Forest of Dean District Council confirms position on Local Government Reorganisation proposals

The three options under consideration across Gloucestershire are:  

• a single countywide unitary authority;  

• two authorities based on an East/West split;  

• the Greater Gloucester model being developed by Gloucester City Council.  

Following several months of joint work by all seven councils, Forest of Dean District Council concluded that none of the proposals give sufficient assurance that the Forest’s distinct identity, priorities, and community voice would be protected within a larger, more centralised authority.  

During the meeting, councillors raised concerns that the level of representation available to residents could be significantly reduced under a unitary model. While the Government’s proposals suggest that larger unitary structures could deliver efficiencies, members felt that any gains must be balanced against the need for strong, accessible local democracy.  

The Council also noted that the proposals are still evolving and that further detail is required before a meaningful assessment can be made. In particular, there remains limited clarity on how Neighbourhood Partnership – the mechanism suggested to preserve local voice – would be structured, funded, or empowered.  

In recent weeks, the Council has held discussions with town and parish councils across the district, as well as with community representatives. Feedback from these conversations highlighted the importance of retaining decision-making close to local residents and ensuring that the Forest’s unique character is respected in any future governance arrangements.  

Leader of Forest of Dean District Council, Cllr Adrian Birch said:

“Through our engagement with town and parish councils and from the views expressed locally, it is clear that residents value strong local representation and a council that understands the Forest’s needs. At this stage, the proposals do not provide enough detail or confidence that this would be maintained. Our decision reflects the need to ensure that any future governance model strengthens, rather than diminishes, the Forest’s voice.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with our partners across Gloucestershire. Our position is not a step away from partnership working it is about ensuring that the Forest’s communities continue to have a strong and effective voice in decisions that affect them. I would also like to thank staff across all councils for their hard work in developing the proposals and providing the information needed to support this process.”   

The Council’s formal response will now be submitted to Government ahead of the 28 November deadline, alongside submissions from the six other Gloucestershire councils. Government will assess all proposals over the coming months before consulting formally in early 2026.  

View the full council discussions on the Council’s website here.  

More information can be found at Future Gloucestershire.