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:

• Provide value-for-money services, especially for adult care, children’s services, SEND, and homelessness.

• Protect Derbyshire’s historic boundaries, culture, and environment.

• Meet Government criteria for unitary councils, each serving around 500,000 people.

• 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.

• 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.

• Proposal B (supported by South Derbyshire District Council) swaps Amber Valley into the southern council.

• 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.

The Mayor of the East Midlands has launched what is being described as the region’s biggest listening exercise in decades – a 12-week public conversation aimed at shaping a new 15-year transport vision for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

A high-level Local Transport Vision document has been published, setting out the Mayor’s ambition to make travelling across the region easier, cleaner and better connected. The plan is intended to support inclusive growth by improving access to jobs, skills, education and essential services.

Residents, businesses and community groups are now being invited to take part in the Mayor’s Big Transport Conversation, which will help inform the development of the full transport plan.

Mayor Claire Ward said:
“For too many people in the East Midlands, life doesn’t work because transport doesn’t work. When buses don’t turn up, roads are full of potholes or trains are too expensive, it affects work, education, healthcare and family life.

“I want public transport to be an easy and affordable choice for everyone. I want communities connected to one another, not just to large cities. And I want our roads and infrastructure to be maintained to a high standard.

“That is how we will make life work for everyone – connecting communities, supporting business, reducing inequality and helping the region grow fairly.”

Six fights for a fairer, better-connected East Midlands

The Mayor’s emerging plan is built around six key priorities – described as “fights” – that reflect what matters most to residents, businesses and the wider region. People are now being invited to share their views on what a modern, fair and affordable transport network should look like in the years ahead.

• Fighting congestion

Congestion impacts productivity, wellbeing and the environment. The Mayor wants to hear how important it is to tackle traffic and what local solutions could work best.

• Fighting for young people’s independence

A fair transport system should provide young people with safe, affordable and independent travel, helping them reach education, training and social opportunities.

• Fighting for connected communities

Schools, hospitals, major employers and town centres should be accessible without relying on infrequent or unreliable links. The Mayor wants to understand the improvements needed.

• Fighting for reliable public transport

From overcrowded buses to patchy timetables, reliability remains a key challenge. The plan aims to identify and fix gaps in provision so every community has accessible, dependable travel options.

• Fighting for better roads

Road quality matters to drivers, cyclists and businesses alike. The Mayor is asking how much of the transport budget should go toward road maintenance compared with other priorities.

• Fighting for safe and clean bus stops

Poorly lit, unmaintained or inaccessible bus stops are a major barrier to public transport use. The Mayor wants to know what residents need to make bus stops welcoming and reliable.

A transport plan focused on people

The Local Transport Plan sets out three long-term goals:

• Making public transport easier to use and better value for money

• Providing more travel choices that reduce car dependency and connect every community

• Upgrading and maintaining highways to ensure they are safe, reliable and resilient

For the first time, the Mayor has powers to plan transport as a single, joined-up network, bringing buses, trams, trains, walking and cycling routes together across the region.

Billions of pounds of investment are expected to follow over the coming years, supporting a transport system designed to boost fairness, economic growth and sustainability.

The Mayor’s Big Transport Conversation runs from 17 November 2025 to 8 February 2026.
Residents can take part and share their views via the consultation webpage.