Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made.

The purpose of the report presented to councillors was to:

·       Consider the contents of the English Devolution White Paper and further guidance in respect of local government reorganisation including the timescales

·       Set out the implications for the Council

·       Feedback on the countywide discussions aimed at working towards a collective position

·       Agree the approach for the Council to consider the implications and prepare for the response to the invitation from the Secretary of State for local government reorganisation   

Councillors debated the report in detail.  This included areas of the Borough not represented by a town or parish council, consequences for staff and the on-going delivery of services, the position with regards to the Council’s companies, commuications with the public, the safeguarding of Council assets, economic connections with neighbouring areas such as Manchester and Sheffield and the need to do the best for the interests of the Council’s residents.

It was moved by Councillor Anthony McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that the Council:

1.     Notes the contents of the English Devolution White Paper as set out in Sections 8 and 9 of the report

2.     Notes the invitation (attached at Appendix B) from the Secretary of State to the Leaders of all Councils in Derbyshire and Derby to submit proposals for local government reorganisation by 28th November 2025 and to submit an interim plan by 21st March 2025

3.     Notes the indicative local government reorganisation planning timelines for Derbyshire as set out in section 11.3 of the report including the go-live date for new Unitary Councils in April 2028

4.     Notes the progress made by the nine Derbyshire District and Borough Council and Derby City Council Leaders to work through the options collaboratively to establish a collective preferred position as set out in Section 12 of the report

5.     Approves the submission of the interim proposal attached at Appendix D as the Councils’ preferred model of unitary local government for Derbyshire and Derby.

6.     Delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to make any minor or technical amendments to the interim proposal prior to its submission to the Minister of State on or before 21st March 2025.

7.     Supports that the Leader of the Council along with the Chief Executive continue to participate in discussions with Derbyshire’s seven other district and borough councils, Derby City Council and also potentially Derbyshire County Council, with a view to developing a full proposal for local government reorganisation in Derbyshire and Derby.

8.     Notes that Council will be formally invited to consider the full proposal prior to its submission to the Government by the required deadline of 28th November 2025.

When put to the meeting it was unanimously RESOLVED accordingly.