'This takes local out of government... we are turkeys voting for Christmas'

COUNCILLORS have dubbed efforts to redraw Derbyshire's political map a “folly” which involves “turkeys voting for Christmas", fearing significant tax increases.

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At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors voted for their preferred local government reorganisation.

This saw members begrudgingly back a plan which would see the current 10 councils deleted and replaced with two new ones covering the north and south of the county, with Amber Valley falling into the southern authority alongside Derby, Erewash and South Derbyshire.

A forlorn meeting saw the authority's chief executive, Dr Justin Ives, say: “This is a report | hoped never to bring but unfortunately we are where we are.”

Reorganisation, through a timeline set by central government, would see the district authority abolished in spring 2028, with the council having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

A joint public consultation carried out by Derby City Council and the eight districts found just 23 per cent of people in South Derbyshire supported the option to bring Amber Valley into the southern council.

However, it was the option most highly backed by the 7,700 respondents to the consultation, with 39 per cent supporting it - while none gained a majority backing.