We are wholly focused on achieving the best possible results for Derbyshire's people, communities and businesses. It is vital that Derbyshire and the wider East Midlands region does not miss the opportunity to get our fair share of funding and is at the front of the queue for much-needed investment.
Staying as we are, in traditional structures, is not an option.
We have been working closely with our district and borough council partners on a new way of working together called Vision Derbyshire. We want this to continue and it is our preferred route to getting a deal with government.
We do, however, need to prepare for every eventuality.
If the Vision Derbyshire approach does not meet the government's requirements, or all of the councils involved cannot agree to the changes that must happen in terms of governance, then the county council will have to explore the possibility of creating a unitary council to keep the historic county of Derbyshire together.
Alongside this, we also intend to be part of a bid to establish an East Midlands Combined Authority to support recovery, resilience and prosperity in the region.
Special Council and Full Council papers about this have been released on the Derbyshire Democracy website.
If we do not act decisively now we will likely miss the once in a generation opportunities before us and may have no say in what happens to our county and how it is governed. We, as local authorities in Derbyshire, need to be masters of our own future for the good of the residents and communities we work alongside.