Council leaders across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have thanked residents, businesses and community organisations for their vital role in shaping the future of local government in our region.
Between 19 June and 20 July 2025, a total of 3,406 people, including residents, stakeholders and staff, took part in a countywide engagement survey to share their views on the biggest shake-up of local government since the 1970s.
The feedback will help to inform how councils are structured and residents access services from April 2028, when the Government’s requirement for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) takes effect.
This will replace current district, county and city councils, and existing unitary authorities such as Peterborough, with single-tier unitary councils. It means residents will get all their council services – for example, bin collections, housing support, roads maintenance or social care – through one organisation.
The seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Peterborough City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council – have been working collaboratively to identify viable options for the new unitary authorities since the Government announced LGR in December 2024.
The engagement survey, which was supported by a series of focus groups, revealed a strong appetite for reorganisation if it improved services (84% of responses). Respondents were clear that reorganisation must safeguard rural representation and identity as well as deliver tangible benefits, such as investing in services and being quicker in responding to residents.
People who took part also said the unitary councils’ top three priorities should be having local councillors who understand their area, simplifying access to services, and increasing the transparency and accountability of local government decision-making.
Overall, 62% of residents said they felt a strong sense of community identity. This was particularly high in East Cambridgeshire (76%).
People from East Cambridgeshire (82%) and Fenland (81%) also expressed concern about being overlooked as part of the reorganisation process, compared to just over half in Cambridge (54%) and South Cambridgeshire (57%).
Residents highlighted several strengths and weaknesses in the current system.
When asked questions about how they thought local government currently performed, 61% said councillors knew their local area well, and 55% said that councils perform well when dealing with online transactions. People from Peterborough – which is already a unitary authority – said they valued having a single council to contact.
At the same time, respondents highlighted several areas for improvement.
Just over half said councils did not perform well in relation to being transparent and accountable and the complexity of local government. A total of 46% said councils did not perform well in terms of reducing the costs of delivering services.
The ‘one stop shop’ unitary council model was supported in principle, but many were concerned about maintaining local knowledge.
Survey analysis showed the responses reflected a broad representation of people from all seven councils in the region. They also exceeded the nationally recognised standard for market research, meaning the findings offer a robust and balanced snapshot of local opinion.
Councillor Shabina Qayyum, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: "I'd like to thank everyone across our city who took the time to comment as part of the recent Local Government Reorganisation engagement exercise.
"It's the biggest shake-up of local government in a generation and therefore it is important that we involve all our residents in the redesign of how services will be provided as part of a new arrangement of councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“Different options are under consideration but there is a lot of merit in a Greater Peterborough authority which builds on our heritage but brings in new areas as well – a bigger authority but with Peterborough at its heart.
"This would mean a Greater Peterborough alongside a rural council in Cambridgeshire, better able to focus on the needs of those areas.
"Officers have been tasked with developing this into a full business case, carrying out the research necessary to determine the benefits and disadvantages. Once completed, this business case, as well as the others being developed, will be considered by members prior to their submission to Government.
"My main consideration will be that Peterborough gets the focus and attention that it needs, and can operate in a financially sustainable way, as part of any new arrangement."
Next steps
Feedback from the survey will help to inform the business cases for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough now being developed.
This includes the three proposed options for reorganisation which were announced on 11 June 2025 and a fourth Greater Peterborough option which has since been put forward by Peterborough City Council.
The business cases, which are being developed by different councils, must be submitted by the Government’s deadline of 28 November. The Government will then consult further before it ultimately makes a final decision on which new arrangements are put into place.
In the meantime, some of the seven councils are planning further engagement work on their preferred option. All seven councils will also discuss the final response they will be providing to Government at public meetings before the Government’s November’s deadline.
More information
For more information on Local Government Reorganisation, and to read the engagement survey reports, visit your local council website:
· Cambridgeshire County Council
· East Cambridgeshire District Council
· Huntingdonshire District Council
· South Cambridgeshire District Council
More information is also available here.