Over the last few weeks and months, you may have heard that the way we do local government in Gloucestershire is changing.

At the end of 2024, the UK government set out its plan to reorganise local government by abolishing ‘two-tier’ councils, such as our current system, where some local services are provided by Cheltenham Borough Council (such as your kerbside waste and recycling collections) while others (like responsibility for highways and education) are run by Gloucestershire County Council. Instead of this, the government has stated its aim to create larger ‘Unitary Authorities’ which would look after all local services.

Criticised by some and welcomed by others

Unsurprisingly, this move has been criticised by some groups and welcomed by others. One thing we can be sure of, though, is that the change is coming. So, as far as I am concerned, we had better get on with it and get the best possible deal for Cheltenham.

What the new Unitary Authority or Authorities will look like is, at time of writing, still being discussed, and I am pleased to say Cheltenham is well placed to lead the conversation.

I believe that we can grasp the opportunities this shake-up of local government will bring, while treading carefully to avoid any pitfalls – such as making your council feel less local.

Working together to create a new Cheltenham Town Council

Our council is being proactive and is undertaking a Governance Review, which will look at what we can do to help the areas of our town with and without Parish Councils. I am passionate that local voices should be heard and hope that as many people as possible take part in the consultation phase.

With the right community engagement, Parish Councils can be fantastic resources, amplifying the voices of residents and speaking out on local priorities. My hope is that as the future of our councils takes shape, the views and voices of Cheltenham are heard.