Local Government Reform - Derbyshire is divided!

After two (confusing) consultations on an eventual total of 7 options (!) the government has informed the 10 District, Borough, City and County Councils that from April 2028 there will be TWO Unitary Authorities running things in Derbyshire;

NorthernDerbyshire (comprising High Peak (1), Derbyshire Dales (2), North East Derbyshire (6), Chesterfield (7), Bolsover (8) and part of Amber Valley (5)*).

and

Southern Derbyshire (comprising Derby city (9), Erewash (4), South Derbyshire (3) and part of Amber Valley(5)*)

This is not quite the option that Derbyshire Dales voted for. Here councillors indicated that they preferred a different division of Amber Valley – one in which Belper was in the Northern Unitary - although they would have rather seen no change to the current system.

It is suggested that there will be 83 councillors for the Northern Unitary, and 79 for the Southern Unitary, based on existing County Divisions, although this has not been confirmed.

All councillors currently serving, will continue to represent their wards until April 2028.

In May 2027 there will be elections to the new Unitary Authorities to create ‘shadow councils’. These will work in parallel with existing District, Borough, City and County Councils in preparation for full takeover in April 2028.

*The division of Amber Valley is based on existing parishes;

AV parishes to be in Northern Derbyshire - Aldercar and Langley Mill, Alderwasley, Alfreton, Ashleyhay, Codnor, Crich, Dethick, Lea and Holloway, Hazelwood, Heanor and Loscoe, Idridgehay and Alton, Ironville, Pentrich, Ripley, Ravensdale Park, Shottle and Postern, Somercotes, South Wingfield, Swanwick, Turnditch, Weston Underwood, Windley.

AV Parishes to be in Southern Derbyshire – Belper, Denby, Duffield, Holbrook, Horsley, Horsley Woodhouse, Kedleston, Kilburn, Kirk Langley, Mackworth, Mapperley, Quarndon, Shipley, Smalley.