Cambridgeshire County Council has published its final proposal for Local Government Reorganisation, known as Option A and presented under the phrase Two Councils. One Fairer Future.
The proposal, released on 27 November, will be submitted to Government by the deadline. It follows the Full Council decision made in October and includes a letter arising from a motion by Councillor Sarah Caine. Her motion states that although reorganisation offers “an opportunity to create a more resilient and responsive model of local government,” it also represents “a missed opportunity for local communities” because of restrictive Government criteria and timescales.
Option A sets out a plan to replace the current seven councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with two new unitary authorities. One would form a Northwest unitary council made up of Fenland, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough. The other would create a Southeast unitary council covering Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire.
The proposal describes Option A as being about “fairness and reform,” with a focus on strengthening public services. It says the new authorities would “balance the population, land mass and base budgets of the existing councils,” and ensure that both rural and urban interests receive fair access to resources. It argues that the new councils would be large enough to “withstand future financial shocks” and capable of delivering efficiencies through shared service delivery and commissioning.
The alignment of boundaries with the NHS is presented as a major advantage, intended to “limit disruption for residents supported by high cost and complex services” and to preserve the working relationships needed for effective reform. The proposal also emphasises the need to “reflect functional economic areas” and to recognise the “distinctive, yet interconnected economies” of the region.
A substantial section focuses on identity and local connection. The document says Option A would “respect historic identities and the patterns of our residents’ daily lives,” including travel to work and travel to learn routes that already shape the county. The introduction of Neighbourhood Area Committees is described as a way to give people “a stronger, more empowered, and more local voice,” while keeping elected councillors at the centre of political leadership.
Consultation results formed a key part of the evidence base. Between September and October, 1,912 responses were gathered from residents, businesses, public bodies and community and voluntary sector groups. Support was strong in several districts. East Cambridgeshire registered 67 percent support. Cambridge City reached 62 percent. South Cambridgeshire saw 61 percent. Peterborough also had a majority at 55 percent. Among organisations, 65 percent were in favour, along with 58 percent of elected representatives.
Not all areas supported the proposal. Fenland recorded 26 percent support, while Huntingdonshire reflected only 20 percent. The council notes that this was “largely due to concerns about local identity” under the proposed new structure.
Significant institutional backing came from the NHS. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust each sent formal letters of support. These letters agreed that Option A “aligned with patient flows and NHS neighbourhood models” and would support continuity of care. Anglia Ruskin University submitted a letter noting its presence in both Cambridge and Peterborough and describing the proposals as an opportunity for “stronger partnership working in the future.”
Council leaders addressed both the strengths and the sensitivities of Option A. Cllr Lucy Nethsingha said that “LGR is an extremely emotive subject and there are differing views,” but she added that after careful listening “it is my strong view that Option A is the right solution for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.” She also said the proposal “reflects the travel to work corridors, the health and care boundaries, protects the historic identities that matter to our communities, and it has an equal balance of population and financial resources.”
Cllr Lorna Dupré said that Option A “will secure the future of vital services” and argued that “two financially stable councils will safeguard support for vulnerable children and adult social care.” She added that “within the rules laid down by the Government for this process, we believe this is the best way to enable inclusive growth and better public services.”
The next steps are clearly set out. Government consultation with communities is expected in spring 2026, followed by a decision in the summer. Elections for shadow authorities are anticipated in May 2027. If implemented, the new councils would come into existence on 1 April 2028.
For now, the submission of Two Councils. One Fairer Future. marks a decisive moment. With strong institutional backing, varied public reactions and clear ambitions for reform, Option A will shape the conversation about the future of local government for years to come.
