Gloucester has proudly governed itself for 542 years. I became interested in the importance the city council plays in the lives of the people of Gloucester many years ago while at secondary school in Longlevens. The council provides vital services, such as leisure centres, museums, parks and play areas, and weekly waste collections.

It was a great honour to be first elected to the council in 1982. Since then, I have served a total of 30 years on the city council, alongside a similar tenure on Gloucestershire County Council. A city as significant as Gloucester, with 2,000 years of history, must have its own council to oversee its development and ensure that local voices shape its future. This is why I am honoured to lead Gloucester City Council today.

Abolishing city and county councils

It came as a shock that the Government’s English Devolution White Paper proposes abolishing both the city and county councils in favour of a large unitary authority for the whole of Gloucestershire. Having served on both councils, I believe the current system delivers for Gloucester.

When similar proposals were aired several years ago, it was decided there was no simple solution for reorganising governance in our county. Sensibly, no changes were made. The current proposals mandate a minimum population of 500,000 for any new council – a figure seemingly plucked from a spreadsheet in Whitehall. This arbitrary threshold prioritises centralisation over true devolution, and it must be challenged by the Local Government Association.

In 1483, King Richard III’s charter granted Gloucester the right to elect its own mayor and aldermen. For over five centuries, our local council has safeguarded the city’s interests and championed its people. The English Devolution White Paper should focus on devolving powers to Gloucester and its residents, not stripping them away.

The city of Gloucester must retain its own council to preserve its identity and autonomy.