Leader says Derby City Council abolishment will ‘raise many questions’

Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield (Lab). Image by LDRS.

The announced abolishment of Derby City Council will “raise many questions” – its leader has said.

But Councillor Nadine Peatfield said splitting the county into two new merged authorities was the “best “option moving forward.”

In the biggest council shake-up for decades, the Labour Government has announced Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council and the eight surrounding districts and borough councils will all be scrapped.

The split will see Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales and North East Derbyshire councils abolished and, with the upper half of Amber Valley (21 parishes), form into a northern Derbyshire council.

Derby will join a southern council alongside Erewash and South Derbyshire councils, as well as the lower half of Amber Valley.

The new councils are expected to launch in 2028. But residents have been reassured they will see no immediate changes to day-to-day council services.

Derby leader Nadine Peatfield (Labour) believed splitting Derbyshire into two authorities was the “best” option in the long term.

But she acknowledged that the impact of losing Derby City Council as a single authority would raise questions.

Councillor Peatfield said: “This decision brings much-needed clarity, allowing our teams to press ahead with the work required to prepare for the creation of the new authorities, working in close partnership with our colleagues across Derbyshire.

“This will deliver the greatest equity of the two authorities, size of population and travel to work patterns.

“While I know this announcement will raise many questions, we are committed to being as transparent as possible and will provide regular, honest updates as this process unfolds.”

Reform Derby leader Tim Prosser did not wish to comment on the announcement because he said he had not been informed of it.

However, the Alvaston councillor did say he had “mixed views” on the LGR process in general.

Councillor Prosser said: “The movement of power is going away from the council and local people, so it will make things more difficult.

“For example, planning officers and committees will be covering a wider area, which maybe they don’t have experience of.  All areas have different needs.

“I can see benefits of having a bigger council. We should be able to plan better as we are building homes outside the city. There are cost savings to be made by bringing departments together. ”

But others within the city’s political circle have serious concerns.

Conservative group leader Steve Hassall said: “The option announced is obviously what the council bid for, but I’m not a fan.

“I stand by the fact that the public has not been asked if they want this or not. That’s the fundamental principle that’s been ignored.”

Lucy Care, leader of Derby’s Liberal Democrat group, added: “I think there will be about 140 councillors [for the new authority], which will mean the level of representation is going to be slashed.

“If you have a problem with council services then you need to have someone there to go to help. If there are not enough councillors there won’t be the capacity there. “