Gloucestershire is on the brink of a significant local government restructure, with a decision anticipated next week on whether the county will be divided into East and West councils, form a new Greater Gloucester authority, or consolidate into a single unitary council replacing the existing seven local authorities.
Currently, Gloucestershire’s local services are managed by Gloucestershire County Council alongside six district councils: Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud, and Tewkesbury. Under the government’s push to simplify local governance and build stronger councils, these districts are set to merge with the county council to form unitary authorities that will provide all services.
There are three proposals under consideration:
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- Establishing a single unitary council covering the entire county, consolidating all districts and the county council into one governing body.
- Creating two unitary councils by splitting Gloucestershire into East and West regions. The East would combine Cheltenham, Cotswold, and Tewkesbury, while the West would group Gloucester, Stroud, and Forest of Dean.
- Forming a Greater Gloucester authority, championed by Gloucester City Council, to cover the city and nearby areas, with the remainder of the county governed by a separate council.
The government’s decision on this local government reorganisation (LGR) is expected imminently. Councillor Rebecca Trimnell raised questions at the county’s corporate overview and scrutiny committee about potential delays. Rob Ayliffe, Gloucestershire County Council’s Director for Policy, Performance and Governance, indicated that Whitehall is currently set to announce the decision by July 16, with no confirmed changes to the timetable.
Ayliffe noted the uncertainty but emphasized preparing for a prompt decision, highlighting that the government’s broader goals around devolution are still influencing the process. If the restructuring proceeds as planned, elections for the new unitary authorities would occur in May next year, with the new councils formally taking over in April 2028, when the current councils will be dissolved.
This reorganisation marks a major shift for Gloucestershire’s governance, aiming to streamline services and strengthen local leadership through a leaner, more unified administrative structure.