Local government leaders submit proposals for future of local services
Leaders from Chesterfield Borough Council, seven other district and borough councils, and Derby City Council have officially submitted their proposals for the future of local government in Derbyshire.
The plan, called ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’, aims to reduce the number of local authorities in the county from ten to two. One council would cover the north of Derbyshire, and one would cover the south.
The submission sets out how two unitary councils could deliver services more effectively while staying connected to local communities. Leaders say the new councils would:
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Provide value-for-money services, especially for adult care, children’s services, SEND, and homelessness.
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Protect Derbyshire’s historic boundaries, culture, and environment.
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Meet Government criteria for unitary councils, each serving around 500,000 people.
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Support the Mayor of the East Midlands and the East Midlands Combined County Authority in growing the regional economy.
The plan includes four proposals, differing mainly on where the boundary between the north and south councils would be drawn.
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Proposal A (supported by Amber Valley Borough Council) places Amber Valley in the northern council with Chesterfield, High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, and Bolsover. Derby City, South Derbyshire, and Erewash would form the southern council.
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Proposal B (supported by South Derbyshire District Council) swaps Amber Valley into the southern council.
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Proposals A1 and B1 refine these options further using parish boundaries within Amber Valley to decide which areas would join which council.
In a joint statement, council leaders said:
“The needs of our communities – now and in the future – are at the heart of our approach. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to modernise council services while protecting Derbyshire’s heritage and environment.”
The statement highlighted ambitions to deliver more efficient services, attract investment in housing, transport, and infrastructure, and create jobs for local residents.
Derbyshire County Council has separately proposed a single unitary council for the whole county, serving 1.1 million people – similar in size to Birmingham City Council. Leaders of the other councils, however, say two councils would better serve local communities.
The proposals are based on extensive research and a public consultation, which received input from more than 7,300 residents, businesses, and organisations. Financial analysis forecasts £167 million in savings over six years, with annual savings of £44 million from year six onwards. Initial setup costs for the new councils would be recovered in around three-and-a-half years.
The Government will review all proposals and carry out further consultation in 2026. If approved, elections for the new councils’ shadow authorities would take place in 2027, with full operation beginning in April 2028.
This is a pivotal moment in shaping the future of Derbyshire’s local government, aiming to deliver stronger services and better outcomes for residents across the county.
