Stroud District’s Green Party has vehemently criticized the Government-mandated shake-up of local councils in Gloucestershire, labeling the plan as “shameful” and “undemocratic.” The government seeks to dissolve the current two-tier system, merging district councils like Stroud with Gloucestershire County Council into one or two unitary authorities that would provide all local services.
After extensive deliberation, Stroud District Council voted on November 20 to support the creation of a single unitary authority as the “least bad” option to simplify governance. The vote tallied 27 in favor of a single unitary council, 15 supporting a split into two unitary authorities (East and West Gloucestershire), and no support for a ‘Greater Gloucester’ model.
Green councillors expressed strong opposition to all options, condemning the reduction in democratic representation from 295 councillors to just 110 and warning that centralizing authority risks detaching decision-making from communities. Chloe Turner, Green group leader, emphasized, “Reducing elected representatives in an area already facing some of the highest resident-to-councillor ratios in Europe is inherently undemocratic.” Further, Green councillor Gary Luff called the process “bonkers” and criticized the lack of public consultation on this rushed reorganisation.
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Despite their reservations, the Green group chose to back the single unitary option as the lesser evil, while Labour councillors predominantly supported splitting the county into two unitary authorities, citing cultural and economic differences between the regions. Labour’s deputy leader Catherine Braun warned that dividing the council could cause “confusion, disruption, and chaos,” yet other Labour voices, including group leader Katy Hofmann, argued that two units better address the distinct needs of Gloucestershire’s east and west sides.
Hofmann highlighted disparities such as economic deprivation in the west compared to affluence in the east and stressed the importance of aligning with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) for devolved powers, suggesting a smaller unitary council is more manageable within WECA’s framework.
Community stakeholders—including teachers, healthcare providers, police, and business leaders—have largely supported the single unitary council option, cautioning against a split that could destabilize services and increase financial strain, especially for West Gloucestershire.
The debate continues as the Secretary of State prepares to make the final decision, with both parties emphasizing the importance of public engagement in the forthcoming consultation phase. Meanwhile, Green councillors vow to prioritize residents’ voices throughout the transition and beyond.