LGR FAQ, news and resources

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation are different things. The Government’s plans set out how these can work together to improve public services.

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national government to local areas, specifically to mayoral combined authorities. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is a mayoral combined authority.

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

A two-tier area is made up of a ‘shire’ or county authority and more than one district council. Each of these types of authority 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 whole county such as education, libraries and adult social care.

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

Unitary authorities 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 five district councils will be abolished and replaced with new unitary councils.

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.

We welcome feedback from our residents and will be engaging at the right time in the process. We will share information on how and when on these webpages.

Parish and town councils are smaller and have differing local responsibilities.

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

It is anticipated there would be ‘shadow’ unitary authorities established 12 months in advance of any handover to the new unitary authorities. This ensures that new arrangements can be put in place without interrupting services.

A shadow authority 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.’ 

On our main devolution and local government reorganisation page we display an action timeline.

This outline was provided by the Government in the English Devolution White Paper. Our web page includes proposed and confirmed dates, with actions relevant to Cambridgeshire County Council as a two-tier council.