MP's open letter to minister slams bid to cancel local elections

High Peak MP Jon Pearce has written an open letter condemning plans to cancel local council elections in the county.

He said: "I have today written to Jim McMahon, the English Devolution minister, to make him aware that Derbyshire Conservatives are seeking to cancel the Derbyshire County Council elections in May and to accelerate the abolition of High Peak Borough Council and replace it with a single mega council for the whole of Derbyshire.

"Derbyshire Conservatives have shockingly already submitted their expression of interest to Government without any notice or consultation with the residents of High Peak or the rest of Derbyshire, as it is in their self-interest only.

"By doing so they are trying to force Derbyshire into the accelerated first tranche of areas to have single tier councils in the hope that no one will have time to stop them or fully develop alternatives.

"This is wrong. We need time to explore all the options to get the best deal for High Peak and Derbyshire."

The Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Secretary, Angela Rayner, recently unveiled the Labour Government’s devolution plans including a major redevelopment of local councils by potentially setting up unitary councils with elected mayors with plans to potentially merge councils in two-tier local authority areas like Derbyshire that operate county, and then district and borough councils.

Conservative-led Derbyshire County Council’s Leader, Cllr Barry Lewis, has welcomed the prospect of the reforms if they deliver savings but he has caused alarm after revealing his intention to write to the Government requesting any decision about postponing the May 2025 county election should also lie with the Government.

The Government has announced the prospect of postponing the May 2025 local elections for up to a year which perhaps may include Derbyshire County Council.

Plans include targeting areas prioritised for devolution to potentially have mayoral elections as soon as 2026 and the first changed councils could be running by 2027.

The Government has argued the plans will mean elected mayors will have more powers on planning and transport, and that the changes will create savings, create greater efficiency, improve public services, and support economic growth.

But critics have said the plans could mean: the loss of district and borough councils; a risk of greater Government control over local area decision-making and the removal of local decision-making; feared tax rises; powers being taken away from communities with reduced local representation; and that there is little evidence such plans can create savings.

Cllr Lewis has stated the county council is ready to work with Derby City Council and the county’s district and borough councils to shape the proposals if the Government’s plans are sufficiently directive and they align with what is best for Derbyshire.

High Peak Borough Council Leader, Cllr Anthony McKeown, of the Labour-controlled local authority, has said time is needed to study the proposals and consider what is best for the High Peak.

In his letter, Mr Pearce writes: "Derbyshire Conservatives are seeking to cancel the Derbyshire County Council elections in May and to accelerate the abolition of High Peak Borough Council and replace it with a single mega council for the whole of Derbyshire.

"They have already submitted their expression of interest to your Department without any notice or consultation with the residents of High Peak or the rest of Derbyshire.

"By doing so they are trying to force Derbyshire into the first tranche of single tier councils in the hope that no one will have time to stop them or fully develop alternatives. Their proposals would see a council that stretched from the Leicestershire borders all the way up to Tintwistle in Glossopdale. It would cover about 800,000 people.

"It would be too vast and too remote and High Peak would inevitably suffer the consequences. For too long we have been the poor relations in Derbyshire. We have never been a priority in Matlock and always the first place targeted by cuts.

"You only need look at the state of our roads, the appalling SEND provision, proposals to close our care homes, our adult day centres, and the selling off of our community centres.

"I urge you not to place High Peak and Derbyshire into tranche 1 or to cancel May’s County Council elections - which Derbyshire Conservatives are no doubt hoping will give them a stay of execution. If Derbyshire Conservatives had paused even for one minute, they would have realised that there is not a decided view on this matter.

I fully support the aims in your White Paper to devolve power out of Westminster and to tackle regional inequalities that are holding back local economies. I agree that replacing smaller district councils and larger county councils with new single tier councils has the potential to deliver better outcomes for my constituents.

"It will save significant money and improve accountability with fewer politicians who will be more able to focus on delivering for residents. This is a once in a generation opportunity and we must get it right for our children, grandchildren and generations to come. My constituents in High Peak and residents across Derbyshire deserve more time to look at all options.

"I hope you will not proceed with Derbyshire Conservative’s submission and provide us with the opportunity for more careful consideration and consultation on what deal will deliver the best possible outcomes for each area in terms of improved public services, more and better jobs, increased investment and accountability."