The future of councils in Derbyshire
Where we are now
The way local councils in England are organised is being fundamentally changed. For Derbyshire this is the first time in 50 years.
Most local services in our county 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.
Between them, these councils are responsible for a vast range of local services. The county council services 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 is a ‘unitary’ council, providing all of these services to the communities it serves.
The way we live our lives has changed substantially since this structure was put in place in 1974. The Government believes services could be delivered more efficiently and effectively by having fewer councils, and published its white paper in late 2024.
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.