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On 16 December 2024, the government published the English Devolution White Paper setting out a national programme of devolution and reform to local government.
Gloucestershire applied to be part of the fast-track programme which will see six areas delivering devolution by 2027. It was not included in this Priority Programme, so is now working towards the second phase.
This means:
As Gloucestershire is in the second phase, County Council Elections will take place in May 2025.
Stroud District Council is now working with Gloucestershire County Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council and Gloucester City Council on a series of proposals for a unitary authority/authorities which will be submitted to the government by Friday 21 March 2025.
The public will be asked for their opinion on the unitary authority proposals between March and November 2025. However, the final decision will be made by the government.
We understand the process will raise questions for you and we are committed to keeping our residents informed at each step of the process. If you are not already, please subscribe to our mailing list here.
Local Government Reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. This means the current two-tier system of district and county councils will be replaced with new, larger unitary authorities. The government has said these authorities must serve populations of 500,000 or more.
In Gloucestershire, that means the County Council and the six districts – Stroud District Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council and Gloucester City Council – will be replaced by at least one new unitary council.
The government says benefits include:
A unitary authority provides all the services of county council and district/borough councils, including:
Unitary authorities must then join Combined Strategic Authorities. These are mostly led by elected mayors and are responsible for issues which cross boundaries including:
There are currently three proposals being developed, supported by different councils. These are:
There are a few possibilities for a Combine Strategic Authority for Gloucestershire, including joining neighbouring areas such as West of England (Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire) or Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The authority would be led by a directly elected mayor.
If there is still no local agreement before the November deadline, Government ministers will make the decision.