Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:

1. Considered the views of Council on the proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Derbyshire including a preferred option (detailed in the appendices in the proposal at Appendix 1).

2. Approve the proposal, with option A as the base case supported by modification A1 as the preferred boundary option (detailed in the appendices in the proposal at Appendix 1) for submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 28 November 2025.

3. Delegated authority to make any minor changes to the Managing Director in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Local Government Reorganisation and Leader of the Council, ahead of submission.

This was a Key Decision but in accordance with 13 (h) of the Council’s Scrutiny Rules, the Call-in procedure has been waived.

Cabinet considered a report which summarised the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) proposal for Derbyshire, which was attached to the report at Appendix 1. The report explained that the proposal made the case for two unitary councils on a North/South geography, underpinned by a robust options appraisal and thorough financial analysis. Two unitary councils would help ensure the future of local government in Derbyshire would be financially sustainable, simplified and strengthened.

The proposal had been considered by Council at its meeting on 3 November 2025 and the draft minutes of the meeting had been circulated to Cabinet Members and were attached to the report at Appendix 2. Council had recommended to Cabinet that the proposal for local government reorganisation in Derbyshire “Case for Change” was approved and submitted to Government on or before 28^th November 2025 with option A as the base case supported by modification A1 as the preferred boundary option.

Cabinet considered the proposal, the recommendation from Council and the discussion that had taken place at the Council meeting regarding LGR. The key points raised at the discussion were shared, namely the changes that LGR would have on democratic representation and the potential impacts of council tax harmonisation for North East Derbyshire residents. In this context the link between harmonisation of council tax and services was discussed.

The preferred options and anticipated preferred options of the other Councils in Derbyshire were shared and discussed. This included the whole county option that had been put forward by Derbyshire County Council. There was further explanation as to how the Districts and Boroughs had narrowed the options down to two unitary Councils. In this context, some Members reiterated the need for the Council to engage in the process and submit a preferred option.

Some Members suggested that whilst valid points were raised at the Council meeting, there was nothing raised that was unexpected or had not been considered. Therefore, it was suggested that having considered all the evidence option A with the modification of A1 remained the best option for North East Derbyshire.

At the end of the discussion, Cabinet agreed that option A as the base case supported by modification A1 was the preferred option that should be sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:

1. Considered the views of Council on the proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Derbyshire including a preferred option (detailed in the appendices in the proposal at Appendix 1).

2. Approve the proposal, with option A as the base case supported by modification A1 as the preferred boundary option (detailed in the appendices in the proposal at Appendix 1) for submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 28 November 2025.

3. Delegated authority to make any minor changes to the Managing Director in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Local Government Reorganisation and Leader of the Council, ahead of submission.

This was a Key Decision but in accordance with 13 (h) of the Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40