Reminder of potential council restructure options as final decision nears

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is a major plan put forward by the Labour government that will see local councils reorganised in 14 areas across the country, replacing two-tier structures with unitary councils.

Government officials confirmed in the summer that the information submitted in support of all four unitary options (A, B, D and E) for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area was comprehensive, with no further evidence required.

However, the final decision on which option to implement was delayed and is expected to be made in September.

New unitary councils are expected to replace the seven existing county, district, city and unitary councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough from April 2028.

Peterborough City Council’s Labour leader Cllr Shabina Qayyum said she was “naturally disappointed” by the delay and encouraged the government to make a decision as quickly as possible.

Here is a reminder of the four options that were submitted to government and which councils backed which option.

Cambs and Peterborough LGR options

Option A – Two unitary authorities (backed by the Liberal Democrat led Cambridgeshire County Council)

– North West: Peterborough, Fenland, Huntingdonshire

– South East: East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridge City

Option B – Two unitary authorities (backed by the Labour minority led Cambridge City Council, now Conservative led East Cambs District Council and Liberal Democrat led South Cambs District Council)

– North Cambridgeshire: Peterborough, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, East Cambridgeshire

– Greater Cambridge: Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire

Option D – Three unitary authorities (backed by former Labour led Peterborough City Council which is now a coalition and Conservative led Fenland District Council)

– Greater Peterborough: Peterborough, West Huntingdonshire

– Mid Cambridgeshire: Fenland, East Huntingdonshire, East Cambridgeshire

– Greater Cambridge: Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire

Option E – Three unitary authorities (backed by Liberal Democrat and independent led Huntingdonshire District Council)

– North East: Peterborough, Fenland, East Cambridgeshire

– Huntingdonshire: Huntingdonshire

– Greater Cambridge: Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire

What will LGR mean for residents?

Councils have made it clear that they will do their best to ensure all services remain the same once the new structures are implemented.

It is hoped that changes to local government will improve services by making them simpler and more efficient for residents and businesses.

The government claimed that a significant amount of money could also be saved in the long term by creating larger authorities.

However, some have argued that the restructure may create a disconnect between the larger authorities and their local communities, leading to decreased accountability to residents.

Peterborough residents could also be at risk of an increase in council tax bills.

When asked previously about what benefits LGR would bring to residents, Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum said: “By moving to a simpler system with fewer layers of councils, it could make decision-making quicker and clearer for residents.

“A single, stronger council would be responsible for all local services—such as housing, transport, schools, and social care—so people know exactly who to contact.

“Reform could also reduce duplication of work between different councils, saving money that can be reinvested into frontline services.

“It may also give Peterborough a stronger voice when negotiating with government for funding and powers, helping the city to grow and improve services in line with local needs.”

Peterborough City Council is already a unitary authority, but it is set to increase in size under the new plans.