Councils set to consider local services shake-up proposals

Final proposals about the future of local services in Derby and Derbyshire are set to be formally considered by district, borough and city councillors.

The eight district and borough councils, together with Derby City Council, propose to reduce the number of local authorities covering Derbyshire from 10 to two – one covering the north of the county, and one covering the south.

The ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ proposal has been shaped by a range of local and national evidence, along with the results of an extensive public consultation in which more than 7,300 local people, businesses, public bodies and community organisations put forward their views.

Financial analysis within the final proposal forecasts cumulative savings of £167 million in the first six years, and an annual saving of £44 million from year six onwards – which is equivalent to 3% of the total budget of all current Derbyshire councils.

The proposal includes four variations on where the boundary line between the northern and southern authorities could be, and in two of the variations where the parishes currently covered by Amber Valley Borough Council could sit between the two councils.

The decision to launch a local government reorganisation process was taken by central Government, and local councils were asked to work together to come up with plans for their area.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the local councils, said: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to significantly transform how we deliver the services that local people rely on – creating a brighter future for all who live, work, and invest in Derbyshire.

“The people and places of our historic county are at the heart of our proposal, and our shared vision will see a future where services are simpler, communities feel supported, and every part of our county thrives.

“We will unify Derbyshire’s current patchwork of policy, planning and funding – paving the way for joined-up decision-making and localised support to better serve local needs.

“As well as better meeting the needs of our diverse communities, by working with our regional partners, including the Mayor of the East Midlands and East Midlands Combined County Authority, the new councils will also be well positioned to attract significant investment in housing, transport, and infrastructure to strengthen Derbyshire’s economy, and provide more opportunities for local people.

“This is a hugely complex issue with a lot to consider. But – above all – we want every Derbyshire resident to share a sense of belonging and opportunity in a vibrant, prosperous county.

“The final proposal must now be formally considered by all nine of the partner councils, before a submission is made to the Government.”

The joint proposal will be considered by each of the nine councils’ decision-making meetings over the coming weeks, before a final submission is made to Government by the deadline of 28 November.

The Government will then review the proposals, before making a final decision on how local government is best reorganised in Derbyshire in the summer of 2026.

Under the Government’s current timetable, elections to the new shadow authorities would take place in 2027, and the new unitary councils would start to operate by April 2028.