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 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 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. All seven of the county, city and 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.

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 its 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 are developing and would see two new unitaries, one in the north covering Fenland, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough, and one in the south covering Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire.

Whilst these two pieces of engagement are now closed, the expectation is for Government to launch a formal consultation in Spring 2026, where residents will have a final opportunity to share their views on LGR in 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 would be ‘shadow’ unitary authorities, which are usually 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.'

Shadow authorities 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.'

All proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough must be submitted to Government by 28 November 2025.

It is expected that Government will launch a formal consultation with residents in Spring 2026, with a decision on the model for LGR in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough expected in Summer 2026.

In May 2027, the creation of shadow authorities and elections to elect councillors to them takes place. Our FAQ question 'Will there be a crossover between the current and new council authorities' gives more information on shadow authorities.

New councils are due to go live in April 2028.

The table below show the outline of the timeline provided by the Government. It includes proposed and confirmed dates. Dates become confirmed as we receive updates. Actions are relevant to Cambridgeshire County Council as a two-tier council.

Read a summary of the local government reorganisation process (opens as pdf).