Derbyshire County Council's cabinet has backed a plan to create a single unitary council for the whole of Derby and Derbyshire, which would see the abolition of the existing county and district councils. The proposal will now be submitted to the government for consideration.

Local Government Reorganisation

The cabinet approved the Uniting Derbyshire Proposal , which recommends that the government create a single unitary council for the whole of Derby and Derbyshire¹. This decision was made after considering the findings of an analysis of local government reorganisation options and a council debate held on 13 November 2025.

The key points of the proposal are:

• The current local government structure is too complex, too costly, and increasingly out of date.
• A single council would simplify local government, improve accountability, and deliver better value for residents.
• The plan aims to strengthen local identity whilst cutting bureaucracy, saving money, and protecting frontline services.
• The proposal estimates savings of £100 million over five years and £45 million annually thereafter.
• A single council would provide one budget, one point of responsibility, and clearer accountability.

The proposal also claims that a single council would give Derbyshire and Derby City a stronger regional and national voice, support economic growth, enhance the ability to attract investment and jobs, and build on Derbyshire's strengths in innovation, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.

The report notes that the preferred option aligns most closely with all public sector key partners including the NHS and police. It also reflects that residents generally did not favour a north/south two-model split.

The proposal document states that the new council would have local teams based in towns and neighbourhoods to ensure services remain visible and accessible. It would also focus on what matters most to residents: better roads, safer streets, affordable homes, and support for families and older people.

The Uniting Derbyshire option is preferable for the following key reasons:

• There are greater opportunities for financial savings
• There are lower programme transition costs
• There are no disaggregation costs

The report also notes that there is currently no requirement for formal consultation with the public and key stakeholders, but that it is expected that consultation will take place following the submission of proposals in November 2025.

The alternative option considered was not to submit a proposal for LGR in Derbyshire, but this was rejected on the grounds that the council could be subject to the imposition of LGR proposals which may not be in Derbyshire residents' best interests.

The decision is subject to call-in².