Government set to confirm single unitary authority for Gloucestershire

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 15:41 · Archive

The government is minded to confirm a single unitary authority merging seven Gloucestershire councils, with elections planned for May 2028.

The government has confirmed that Gloucestershire will likely proceed with plans to merge seven councils into a single unitary authority. This would replace Gloucestershire County Council, Stroud District Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council with one new authority.

The plans were originally announced in July, but were paused in September while the government reviewed decisions made across 14 local government reorganisation areas nationally. On 29 October, local government minister Jim McMahon announced the government was "minded to confirm" the decision for Gloucestershire. He committed to allowing at least three weeks for further representations before making a final decision.

If confirmed, the new unitary authority's shadow elections would take place in May 2028, a year later than originally planned. The new council would then formally take over from the existing authorities in April 2029. In the interim, the current councils will continue operating. Elections for Forest of Dean, Cotswold and Tewkesbury councils will proceed as scheduled in May 2027 on existing boundaries.

Councillor Lisa Spivey, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, welcomed the clarity but expressed concerns about the financial implications. "We are already facing extremely difficult financial choices, and it would be wrong for Gloucestershire taxpayers to pick up the costs of local government reorganisation," she said. She also noted that "the delay has consequences" for the council's planning.

In Parliament, Conservative MP for North Cotswolds Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown questioned why the shadow elections had been delayed by a year, asking why councils would hold elections in May 2027 if the unitary authority was not taking over until 2029. Local Government Minister Jim McMahon said they "have to have a programme that is consistent".

How it is being reported

• Gloucestershire super council a step closer after 'utterly shambolic' confusionThe decision looked to be in doubt but ministers have now shared an updateGloucestershire Live · 30 Oct, 11:13
• 'Super council' set to go ahead after pauseThe government has confirmed that Gloucestershire's single authority can go ahead.BBC Gloucestershire · 30 Oct, 09:00
• Major update on decision to abolish Cotswold District CouncilTHE Government has announced that it is minded to confirm a single unitary authority for Gloucestershire before Christmas.Wilts & Glos Standard · 29 Oct, 13:50

In this story: Gloucestershire · Jim McMahon · Lisa Spivey · Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown · Gloucestershire County Council · Cotswold District Council

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