Minutes:
Council considered the latest update relating to Local Government Reorganisation presented jointly by Councillor Ritchie Portfolio Holder for Devolution and the Interim Director of Planning, Devolution and Corporate Policy.
Councillor Ritchie confirmed that agreement had been reached and submissions made by the eight boroughs and districts and Derby City Council agreed on the submission to Government with four different proposals namely:
· Proposal A - by Amber Valley Borough Council to join the Northern Unitary as a whole authority as led by their public consultation.
· Proposal - A1 to split Amber Valley Borough Council between the Northern and Southern Unitaries with Belper, Denby and Kilburn remaining in the North.
· Proposal B - Amber Valley Borough Council joining the Southern Unitary as a whole authority.
· Proposal B1 - Amber Valley Borough Council being split between the Northern and Southern Unitary Authorities with Belper, Denby and Kilburn in the Southern Unitary.
Stage 3 Statutory Consultations had started and was anticipated to run until the end of December 2025. Stage 4 was for Ministers to decide on a proposal with or without modification as splitting Amber Valley would require modifications to boundaries. It was anticipated that a decision would not be made until Summer 2026. Stage 5 was to make Secondary Legislation for Parliamentary approval namely the Structural Changes Order (SCO). The SCO will specify arrangements for the first elections for the new Unitaries. Derby City Council has decided they want 94 councillors not 74 as previously indicated.
The SCO will identify the elections for the Unitaries, number of councillors and the function of the new Council during the transition and establish suitable governance arrangements which could take six to nine months to go through the parliamentary process. Councillors can stand for the new Unitary as well as being a councillor in their existing council. The order will also state whether the existing council would be extended or not and the transition arrangements until the existing councils were abolished.
Stage 6 was the transition period with existing councils continuing to deliver services whilst preparing for ‘Go live’ day (Vesting Day) when all services, functions, assets and staff would be transferred to the new Unitary. The transition body will be responsible for all arrangements and decisions relating to the new authority to ensure it was safe and legal from Day One. An implementation plan was required by Government to include Council tax harmonisation plan and the aggregation or disaggregation of services.
Stage 7 the new Unitary goes ‘live’ on vesting day and the process continue.
The Interim Director of Planning, Devolution and Corporate Policy informed Council of the next steps:
· Stage 3 Statutory Consultation, it was anticipated this would commence in Spring 2026 with stakeholders.
· The Derby and Derbyshire Consultation Co-ordination Group met weekly and would be looking at putting together an implementation plan to maintain momentum. Working Groups would continue and several new groups focussed on specialisms would be established eg People, Finance, Legal, Technology, Assets data, Communication, Governance arrangements, Social Services, Environmental Health, Housing and Highways etc.
· A key priority was to set up the project management office with key officers appointed to the implementation team to ensure dedicated resource.
· A clear list of proprietary activities had been received from the Local Government Association on activities that could take place.
Councillor Ritchie added that that they were looking to appoint an external candidate for the Project Manager post.