Borough Council Leader’s radio Q&A about local government shake-up

Erewash Borough Council leader, James Dawson is to appear on local radio to answer questions from the public as the town hall seeks residents’ views about the prospect of the authority being abolished.

The borough would vanish along with all other current local councils in Derbyshire under plans to split the county into two “unitary” authorities – one in the south and one in the north.

A major consultation has now been launched so residents across Erewash and the whole of Derbyshire can say what they would like to see happen. The survey can be accessed by clicking here.

Cllr Dawson has a monthly breakfast show guest slot on Erewash Sound and will be devoting the next one to the subject.

Questions about the six-week consultation and the future of local government can be submitted in advance by emailing: info@erewashsound.com or directly on the day to studio @ erewashsound.com.

The leader – whose radio appearance is on Monday 7th July – said: “Local people can find full details of the proposed reorganisation on the Erewash Borough Council website but I am sure many will still have questions. I am happy to answer them.”

A video of Cllr Dawson explaining how the reorganisation would work is on the council’s YouTube channel as seen above.

Erewash was instructed by the Government to hold talks with its neighbouring authorities in Derbyshire to come up with preliminary plans for fewer councils. The aim is to make efficiency savings.

The views of local people and organisations will feed into the development of final proposals which need to be submitted by 28 November 2025. Twenty other county areas across England have a similar deadline. 

If the two new unitary authorities in Derbyshire get the go-ahead they would start to operate by April 2028.