Why local councils are being reorganised

In December 2024, the national government set out plans to move towards a new system of local government, abolishing all ‘two-tier’ areas in England. That means that the below seven Cambridgeshire councils could be replaced by a smaller number of new unitary authorities:

• Cambridge City Council
• Cambridgeshire County Council
• East Cambridgeshire District Council
• Fenland District Council
• Huntingdonshire District Council
• Peterborough City Council
• South Cambridgeshire District Council

When this happens, rather than dealing with separate county, city, and district councils, residents will access all services from one new unitary council for their area - from road maintenance and bin collections to education, planning, social housing, social care, and support with benefits.

Where areas have parish and town councils, these will not be affected and will continue to operate as they do now.

When change will happen

The government will make the final decision on which option is selected.

The government announcement was expected in summer 2026, but was delayed - the government said a decision would be taken by October 2026.

In September 2026, the government announced a temporary pause while they review the programme. The new timelines are not confirmed but the government has committed to work at pace.

We had been anticipating that the May 2026 elections to Cambridge City Council would have been the last ones to be held, with the May 2027 elections electing councillors to the new shadow unitary authority. However as part of the announcement about the pause to review the programme, the government confirmed that May 2027 elections will go ahead on the existing council boundary.

We had been anticipating that new unitary councils would operate in a shadow capacity from May 2027, before full implementation in April 2028, known as ‘vesting day’. Following the September announcement we await further information on timelines.

Hearing from local people

Spring 2026

The government consulted in spring 2026 on the four proposals submitted by Cambridgeshire's councils. The consultation closed on 26 March.

Autumn 2025

Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District councils ran a joint survey about the future of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire councils in September and October about the preferred option (option B).

More than two thirds of respondents, 69%, supported a new unitary council for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. You can read the report, or read our highlights.

Summer 2025

Following the government announcing in December 2024 its plans for local government reorganisation, local councils were asked to explore options and engage with local people.

The seven Cambridgeshire councils ran a joint survey in June and July 2025 asking residents for general feedback about local government and their future priorities.

View the three reports produced following this survey, or read the highlights.

Summer 2024

Prior to national government setting out in December 2024 its plans for local government reorganisation, a motion was approved at Full Council in October 2023 calling on the council to consider whether current local government arrangements are the most appropriate form of governance for Cambridge.

This led to a public engagement exercise taking place during summer 2024. You can read the report, or read our highlights.