Government launches consultation on the future of local government in Derbyshire
The Government has opened a consultation on how council services could be delivered to communities across Derbyshire in the future.
This seven-week statutory consultation is the next step in the Government’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process. It will be the biggest change to local councils in over fifty years.
Launched on 5 February, the consultation asks for feedback on five proposals for Derbyshire, submitted to the Government in November last year:
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Seven of Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils, along with Derby City Council, put forward a plan called “One Derbyshire, Two Councils”. This plan would create two new unitary councils covering the county. Within this plan, there are four options that differ based on where the boundary between the northern and southern councils would be drawn.
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Derbyshire County Council submitted a separate proposal to create a single unitary council covering the entire county.
The statutory consultation is a formal, legally required step the Government must complete before deciding which proposal to approve.
This consultation differs from the two local LGR consultations conducted last summer, one by Derbyshire County Council and the other by the districts, boroughs, and Derby City Council, which helped shape the proposals.
Now, Derbyshire residents, businesses, and organisations are invited to share their views on the final proposals. The consultation closes on 26 March. Councils are also invited to submit their own formal responses.
The Government will use the feedback to understand public and organisational views on each proposal before ministers make a final decision in the summer.
In a joint statement, the Leaders of Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derby City, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire councils, said:
“All councils in Derbyshire were asked to respond to the Government’s call to simplify and transform the way council services are delivered to local people in the future.
“The needs of our communities – now and in the future – are at the heart of our plan to create two new unitary councils covering all of Derbyshire, and its development was shaped by technical evidence and thousands of contributions from local residents and organisations.
“This next stage allows Government to gather further views before reaching a decision on which proposal to implement.
“Our shared priority remains ensuring that any future arrangements deliver effective, sustainable and responsive services for the people of Derbyshire, and we would encourage residents, businesses and organisations to take part in the consultation.”
People can find out more about the proposals and share their views via the Government’s website: GOV.UK
The results of the consultation will help inform the Government’s decision on how local government should be structured in the county of Derbyshire in the future. A final decision is expected in mid-2026.
To keep up to date with what’s happening in and around Chesterfield, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/news
