Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation are different things.

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national government to local areas, specifically to mayoral combined authorities (or mayoral strategic authorities as they are now referred to). The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is a mayoral combined/strategic authority.

Local Government Reorganisation is about simplifying areas with two-tiers of local government into unitary councils that are responsible for delivering all council services.

A two-tier area is made up of a ‘shire’ or county council and more than one district council. Each of these types of council has specific duties and responsibilities for services for residents in that area.

For example, Cambridgeshire County Council is a shire authority and responsible for services that cover the current county council area such as children’s and adult social care, education, libraries, and highways.

The district councils (Fenland District Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Huntingdonshire District Council) provide services such as refuse collection, housing, planning, environmental health, and leisure facilities, within specific areas of the county.

Unitary councils are a single tier of local government responsible for all council services in an area. They may cover a large town or city, part of a county or a whole county. For example, Peterborough City Council is a unitary council.

Yes. The county council and the existing city and district councils will be abolished and replaced with new unitary councils. Although Peterborough City Council is currently a unitary council, it will also be abolished and is included in the LGR proposals for the area. This is because the Government considers Peterborough City Council to face sustainability issues due to its financial position and limitations of size and boundaries. 

There are no immediate changes to the operation of services provided by Cambridgeshire County Council or the district councils. Throughout this process, our vital work supporting residents will continue - services will be delivered and we will still be here for those who need us most.

Two phases of engagement with residents and stakeholders have been completed in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough so far.

In June and July 2025, the County Council and the six other local authorities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough undertook a joint survey asking residents and stakeholders for their views on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The phase one survey reports are below:

• LGR phase one engagement focus group report (opens as PDF)
• LGR phase one engagement public survey report (opens as PDF)
• LGR phase one engagement stakeholder survey (opens as PDF)

In September 2025, the County Council launched a second phase of engagement. The information and survey was hosted on Your Future Councils (yourvoice.cambridgeshire.gov.uk). The focus was on Option A, the proposal we have developed and submitted that would see two new unitary councils for the area, one in the north-west covering Fenland, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough, and one in the south-east covering Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire. The phase two results can be found at the link below:

• LGR phase two engagement overview and results (yourvoice.cambridgeshire.gov.uk)

Whilst these two pieces of engagement are now closed, it is expected that Government will launch a formal consultation in Spring 2026, where residents will have a final opportunity to share their views on the LGR options for the area.

We thank all residents, businesses and other stakeholders across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for having their say in shaping the future of local government.

For more information visit  Your Future Councils (yourvoice.cambridgeshire.gov.uk).

No, town and parish councils are not impacted by Local Government Reorganisation. They have important local responsibilities that will be unchanged.

It is anticipated there will be ‘shadow’ unitary councils created, which are usually established 12 months in advance of any handover to the new unitary councils. This ensures that new arrangements can be put in place without interrupting services.

A shadow council is elected to carry out the functions of a new unitary council until that authority formally comes into effect, on what is commonly called ‘vesting day.'

Shadow councils also make important decisions in advance of the new councils being created, including decisions about major spending and contract awards and the appointment of senior council officers to enable the new councils to be ready for ‘vesting day.'

On vesting day, when the new unitary councils formally come into effect, council tax bills will be based on the previous set district boundaries and bands. Households will continue to pay different amounts.

The new unitary councils must harmonise bills across the new areas within seven years. The new councils will have options to consider regarding how quickly this occurs and how these single rates are calculated.

There is currently a lack of certainty about how legacy council debts will be addressed. It is envisaged that the new unitary councils will need to agree on the appropriate split of existing debt – factoring in population, location of assets and financial capacity.