Plans for Gloucester's new councils names and sizes proposed by Shire Hall
Future local government structure in Gloucestershire takes shape
Shire Hall chiefs have put forward their preferred names and composition for Gloucestershire's future local councils amid ongoing government-led reorganisation efforts.
This restructuring aims to merge English district authorities with county councils, potentially resulting in stronger councils.
In Gloucestershire, current district authorities in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud, and Tewkesbury would be consolidated with Gloucestershire County Council.
The plan could result in one or more unitary councils taking over local services.
Discussions at Shire Hall explored several options, with one proposal advocating for a single council named Gloucestershire Council, comprising 110 councillors across 55 wards.
Alternatively, the county could be split into East Gloucestershire Council and West Gloucestershire Council with 52 and 58 councillors, respectively.
Cheltenham Borough Council leaders have suggested calling the councils Cheltenham and Cotswolds Council and Gloucester, Forest, and the Stroud Valleys Council.
Gloucester City Council supports a plan for a Greater Gloucester Council and a separate council for the rest of the county, to consist of 52 and 81 councillors, respectively.
Lisa Spivey, council leader, highlighted the importance of agreement on names, saying, “There was largely agreement that in the event it was a single unitary it would be Gloucestershire Council.
“In the event of it being what is currently known as the East/West split it would be as East Gloucestershire Council and West Gloucestershire Council.
“In the event the model chosen was the Greater Gloucester one we would have Greater Gloucester Council and Greater Gloucestershire Council which seems to make things quite simple.
“Although, I know there are other proposals being put forward, especially for the east west model which may want to include some of the names of those predecessor councils.”
She added that newly formed shadow authorities could change their names once established.
The Government is expected to finalise its decision on the reorganisation in July.
Subsequently, elections for the new unitary council or councils would take place in May 2027.
By April 2028, the structural changes would be implemented, dissolving the current county, city, and district councils.