Local Government Reorganisation consultation

From Derbyshire Dales District Council Alongside Derbyshire’s seven other district and borough councils, and Derby City Council, a proposal has been drawn up which would see the 10 councils that provide services across the county replaced with two councils – one covering the north of the county, and one covering the south (with options about the position of the areas currently covered by Amber Valley Borough Council).

The public consultation is being launched today (Monday 30 June) at 4pm – running until Sunday 10 August 2025, and it’s important that we all work together to capture views from people and organisations across the Derbyshire Dales as part of the county-wide consultation.

This note provides key information about the proposal, to give you more information about what is proposed, and support you in your role. It will help you take part in the consultation, answer questions from residents in your area, and support local people and organisations to take part too. You can find a link to more background and FAQs on the District Council’s website.

Residents should be reassured that we will continue to put our communities first – and our services will continue to operate as normal while we work through the local government reorganisation process alongside our partners.

Background information

As you will be aware, in late 2024, the Government published a white paper describing a national programme of devolution and reform to local government – setting out plans for the biggest change to local councils in 50 years.

The Government asked local councils to work together to draw up proposals for the areas they cover, in line with a range of criteria.

Our proposal would see Derbyshire’s 10 existing councils be replaced by two new authorities:

• A council for northern Derbyshire

• A council for southern Derbyshire

Under the proposal, each of the two new councils will deliver all services in their local area.

There are three possible options for how the area currently covered by Amber Valley Borough Council could be included in the new structure: placed entirely in the northern council, entirely in the southern council, or with different parishes joining each of the two councils, depending on where they may best fit.

We have summarised the approach and options below – but please do refer to the information pack which has been shared with this update, for more details.

Option A: A north / south split of the county, with Amber Valley being part of the northern council

• Northern council: Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, Chesterfield, Bolsover, North East Derbyshire (Population: 584,000)

• Southern council: Derby City, South Derbyshire, Erewash (Population: 494,000)

Option B: A north / south split of the county, with Amber Valley being part of the southern council

• Northern Council: High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Bolsover (Population: 456,000)

• Southern Council: South Derbyshire, Erewash, Amber Valley, Derby City (Population: 622,000)

Option C:  A north / south split of the county, with different parishes from Amber Valley joining each of the two councils, depending on where they best fit

• Northern Council: High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Bolsover, parishes of Amber Valley* (Population: 567,000) - *Shipley, Heanor and Loscoe, Denby, Kilburn, Belper, Hazelwood, Shottle and Postern, Idridgehay and Alton, Ashleyhay, Alderwasley, Ripley, Codnor, Aldercar and Langley Mill, Ironville, Riddings, Somercotes, Alfreton, Swanwick, Pentrich, South Wingfield, Crich, Dethick, Lea, and Holloway).

• Southern Council: Derby City, Erewash, South Derbyshire, parishes of Amber Valley* (Population: 511,000) - *Kirk Langley, Mackworth, Kedleston, Ravensdale Park, Weston Underwood, Quarndon, Turnditch and Windley, Duffield, Holbrook, Horsley, Horsley Woodhouse, Smalley, Mapperley).

We believe this approach will create councils which are big enough to deliver, but close enough to communities to listen and respond to local people – please see the information pack for more information about what we believe are the benefits of a ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ approach, along with more details about each option.

The results of the consultation will help shape our final proposal to the Government, which must be submitted by 28 November 2025

The consultation is being conducted on behalf of Derbyshire’s eight borough and district council, and Derby City Council, by an independent and specialist research company called Public Perspectives. This is to ensure the consultation process is robust and impartial.

Following the consultation, the timeline for the reorganisation process is as follows:

• Submission of final proposals to Government: By Friday 28 November 2025

• Government review and decisions: Summer 2026

• Elections for shadow authorities (if the proposal is approved): 2027

• New councils operational (if the proposal is approved): April 2028

Hard copies or alternative formats (large print, British Sign Language etc.) of the questionnaire are available on request by contacting Public Perspectives by

• Email: Derbyshire@publicperspectives.co.uk or

• Freephone: 0800 533 5386 (please leave a message and they will call you back).

Kind regards and thank you in anticipation,

Jim Fearn Communications & Marketing Manager