Have your say on plans for future of local councils in ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’

Communities across Cambridgeshire are being given an opportunity to have their say on a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of local government.

An engagement survey has launched today and focus groups are being run in June and July so people can help inform the biggest shake-up of local government since the 1970s.

It follows a national government requirement to replace the current district, county, and city councils with single-tier councils.

From April 2028, rather than dealing with separate county, city, and district authorities, residents will access all services – from road maintenance and bin collections to education, planning, social housing, social care, and support with benefits – through a unitary council.

Where areas have parish and town councils, these will not be affected and will continue to operate as they do now.

The national government believes these changes will improve services, making them simpler and more efficient, as well as supporting economic growth and delivering much-needed housing.

Since the changes were announced in December 2024, all seven existing county, district, and city councils have been working collaboratively to identify viable options for new unitary councils across the region.

No decisions have yet been made on what these new arrangements could look like, but the government has made it clear that it wants these councils to be unitaries – providing all services and covering all county and district functions.

Three proposed options for reorganisation were shared last week. Council leaders now want to hear the views of residents, businesses and local stakeholders like town and parish councils and community groups, to inform the business cases being developed for each of these proposals.

Those business cases will then be submitted to the government in November. The final decisions on which new local government structures are put into place in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will ultimately be made by the national government.

The engagement focuses on the connections that people feel they have to different areas; where they work, socialise or get healthcare, for example.

It also covers what priorities they think new unitary authorities should have and what is important to them when it comes to dealing with local government.

Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “This is a moment of significant change for local government across our area, and it is essential that the voices of Cambridgeshire residents are heard clearly in shaping what comes next.

“We want to ensure the authorities that follow are not only efficient and financially sustainable, but also deliver high-quality services and strong local accountability.

This engagement is a vital first step in developing proposals that genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of our communities.”

Cllr Chris Boden, leader of Fenland District Council, said: “Not all of us believe that this is the best way to reorganise local government, but it is the way the government has chosen, so we must make the best of it in the interests of local residents.

This engagement survey gives local residents a chance to input into the decision-making process about the future delivery of local government services.

“I hope that as many residents as possible choose to make their voices heard.”

The survey will run from today until the end of the day on Sunday, July 20. Complete the survey by clicking here.

Hard copies will be available at council offices and in all libraries.

Once there is a proposal for a new system of local government agreed, further engagement consultation would take place at that point. Ultimately, the government will have the final decision on what new structures are put in place.