Derbyshire’s ten councils outline varied proposals under Government plans to introduce single unitary authorities

Derbyshire’s ten councils have outlined their varied preferred proposed options to be submitted to the Government under its reorganisation plans to introduce unitary councils in counties and wider areas to replace county, borough and district councils.

The Government is aiming to set up single, unitary authorities across England with an elected mayor in two-tier authority areas like Derbyshire as part of Local Government Reorganisation plans.

Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils with Derby City Council have previously agreed their overall preference would be for a north unitary council and south unitary council to replace the county’s current arrangement of ten councils.

But each authority has been setting out their personal preferences from a choice of four options under the ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ format while Derbyshire County Council is now considering one single unitary council for the whole region.

Chesterfield Borough Council Leader, Cllr Tricia Gilby, said: “Our final proposal for the reorganisation of Local Government within the Derbyshire county area – ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ – is driven by a shared commitment to achieve the best outcomes for Derbyshire’s communities and to create a place where we all feel proud to work, live, belong and thrive.

“It is a proposal that aims to recognise and protect Derbyshire’s distinct cultural, geographic and economic identities by developing two new partner unitary councils that are big enough to be financially resilient and deliver at scale, yet close enough to understand and respond to local needs.

“The two partner unitary councils will also be of a scale to provide effective political representation and attract the very best public sector leaders with the competence and capability to lead the authorities.”

Four options considered by the district, borough and city councils include variations concerning sizes, populations and the north-south boundary line on an agreed ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ proposal which calls for one northern unitary council and one southern unitary council to replace the existing ten councils.

Option A would see Chesterfield, NE Derbyshire, Bolsover, High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and Amber Valley in the northern council and with a population of 584,000 in 2,103sq km, and the southern council would include Derby City, South Derbyshire and Erewash and would have a population of 494,000 in 526sq km.

Option A1 would see NE Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Bolsover, High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and part of the Amber Valley in one northern unitary council, and the southern unitary council would include Derby City, Erewash, South Derbyshire, and part of Amber Valley.

It would have different parishes from Amber Valley joining each of the north and south councils and would have a northern population of 567,000 across 2,068sq km and a southern population of 511,000 across 560sq km.

Option B would include Chesterfield, NE Derbyshire, Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales and High Peak and the southern council would include Derby City, Erewash, South Derbyshire and Amber Valley and would see a northern population of 456,000 in 1,838sq km, and the southern council area would have a population of 622,000 in 791sq km.

Option B1 would see Chesterfield, NE Derbyshire, Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales and High Peak and with a slightly different part of Amber Valley in the northern council with a 539,000 population in 2012sq km and the southern council would include Derby City, Erewash, Southern Derbyshire and a slightly different part of Amber Valley with a 538,000 population in 617sq km.

The councils varied proposals following council meetings include: NE Derbyshire – Option A1; Chesterfield – Option B1; Bolsover – Option A1; High Peak – Option B1; Amber Valley – A; South Derbyshire – B; Derbyshire Dales A1; Erewash – B1; And Derby City – B1.

Derbyshire district and borough councils, together with Derby City Council, have all been proposing to reduce the number of local authorities covering the county from 10 to two and after votes at meetings last week they have outlined their preferred options before a November 28th deadline to submit all proposals to the Government for consideration.

Proposed options voted and agreed upon at each of the authorities’ various meetings have either been or are expected to be confirmed at subsequent cabinet meetings.

Council Leader, Cllr Nigel Barker, said: “The amount of work that has gone in over the last year has been phenomenal. Honestly, it’s been massive and it has taken time and effort and it’s been an epic undertaking and we are pleased to see it come to some sort of conclusion. To get this far and putting this document together has been massive.

“When we first heard about this from the Government I was disappointed and angry but I did think it was better to be in the process to get the best outcome for the people of Derbyshire.”

The Government has argued LGR plans will include elected mayors with more powers on planning and transport and that the changes will create savings, create greater efficiency, improve public services, and support economic growth.

