Local government reorganisation is all about upcoming changes in the structure, responsibilities, and boundaries of local councils in England. A Government White Paper on English Devolution, published in December 2024, proposes significant changes to how local councils are structured. The plan is for reorganisation in ‘two-tier’ areas such as Cambridgeshire - where there are both district and county councils. In Cambridgeshire, the idea will be to replace multiple layers of councils with one larger Council – a Unitary Authority.

Cambridgeshire is an area which currently has a ‘two-tier’ authority system.

This means Cambridgeshire County Council provide services that cover the whole county such as education, roads maintenance and adult social care.

District councils such as South Cambridgeshire are smaller and provide local services including rubbish collection, planning, homelessness support and environmental health.

Parish and town councils – which we also have in South Cambridgeshire - are smaller once again and have differing local responsibilities. Government is asking County and District councils to reorganise into unitary councils. Town and parish councils are not currently being asked to change.

Peterborough City Council is already a Unitary Authority.

A Unitary Authority is a single tier of local government that takes on the responsibilities of both district and county councils. This contrasts with the two-tier system, where there is a County Council and their responsibilities are split with district or city councils in the county area.

That has not yet been confirmed. Council leaders across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are meeting to discuss proposals, though there is not yet agreement on a single option.

We held an Extraordinary Full Council meeting on Wednesday 19 March to discuss local government reorganisation and a Cabinet meeting to discuss the same topic followed later that same day.

As outlined in our report for our Full Council meeting on Wednesday 19 March, the benefits of local government re-organisation are intended to include the opportunities to help transformation in the longer term by bringing services together which can support improvements. This could include more support for preventative and holistic services focused on the needs of local people and communities, while making it simpler for residents to understand who is responsible for the services they receive. 

The Government has also been very clear that financial savings are expected through the process of reducing the number of councils.

Overall, the Government White Paper on Devolution says “If we are going to build an economy that works for everyone, we need nothing less than a completely new way of governing – a generational project of determined devolution.”

Council leaders across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are meeting to discuss proposals, though consensus has not yet been reached on a single option. Councils then have to submit proposals to Government.

The final decisions on which new local government structures are put into place in Cambridgeshire will ultimately be made by central Government.

Reorganisation presents both opportunities and challenges for South Cambridgeshire District Council and residents. Benefits include the potential for improved services through more functions ‘under one roof’, clearer accountability for residents, and potential financial savings - which are explicitly expected by the government.

However, significant risks exist, including potential loss of local representation, due to the increase in size of any new Unitary Authority compared to the current District Council, possible Council workforce instability during changes, substantial implementation costs, and setting a single Council Tax charge across an area which has previously had multiple councils all setting their own Council Tax charges.

Yes. In 2023, new unitary authorities were established in North Yorkshire, Somerset, and Cumbria. Other reorganisations have occurred in Dorset (2019) and Northamptonshire (2021).

However, the difference now is that the Government expects, as a minimum, all Council areas across England where there is currently a two-tier system in-place to be reorganised.

Council leaders across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are meeting to discuss what those proposals could be, though there is not yet agreement on a single option. The Government’s process does also allow for councils to submit their own proposals, but we are working with the other councils in the area.

The Government asked for an initial response all councils in England by 21 March 2025 and a final business plan by November 2025.

We held an Extraordinary Full Council meeting on Wednesday 19 March to discuss local government reorganisation – and the Council’s initial response. A Cabinet meeting to discuss and formally approve that response then followed later that same day.

We will engage with residents and partners in shaping the business plan that we need to submit to Government by November 2025. Residents are of course always free to engage with their local councillors about any topic – such as local government reorganisation.

Yes. The Government has been clear that ‘two-tier’ Council areas like Cambridgeshire will see city / district and county councils replaced by unitary authorities.

The Government is asking county and district councils to reorganise into unitary authorities. Town and parish councils are not currently being asked to change.

No. All councils in Cambridgeshire will be abolished. Whatever new Unitary Authority, or authorities, are created in Cambridgeshire, they will be governed through the new elected members of that Council/s.

There is always a possibility that Council Tax could change – it is a key source of funding for Council services. South Cambridgeshire District Council has set its budget for the 2025/26 financial year and it is too early to indicate what might happen with regards to Council Tax levels in future years, and for when any new unitary authority is in place.