County council backs single-authority plan amid fierce debate
Councillors at Derbyshire County Council have voted to back a Reform UK proposal to create a single unitary authority covering the city of Derby and the county's eight districts and boroughs — a move branded 'One Derbyshire'. The motion, carried by the Reform UK majority, would create what the council described as the second-largest unitary authority in England, serving roughly 1,078,000 residents.
What was proposed and why it matters
Local government in England is being reorganised through a programme of council mergers. Under that process, local authorities are required to submit proposals to central government. Until now, the county's districts and Derby City Council have largely put forward plans to split the area into two unitary councils — a North and a South version. County leader Alan Graves instead proposed a single, county-wide authority, calling it 'one of those common-sense decisions where residents would like us to grab the bull by the horns'.
Council reaction: split along party lines
Many Reform UK councillors, while expressing reservations about wider reorganisation, backed the single-council option as the best available choice. Opposition parties were largely united against the plan, with speakers focusing on the proposed authority's size and the risk of Derby dominating policy and resources.
Conservative Wayne Major warned: 'As things get bigger they get more bureaucratic and less nimble.' He suggested Reform UK was effectively 'rolling over' for a Labour government.
Fellow Conservative Nigel Gourlay warned the city would dominate, saying: 'No-one who lives outside Derby would choose voluntarily to chain themselves to that hopeless pit of despair.'
Alan Graves, who also serves as a Derby city councillor, described such remarks as 'disgraceful, disgusting, and shameful'. Labour group leader Anne Clarke warned a single authority could struggle to remain in touch with local communities, saying: 'We risk residents not being heard and losing the voice of local democracy.' Liberal Democrat leader Ed Fordham predicted central government would reject the proposal and said the exercise risked being wasted.
Scale, timings and next steps
Government guidance recommends new unitary councils aim to serve about 500,000 people or more; ministers have described 500,000 as a benchmark linked to improved service delivery. The proposed 'One Derbyshire' authority would cover roughly double that benchmark, around 1,078,000 people. Supporters argue such a body would be financially strong and able to deliver consistent services across the county, while opponents argue it would be too remote and unwieldy.
The county council's vote is advisory. The authority's cabinet will take the next decision, and final proposals must be submitted to central government by 28 November. The eventual structure will be decided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (formerly MHCLG).
Public reaction
To date, public consultation has not produced clear backing for any option. A recent consultation found limited support for merging councils across Derbyshire, and the single-authority idea has not been fully tested with residents.
Contact and further coverage: local media coverage and council briefings will track developments as final proposals are prepared and submitted.
