remit and the roles and responsibilities of local authorities are restructured.
As part of its plans for devolution, the Government announced a programme of local government reorganisation in areas with a ‘two-tier’ system (as currently exists in areas like Derbyshire), and also of small unitary councils (like the city council that covers Derby) that are part of or neighbour such areas.
In short this means that under the Government’s plans, district, borough, county and small unitary councils will no longer exist. They will be replaced by new unitary councils which will provide all council services to the communities they cover.
The Government believes that local government reorganisation, together with devolution over a larger strategic area, will improve public services and support economic growth.
Derbyshire is a two-tier area served by eight district and borough councils and a county council. The councils currently serving Derbyshire’s communities (excluding Derby) are:
- Amber Valley Borough Council
- Bolsover District Council
- Chesterfield Borough Council
- Derbyshire County Council
- Derbyshire Dales District Council
- Erewash Borough Council
- High Peak Borough Council
- North East Derbyshire District Council
- South Derbyshire District Council
The city of Derby is contained within the boundary of Derbyshire, but all council services are provided by Derby City Council, which is already a unitary council.
Some areas also have town or parish councils – such as Staveley Town Council and Brimington Parish Council which operate within the borough of Chesterfield. These councils are not covered by the Government’s plans for local government reorganisation and will not be directly impacted by the proposed changes.
Unless there is a complete reversal of the policy set out in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper, there is currently no route by which we (or Derbyshire County Council or any other of the borough / district councils listed above) can continue to operate as a council in the future.
As things stand, we will become part of a larger unitary council. Most new unitary authorities are expected to be in place by April 2028.
Be reassured that we will continue to put our communities first – and our services will continue to operate as normal until then – while we work through the local government reorganisation process alongside our partners.
We cannot opt out. All councils must follow the process that is set out in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper, and ‘no change’ is not an option.
The Government has been clear that it wants all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring smaller unitary councils to bring forward proposals for reorganisation. It intends to deliver this process as quickly as possible, including through legislation, where it becomes necessary to ensure progress.
21 March 2025 – deadline for the submission of interim proposals to Government. You can see the interim proposal submitted by Chesterfield Borough Council and the other seven Derbyshire district and borough councils here. It is important to remember that this is just an interim proposal – local people will be invited to have their say before any final decision is made.
Late spring / summer 2025 – consultation and engagement will take place with communities across Derbyshire, to ask for people’s views on the preferred option for local government reorganisation before any final proposal is submitted for review by Government.
28 November 2025 – final proposals must be submitted to Government
Spring 2026 – Government has indicated they will provide feedback on the final proposals – recognising that more than one may be submitted by the existing councils that serve Derbyshire and Derby - setting out next steps (including when we can expect a final decision on the future model of unitary local government for Derbyshire to be made).
2028 – most new unitary councils are expected to be in place by 2028, under the Government’s current timetable for local government reorganisation.
Government set out criteria which local councils must follow when drawing up proposals, which include:
- a proposal should seek to achieve the establishment of a single tier of local government for the whole of the area concerned
- unitary local government must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks
- unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens
- proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views
- new unitary structures must support devolution arrangements
- new unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment
Government has said it would like all existing councils to collaborate and ideally reach a consensus on the best way forward. However, Government anticipates that in many county areas different final proposals will be submitted.
The final decision on proposals for local government reorganisation will be taken by the Government.
Council leaders are responsible for holding discussions with other council leaders in Derbyshire and Derby to help produce full proposals by 28 November 2025.
These proposals must be supported by evidence that shows they meet the Secretary of State’s criteria for unitary local government and that there has been widespread consultation and engagement with the public, businesses and other public sector organisations.