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FAQs about the 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.

The decision to launch a local government reorganisation process was taken by central government, which wants to simplify how councils are organised across the whole of England and make them more efficient, reducing costs while delivering better and more joined-up services.

This affects areas with a ‘two-tier’ system (as currently exists in areas like Derbyshire), and also areas which have small unitary councils (like the city council that covers Derby).

In short this means that under the Government’s plans, district, borough, county and small unitary councils 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 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. 

In total, 10 different councils provide services across the county: 

‘Lower tier’ councils  

The lower tier councils covering different areas of Derbyshire are Amber Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Erewash Borough Council, High Peak Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and South Derbyshire District Council.

Lower tier councils are responsible for services including: 

  • rubbish collection
  • recycling
  • housing
  • benefits and Council Tax 
  • planning
  • leisure.

‘Upper tier’ council – Derbyshire County Council

Upper tier councils are responsible for services including:

  • education
  • transport
  • social care 
  • libraries
  • waste management.

Unitary councils – Derby City Council

A ’unitary council’ is responsible for providing all council services to the communities it serves.

Each of the 10 councils has its own political leadership and senior management team and sets its own share of the Council Tax bill.

Town and parish councils

Some areas also have town or parish councils which are much smaller in scale and are responsible for services, facilities and public spaces within a community such as parks, village halls, allotments, litter bins and local events.

These councils are not covered by the Government’s plans for local government reorganisation and will not be directly impacted by the proposed changes. 

Residents in Derby will continue to have their services delivered by one council, as is the case now, but the area covered by that council could increase in size, and its name could change. However, Derby would not lose its identity as a city.

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.

Below are the key dates within the Government’s current timetable:

March 2025 – Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils submitted a joint interim proposal to Government, in line in March 2025. Some further work was done to the develop the options within this proposal. The updated proposal is subject to public consultation.

30 June to 10 August 2025 – public consultation and engagement about our proposals will take place with communities across Derbyshire. We want people’s views to help shape a final proposal, which must be submitted for review by Government in November.

Take part in the consultation

28 November 2025 – final proposals must be submitted to Government.

Spring 2026 – Government has indicated they will provide feedback on the final proposals 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).  This could include further statutory consultation on the proposal.

2027 – Subject to the Government decision, elections to a new ‘shadow’ council will take place.

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
  • new councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks
  • new councils must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens
  • proposals should show how existing 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 council structures must support devolution arrangements (in Derbyshire, this means working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority)
  • new councils should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.

The Government has said it would like all existing councils to work together and ideally reach agreement on the best way forward. However, the 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 – and engaging with local communities – to help produce full proposals by 28 November 2025.

These proposals must be supported by evidence that shows they meet the Government’s criteria.