Backing for plan to split county into two councils

Cheltenham councillors have backed a bid to split Gloucestershire into East and West authorities

Plans for Gloucestershire to be split into two unitary councils have been backed by civic chiefs in Cheltenham.

Councillors in the county have been working on plans to merge the county's six district authorities with the county council as part of a government-imposed reorganisation.

At a meeting on Monday, Cheltenham councillors voted in favour of two-unitary proposal, with 30 votes in favour, two against and two abstentions.

These unitaries would divide the county into East and West, aligning the boroughs of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury with the Cotswold district, representing a population of around 311,00.

Two unitary councils would divide Gloucestershire into east and west

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, In the west, the council would be made up of Gloucester, Stroud and the Forest of Dean with a population just shy of 350,000.

During Monday's meeting, Cheltenham Borough Council leader Rowena Hay said she believes the two unitary model "offers a smarter way forward".

"Two distinct authorities, each with its own urban centre and rural reach, provide balance, clarity and scale," said Ms Hay.

"It creates a flexible system that supports ageing well, improves skills, expands digital access, and links housing growth with job creation – unlocking productivity and opportunity for decades to come."

During the debate, Green Party councillor Ashleigh Davies said it was a "once in a generation shake-up for local government" but it was being imposed on Cheltenham by central government.

She said she felt the single unitary option was the only one which stuck to the Government's ask that new authorities be for populations of more than 500,000 people.

Deputy leader Peter Jeffries sad he felt the two unitary council idea was the "least worst option".

People Against Beureacracy councillor Stan Smith said he would vote for the two unitary system as he believed it would "protect Cheltenham from becoming disconnected with our people we represent".

Based on the Government's current timetable, elections to the new council or councils would be in May 2027 with the new authority taking over from the current seven councils from April 2028.