Three options for new councils announced by leaders

County, district and city councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough would no longer exist under the new plans

Three options for creating new unitary councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been identified, council leaders announced.

The news was made in response to a national government requirement to replace the current district, county and city councils with simpler unitary councils.

The options identified included merging councils in a north-west and south-east grouping, a north and south grouping or east and west grouping.

Council leaders said in a joint statement: "The three options each contain two new unitary councils that would in future cover the entire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and replace all existing local authorities."

The statement was issued by the leaders at East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Peterborough City Council.

It added: "As council leaders we are working collaboratively in the best interest of residents and businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

"The government's reorganisation agenda has raised some challenging issues for us all which we have been working through collectively over the last few months. We still have outstanding questions and issues which have yet to be resolved.

"However, we agree that there are currently three options that appear to be the most financially viable based on the government's criteria. These options are based on existing authority boundaries and are being further developed to be submitted to government by late November."

Proposals for unitary councils

From April 2028, rather than dealing with separate county, city, and district authorities, residents will access all services - including road maintenance, bin collections, education, planning, social housing, social care and benefits support - through a unitary council.

Parish and town councils will not be affected and will continue to operate as they do now, serving local communities.

• Proposal A would mean the first unitary council would include Peterborough City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, and Fenland District Council. The second unitary council would include Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council

• Proposal B would see Peterborough City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council and Huntingdonshire District Councils working as a unitary authority. Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council would form the other

• Proposal C would include Peterborough City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Fenland District Council as a combined council. This would leave Cambridge City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council together.

All of the unitary councils would have county council functions.

The statement said each option has "different strengths and implications for services" and it encouraged resident, businesses and partner agencies to share their views through a consultation due to be launched next week.

"We also want to take this opportunity to reassure residents that services will not be affected," they added.