Gloucestershire County Council has selected a single unitary authority as the preferred option for local government reorganisation, amid concerns that the government-mandated changes could weaken local democracy.
At the November 12 meeting, councillors debated two main proposals developed alongside the six district authorities. One suggests merging all councils into a single Gloucestershire unitary authority. The other envisions splitting the county into two unitary councils: one covering Gloucester, Forest of Dean, and Stroud in the west; the other comprising Cheltenham, Cotswold, and Tewkesbury in the east.
A separate plan for a Greater Gloucester unitary authority alongside a separate council for the rest of the county, proposed by Gloucester City Council, was not discussed.
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Council leader Lisa Spivey (Liberal Democrat, South Cerney) described the moment as historic but expressed frustration that the final decision rests with government ministers in Whitehall, not local representatives. Despite her belief that smaller, locally focused councils generally foster better democracy and accountability, Spivey judged the two-unitary split financially unsustainable, with an inherent deficit and high demand for services from day one.
“In principle, two unitary authorities could enhance local representation,” Spivey said. “However, the proposed East-West division leaves one authority in financial strain, risking service quality without guaranteed government backing. I believe a single countywide unitary council will better serve Gloucestershire’s residents across major services such as adults’ and children’s social care, education, public health, and highways.”
The Green Party opposed the restructuring, warning it would further erode local voices and ignore distinct community identities, particularly in Stroud and the Forest of Dean. Councillor Chloe Turner (Green, Minchinhampton) criticized the government’s approach as lacking public mandate or promise of savings, noting that Gloucestershire’s elected representatives would be drastically reduced from 295 to 110.
“This move contradicts democratic principles by concentrating decision-making power,” Turner said. “The government’s own White Paper acknowledges that too few people are making decisions affecting many. Yet the reorganisation exacerbates this problem while offering little meaningful devolution or local consultation.”
Conservative group leader Stephen Davies (Hardwicke and Severn) also supported the single unitary option, emphasizing its financial competitiveness and the opportunity to develop a neighborhood model that respects local identity, rather than simply replicating the old county council structure.
Reform UK councillors echoed concerns over the consultation process and felt the single unitary council was the “lesser of two evils.” Councillor Vernon Smith (Tewkesbury West) expressed frustration at the demands placed on council officers and the absence of public input.
Ultimately, 38 councillors voted in favor of a single unitary authority, 4 supported the two-unitary split, and 10 abstained, voicing objections to all proposals or the exclusion of the Greater Gloucester plan from debate.
According to the government’s timetable, elections for the new council(s) will be held in May 2027, with the new structures replacing the existing seven councils by April 2028.