Tewkesbury Borough Council Plan
2026 - 2028 A message from our Chief Executive

Shaping our borough’s future through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

With significant changes to local government happening across England, Gloucestershire has a real opportunity to shape a better future for the people and communities we serve. I am pleased that our council is working closely with the other district councils and Gloucestershire County Council to make sure that whatever the outcome, services become simpler, clearer and better value for residents.

This work is part of a national shift towards more streamlined, single tier councils, where responsibilities such as waste collection, housing, education, roads, social care and planning sit within one organisation rather than being split across different councils. Last year, all Gloucestershire councils were asked to put forward ideas for what this could look like locally, and earlier this year we encouraged residents, businesses and community groups to share their views on three possible options for the future structure of councils in our county. These were: one unitary council for the whole county, or two councils based on different geographic groupings.

Those conversations have been incredibly important. They are helping to shape the government’s decision, which is expected in summer 2026, and ensuring that the voices of our communities are properly heard as part of this once in a generation change.

Behind the scenes, a huge amount of collaborative work is already underway across Gloucestershire, ahead of vesting day, the date when the new council arrangements formally come into effect. Councils are working together through a shared LGR programme, bringing officers and members together across a number of areas such as service design, finance, workforce, digital and governance. This joined up approach, supported by shared governance arrangements and programme boards, is helping us prepare carefully and responsibly for the future, including the transition to new arrangements when decisions are made.

At Tewkesbury Borough Council, we are fully engaged in that countywide effort, while also focusing on what this means for us locally. Our internal Future Ready Programme has been developed to make sure we are well prepared for change, aligning our internal planning with the wider Gloucestershire approach. Just as importantly, it ensures we remain focused on delivering high-quality services for our residents here and now.

While we wait for the government’s decision, it is very much business as usual in terms of the services we provide every day. At the same time, we are planning ahead in a thoughtful and measured way. We know that the current council is expected to come to an end in April 2028, and this has rightly shaped our focus on what matters most. Our Council Plan sets out those priorities clearly, and we are tracking progress carefully to make sure we deliver real outcomes for our communities.

Most importantly, shaping the future of our borough is not something we will do alone. We will continue to listen to and work with our residents, businesses and communities, so that local priorities and voices remain at the heart of everything we do. Change on this scale brings both challenges and opportunities, and by working together we can make sure the outcome is one that benefits everyone across Tewkesbury Borough and the wider county.