Your Future Councils FAQ
Overview
What does Option A and Local Government Reorganisation mean for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough?
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Find answers to the most common questions asked.
Where do existing district and city geographies fit into Option A?
The North would include the existing city and districts of Peterborough, Fenland and Huntingdonshire and the South would include Cambridge City, East Cambridgeshire, and South Cambridgeshire.
Why was Option A submitted by Cambridgeshire County Council?
Building on a strong evidence base, Cambridgeshire County Council believes Option A offers a more equal distribution of resources, will create more empowered local communities and provide more effective public services than any of the other options put forward.
More equal:
-
Option A creates two unitary councils with balanced populations, landmass, and split of existing local government resources
-
Option A creates economic equity with two new unitary councils that reflect the area’s functional economic sub-geographies
-
Option A balances inclusive economic growth opportunities with an equal distribution of housing need and building targets between the two new unitary councils, limiting development strain
-
Option A ensures fairness with two new unitary councils that share similar employment and unemployment rates
More empowered:
-
Option A builds two new unitary councils around historical identities, fostering opportunity for meaningful neighbourhood governance
-
Option A creates two new unitary councils that have strong ties to their anchor cities, but which also protect rural interests
-
Option A creates two new unitary councils that reflect the patterns of residents' daily lives, such as travel to work, travel to learn and travel to leisure
More effective:
-
Option A uses district boundaries as building blocks for its two new unitary councils, creating simple integration of upper and lower-tier services
-
Option A creates two new unitary councils that share boundaries with existing NHS ICS Care Partnership footprints and reflect the patient flows of the area’s main hospitals, supporting health and social care integration and limiting disruption to services for vulnerable residents
-
Option A creates two new unitary councils with the most effective configuration of geography and governance to rapidly deliver public service reform, helping to deliver ambitions like the move to more neighbourhood-based services as set out in the Government’s 10 Year Plan for Health
What were the other proposed options?
Three other proposed options, known locally as Options B, D and E were also submitted to government, these options proposed either two or three new unitary councils that cover the entire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and replace all existing local authorities. Option C, which proposed an East/West split was considered but not submitted to government.
Option B: The North would include Peterborough, Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire. The South would include Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire.
Option C: The East would include Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire, and Fenland. The West would include Cambridge City, Huntingdonshire, and South Cambridgeshire.
Option D: Greater Peterborough would include Peterborough and northwest Huntingdonshire. Mid Cambridgeshire includes East Cambridgeshire, East Huntingdonshire and Fenland. Greater Cambridge includes Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire.
Option E: The East would include East Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Peterborough. Huntingdonshire as a single unitary council. With the South including Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire.
What are the financial opportunities of LGR?
Local Government Reorganisation offers the opportunity to make cost savings by reducing duplication across the existing councils, such as overlapping contracts and senior management roles.
In proposing new unitary councils of a viable size, Option A places the new councils in the best possible position to withstand financial shocks and manage legacy debts.
Option A also ensures the most equitable distribution of funding, giving the proposed Northwest and Southeast Unitary Councils strong financial foundations.
What is the difference between 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. 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.
What is a two-tier authority?
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.
What is a unitary council?
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.
Why is a two-unitary-model supported by Cambridgeshire County Council?
A two-unitary model for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough offers the most financially sustainable future for the new councils and best meets the Government’s criteria for LGR. The table below highlights that three unitary councils for the area would deliver significantly less recurring financial benefit than a two-unitary council model, with a payback period of more than 20 years - the point at which the costs of implementing new councils is recouped in savings. This is not surprising as three unitary councils creates significant duplication that results in higher costs, for example requiring three senior leadership teams.
| Option £000 | Gross annual benefit | Additional annual costs | Recurring net annual benefit | One-off transition costs | Payback period | Net benefit after one year | Net benefit after seven years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | £22,100 | £5,500 | £16,700 | £25,300 | 2.8 years | -£18,300 | £69,200 |
| Two unitaries | £26,200 | £14,100 | £12,100 | £34,400 | 6.1 years | -£35,100 | £10,700 |
| Three unitaries | £23,500 | £22,100 | £1,400 | £40,700 | 20+ years | -£48,800 | -£66,300 |
The ’Baseline’ case, which would see the retention of Peterborough City Council in its current form and the creation of a county unitary covering the existing footprint of Cambridgeshire County Council, would deliver the most financial benefit of any model, but this has been discounted as it does not meet other Government criteria for LGR.
Does this mean Cambridgeshire County Council will not exist?
Yes. All seven of the county, city and district councils will be abolished and replaced with new unitary councils.
What impact will there be on services as the reorganisation takes place?
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.
Will Local Government Reorganisation impact town and parish councils?
No, town and parish councils are not impacted by LGR, they have important local responsibilities that will be unchanged.
Will there be a crossover between the existing councils and new unitary councils?
It is anticipated there will be ‘shadow’ unitary authorities 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 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.'