Local district, borough and city councils set to consider final proposals for the future of local services in Derbyshire

Joint press release issued by the Leaders of Amber Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Erewash Borough Council, High Peak Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and South Derbyshire District Council.

Final proposals about the future of local services in Derbyshire - drawn up in response to Government plans for the biggest change to councils in 50 years - 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 final proposal for how local government reorganisation could work in Derbyshire is detailed and evidence-based. It shows the clear benefits of creating two new unitary councils that deliver all services, together with the councils' commitment to significant transformation of the services that local people rely on.

The Leaders jointly propose two new unitary councils that:

• Keep councils connected to local people - big enough to deliver but close enough to listen and respond to local needs.
• Can provide effective and value for money services - with the vision and financial stability to transform the services residents receive.
• Preserve local identity and protect Derbyshire's historic boundaries, cultural heritage and environmental assets.
• Meet the Government's criteria for reorganisation. These include:
  • Providing high quality and sustainable public services    
  • Working together to understand and meet local needs
  • Creating opportunities for stronger community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment
  • Improving efficiency, capacity and financial resilience
  • Supporting devolution 

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.

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 Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derby City, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire 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."

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

Based on this forecast, the initial investment associated with setting up the two new councils would be recouped within roughly three-and-a-half years after their launch.

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 2025.

Derbyshire County Council is developing its own proposal, which would be submitted to the Government separately. However, all ten councils have worked together to share information and ensure robust and accurate data is included to support the submission of proposals to Government.

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.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The decision to launch a local government reorganisation process was taken by central Government, which wants to simplify how councils are organised across the whole of England and make them more efficient - reducing costs while delivering services that are better, and more joined-up. 

2. Local councils in 'two-tier' areas like Derbyshire have been invited to work together and put forward proposals for how this could work in their areas. Nine of the ten councils in Derbyshire have worked together to draw up a joint 'One Derbyshire, Two Councils' proposal. Any proposal from Derbyshire County Council would be submitted separately to Government, by the 28 November deadline. The final decision about how local government reorganisation will be implemented in Derbyshire rests with the Government.

3.Building on the principle that Derbyshire is best served by two sustainable unitary councils, four potential configurations* have been developed:

• Option A - Amber Valley joins the northern authority
• Option B - Amber Valley joins the southern authority
• Option A1 - Amber Valley is split at parish level, as consulted on in the public consultation
• Option B1 - A further variation splitting Amber Valley's parishes, formulated in response to evidence gathered and further deliberations.

These four variations have been appraised against the criteria laid out by Government, including their financial, geographical, and community impacts. Full details on how each configuration meets key standards and supports residents, businesses, and partners are available within the agenda reports which are being considered by the councils' respective decision-making meetings in November.

*Due to some technical requirements within the Government criteria for local government reorganisation proposals, the way the options are referred to within the final proposal document has altered from previous versions slightly:

• Option A - referred to option A in the public consultation
• Option B - referred to option B in the public consultation
• Option A1 - referred to as option C in the public consultation
• Option B1 - is a further variation splitting Amber Valley's parishes, formulated in response to evidence gathered and further deliberations.

4.North East Derbyshire District Council will be the first council to consider the final proposal, at an Extraordinary Full Council meeting on 3 November. Supporting reports will be available on NEDDC's website on Friday 24 October.

Published Friday 24 October 2025