But critics are concerned about the loss of councils – with Derbyshire reduced from 447 councillors to 162 – the loss of local control with a risk of greater Government influence, the removal of local decision-making, tax increases, powers being taken away from communities and some also doubt the plans will create savings.

Green Party Derbyshire County Cllr Rachael Hatchett has said that any plan to split the Amber Valley is not something reflected by the feelings of those in this district.

Opposition Liberal Democrat Chesterfield Borough Cllr Paul Holmes has opposed the concept of imposing unitary authorities which he dubbed as ‘Hobson’s Choice’ with no democratic mandate with the ‘obliteration’ of up to 200 councils while saying it does not represent the best interests of Chesterfield residents.

During the council meeting, on bonfire night, Cllr Holmes drew comparisons with Guy Fawkes’ bid to bring down Parliament alongside Chesterfield Borough Council’s vote to bring an end to the borough council.

He said: “You want to replace that by merging Chesterfield into a huge remote and out of touch council of over 500,000 people or more, stretching all the way to the other side of Derbyshire.

“You want to force diverse and widely spread geographic communities into a single, massive, one size fits all mega council. Large unitary councils like that make sense in compact urban communities such as Sheffield or Derby. They do not make sense in thinly spread and diverse communities across mainly rural counties.”

The one-off implementation costs for LGR for the councils are estimated at £65.4m to be phased over 2026/27 to 2030/31, according to Bolsover District Council.

But the district, borough and city councils claim the proposed ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ forecasts accumulative savings of up to £167m by the sixth year, and despite estimated savings of just £4.4m in its first year these are expected to rise to £44m per annum in its sixth year.

Bolsover District Council Leader, Cllr Jane Yates, said: “There is still work to do. There’ll be scrutiny and consultation on the option the Government selects and we’ll work with all partners to deliver the best outcome for our residents.”

The city, borough and district councils have argued that one unitary authority for Derbyshire will not work because of the size of the county but a system with a north council and a south council will maintain the historic areas of the county and provide better opportunities to work in partnerships especially with the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

They have also argued one, single unitary authority would create an inefficient delivery of services, would stifle economic and housing growth and create a disparity between Derbyshire and Derby in terms of population and tax base.

The city, borough and district council leaders claim two new unitary councils will keep the councils connected to local residents and their needs, provide effective and value for money services, preserve local identity and protect Derbyshire’s historic boundaries and meet the Government’s criteria for reorganisation.

They also argue the two new unitary councils will provide high quality and sustainable services, work together to understand and meet local needs, create opportunities for stronger community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment, improve efficiency, capacity and financial resilience and support devolution.

Leader of High Peak Borough Council, Cllr Anthony McKeown, said: “Whilst we knew the White Paper was coming we didn’t have any detailed idea of its contents around Local Government reorganisation.

“We therefore need time to study the proposals and consider what is best for the residents and businesses in the High Peak before making any further comment.

“As a council we have fully engaged with devolution so far and we are still in the early days of working with, and being represented on, the East Midlands County Combined Authority.

“We also have our successful strategic alliance with our neighbours at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council already delivering efficiently and effectively for our respective areas.”

Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield said she understood and sympathised with fellow councillors who are concerned about the possible changes but she insisted LGR was happening ‘whether we agree with it or not’.

She said councillors were considering an ‘important decision about Derby’s future’ and the city’s reputation was ‘on the line’.

Cllr Peatfield added: “LGR is coming. This is happening whether we agree with it or not.”

Derbyshire County Councillors will be asked to consider proposing one single unitary council for the whole of Derby and Derbyshire as the county council’s preferred option for LGR at a Full Council meeting on November 13th.

The Government will review all council proposals before making a final decision on how Local Government is to be 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.

Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils include: Amber Valley Borough Council; Bolsover District Council; Chesterfield Borough Council; Derbyshire Dales District Council; Erewash Borough Council; High Peak Borough Council; North East Derbyshire District Council; and South Derbyshire District Council.