In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government.
The current Government has made devolution a priority and set out plans to create a new network of Strategic Authorities that will cover the whole of England by 2029. The new authorities will be led by elected mayors and will cover a number of local council areas.
Derbyshire is already covered by a strategic authority, since the election of the East Midlands Mayor and establishment of the East Midlands Combined County Authority in 2024.
The Government explained these plans in an English Devolution White Paper, published in December 2024.
This paper also sets out plans for local government reorganisation.
Local government reorganisation is the process by which the geographic remit and the roles and responsibilities of local authorities are restructured.
The decision to launch a local government reorganisation process was taken by central Government, to simplify how councils are organised across the whole of England and make them more efficient, reducing costs while delivering better and more joined-up services.
This affects areas with a ‘two-tier’ system (as currently exists in areas like Derbyshire), and also areas which have small unitary councils (like the city council that covers Derby).
In short this means that under the Government’s plans, district, borough, county and small unitary councils will be replaced by new unitary councils which will provide all services to the communities they cover.
The government believes that local government reorganisation, together with devolution over a larger strategic area, will improve public services and support economic growth.
Derbyshire is a two-tier area served by eight district and borough councils and a county council.
The city of Derby is contained within the boundary of Derbyshire, but all council services are provided by Derby City Council, which is already a unitary council.
In total, 10 different councils provide services across the county.
‘Lower tier’ councils
The lower tier councils covering different areas of Derbyshire are 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.
Lower tier councils are responsible for services including:
- Waste collection
- Recycling
- Housing
- Benefits and Council Tax
- Planning
- Leisure
‘Upper tier’ council
The upper tier council in Derbyshire is Derbyshire County Council.
Upper tier councils are responsible for services including:
- Education
- Transport
- Social care
- Libraries
- Waste management
Unitary councils
Derby City Council is a unitary council.
A ’unitary council’ is responsible for providing all council services to the communities it serves.
Each of the 10 councils has its own political leadership and senior management team and sets its own share of the Council Tax bill.
Town and parish councils
Some areas also have town or parish councils which are much smaller in scale and are responsible for services, facilities and public spaces within a community such as parks, village halls, allotments, litter bins and local events.
These councils are not covered by the Government’s plans for local government reorganisation and will not be directly impacted by the proposed changes.
Unless there is a complete reversal of the policy set out in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper, there is currently no route by which the two-tier council structure can continue to operate as it currently does.
As things stand, all 10 of Derbyshire’s existing councils will be abolished and local services will be delivered by either one or two unitary councils (depending on which model of local government reorganisation the Government decides to put in place). The new unitary authorities are expected to be in place by 1 April 2028.
Be reassured that we will continue to put our communities first – and our services will continue to operate as normal until then – while we work through the local government reorganisation process alongside our partners.
We cannot opt out. All councils must follow the process that is set out in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper, and ‘no change’ is not an option.
The Government has been clear that all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring smaller unitary councils had to bring forward proposals for reorganisation. It intends to deliver this process as quickly as possible, including through legislation, where it becomes necessary to ensure progress.
These are the key dates within the Government’s current timetable:
- March 2025 – Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils submitted a joint interim proposal to Government.
- 30 June to 10 August 2025 – Local people and organisations were asked for their views on proposals for local government reorganisation in Derbyshire.
- August to October 2025 – Detailed analysis of results and further evidence-gathering took place to help shape and develop final proposals.
- November 2025 – The final One Derbyshire, Two Councils proposals were considered by each of the nine councils’ decision-making meetings.
- 28 November 2025 – Final proposals submitted to Government.
- February to March 2026 – The Government statutory consultation is expected to take place.
- Summer 2026 – The Government has indicated it will make a final decision about which model of local government reorganisation will be implemented.
- May 2027 – Elections for new shadow authorities would take place.
- April 2028 – New councils would start to operate.
Government set out criteria which local councils must follow when drawing up proposals, which include:
- A proposal should seek to achieve the establishment of a single tier of local government for the whole of the area concerned
- New councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks
- New councils must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens
- Proposals should show how existing councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views
- New council structures must support devolution arrangements (in Derbyshire, this means working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority)
- New councils should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.
The Government asked all existing councils to work together and ideally reach agreement on the best way forward.
However, the Government anticipated that in many county areas different final proposals would be submitted.
In Derbyshire, five proposals have been submitted to Government – the four options submitted under our joint 'One Derbyshire, Two Councils' case for change, and a separate proposal from Derbyshire County Council, to create one unitary council covering Derbyshire and Derby’s 1.1million residents.
The final decision on proposals for local government reorganisation will be taken by the Government, with a decision expected in summer 2026.
These proposals must be supported by evidence that shows they meet the Government’s criteria.