Cheltenham Borough Council and Cotswold District Council are proposing that two unitary councils be created in Gloucestershire under government plans for a devolution of powers.
The plan echoes a proposal already made by five local MPs to create west and east Gloucestershire unitary councils, which is at odds with Gloucestershire County Council's preferred option of forming one council covering the whole of the county.
It comes in response to the government announcement in December 2024 that local government in England would be restructured over the coming years, with larger unitary councils replacing the current two-tiered system of district and county councils, which would also form part of overarching combined authorities under the leadership of elected mayors.
The proposal from Cheltenham and Cotswold councils would see the creation of a Gloucester, Forest of Dean and the Stroud council in the west; and a Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds council in the east, with Gloucestershire County Council being 'dissolved' and its services provided by the two new councils.
They say creating two new councils, with populations of over 300,000 would offer 'a blend between economy of scale, ability to withstand financial shocks and locality-based service delivery'.
They add that Gloucestershire is 'unique' in having two urban settlements with populations of over 118,000; and that 'it is right that both Gloucester and Cheltenham each sit in their own unitary council, each surrounded by rural market towns and communities'.
The proposal also involves both unitary councils joining the existing West of England Combined Authority.
The councils are set to submit their proposal to the government on Friday 21 March 2025.
In a joint statement, Rowena Hay, leader of Cheltenham Borough Council and Joe Harris, leader of Cotswold District Council said: 'The days of a county-wide, one size fits all council is outdated and will only result in our residents being shortchanged and feeling like a number in a system.
'What we need are locality-based services that are devised and designed by the people we serve.'
Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson added: 'I am pleased to see that a bold, creative and ambitious plan is emerging to bring greater prosperity to our area.
'Cheltenham people and residents across the county deserve better than having powers taken further away from them in a reorganisation that places all the newly created power in a big new unitary council and regional mayor — that’s the opposite of what I understand as devolution.'
