Three councils have set out why their plan to reorganise Cambridgeshire’s seven councils into two new unitary councils – known as option B, which would create one for North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and another for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire – is the most beneficial plan for the whole region.

Their joint message comes just ahead of the government’s public consultation on the four options that were submitted by Cambridgeshire’s councils to the government in November, which is expected to begin in February.

Local Government Reorganisation is the government’s plan for a once in a lifetime shake up of local councils across the country which, in Cambridgeshire, would see all seven city, district and county councils reorganised into two or three new councils providing all local services – from housing and planning to social care – under one roof.

Cambridge City, East Cambridgeshire District and South Cambridgeshire District councils all support Option B, which proposes two new unitary councils which would deliver all of the services currently delivered by different district, city and county councils:

• A Greater Cambridge council, covering Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire

• A North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough council, covering East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough.

Option B is considered by the three councils to be the best option for everyone living and working in Cambridgeshire because:

• Both new councils would be financially secure, with anticipated savings of £43 million a year. Savings would be reinvested to improve front line services across the region, as residents have called for. This level of ambition from the three councils is much greater than any of the other proposals for Cambridgeshire, which are very modest compared to all local government reorganisation proposals submitted to government from across the country. 

• The two councils would represent two areas that have different strengths, but are economic equals, limiting any north-south imbalance. Greater Cambridge with its world-leading science and tech economy, with North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as an agricultural and industrial powerhouse

• Greater Cambridge being smaller in size would enable closer collaboration with key local institutions, such as the Cambridge University Hospitals and University of Cambridge – to help drive innovative solutions to local challenges, especially in the health and technology sectors

• North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough being larger in size means more council tax and government funding, and better ability to commission services, to help tackle pockets of deprivation and help shape local care markets. Both councils would have lower social needs than the England average, and of any of the other proposals

• Aligning council boundaries to existing partnership working: Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire are already working together on a joint Local Plan for Greater Cambridge for well-managed growth in the years ahead, the councils have shared services including waste and planning, and both councils have a combined 13,000 council homes between them – whereas the northern councils do not have council housing stock

• Recognising rural communities in the northern unitary: The rural nature of the northern unitary would drive it to work closely with local communities to deliver what’s needed, through Resident Engagement Pathways – what’s right for one area may not be relevant in another, allowing council resources to be targeted more effectively

Cllr Cameron Holloway, Leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “Option B makes the most of a once in a lifetime opportunity to revolutionise services you rely on - from social care to bin collections. It’s not just more of the same. Both councils will have similar sized economies, each with different strengths vital to the nation – supporting a shared prosperity, rather than one area running ahead while the other struggles. With option B, we’re committed to working closely with residents, businesses, volunteers and public sector colleagues to design councils fit for the future – not faceless bureaucracies.”

Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Three local councils run by three different political parties all think option B is best. It creates two strong, financially secure councils, saving up to £43 million every year, to reinvest into your community’s services, such as social care where demand is high. As a larger council, North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough would have enough people paying Council Tax to fund the right support – with services on a patch-based, local level. This change will make it simpler for you. You’ll deal with one council for everything from planning to potholes to public health.”

Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “As we welcome new businesses and innovation, and our population grows, option B will make sure homes, jobs, transport and community facilities come together in the right places. Option B creates two councils with the financial strengths to invest in prevention, support to keep people out of hospital, and resolve issues early. This is a once in a generation opportunity to be ambitious, creating stronger public services for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We’d create councils the right size to thrive, local enough to care.”

Next steps: government consultation

Multiple proposals have been submitted to central government from the seven Cambridgeshire councils. The government is due to ask Cambridgeshire residents for their views in a forthcoming consultation which is expected to begin in February, before the government ultimately decides which option to implement.

The new unitary councils are then due to begin operating in a shadow capacity from May 2027, taking on full responsibility for delivering all services from April 2028.

Find out more about Local Government Reorganisation in our area.