Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation
This once-in-a-generation reform will end the outdated two-tier system and build stronger local councils.
SomeĀ local authorities being streamlined to improve services and speed up decision-making willĀ haveĀ theirĀ local electionsĀ postponed.Ā
The government has confirmedĀ it will bring forward legislation toĀ postponeĀ electionsĀ forĀ 29Ā councils that provided sufficient evidence on how postponement would release capacity to help deliver local government reorganisation.Ā
The remainingĀ 34Ā councilsĀ also going through reorganisation will hold local elections in Mayā meaningĀ the majority ofĀ local elections will go ahead as planned.Ā
This once-in-a-generation reform will end the outdated two-tier system and build stronger local councils equipped to drive economic growth, improve local public services, and empower their communities.Ā
About one in three people in England currently live in an area covered by two local authorities, creating duplication and waste ā two chief executives, two sets of councillors, two finance directors.Ā
Streamlining councils willĀ eliminateĀ that confusion and duplication so more can be spent on the things the public want ā caring for older people, fixing potholes, creatingĀ great placesĀ to live and work.Ā
The reform will cut the number of councillors by around 5,000 and eliminateĀ highly-paidĀ senior roles, freeing up cash for local priorities.Ā
As a result, residents will receive better, more efficient public services, with critical services like housing, planning and roads brought under one roof to speed up decision-making in key areas like housebuilding.Ā
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said:Ā Ā
This is a once-in-a-generation reform that will transform local government for the better.Ā Ā
Cutting through two-tier bureaucracy means faster decisions on housing, simpler access to services, and more money going to potholes, tackling crime and caring for older people instead of being lost to duplication. Thatās what residents want and thatās what reorganisation will achieve.
Where electionsĀ areĀ postponed, existing councillors will have their terms extended.Ā
Elections to the new unitary councilsĀ areĀ expected toĀ take place in May 2027, with the new councils expected to be up and running in April 2028.Ā
These decisions follow precedent. Between 2019 and 2022, theĀ previousĀ government postponed local council elections to protect local government reorganisation work.Ā Ā
Postponement then, as now, is to enable focused work on implementing proposals.
Background guidanceĀ
Elections where legislation will be brought forward to postponeĀ
Adur District CouncilĀ
Basildon Borough CouncilĀ
Blackburn with Darwen CouncilĀ
Burnley Borough CouncilĀ
Cannock Chase District CouncilĀ
Cheltenham Borough CouncilĀ
Chorley Borough CouncilĀ
City of Lincoln CouncilĀ
Crawley Borough CouncilĀ
East Sussex County CouncilĀ
Exeter City CouncilĀ
Harlow District CouncilĀ
Hastings Borough CouncilĀ
Hyndburn Borough CouncilĀ
Ipswich Borough CouncilĀ
Norfolk County CouncilĀ
Norwich City CouncilĀ
Peterborough City CouncilĀ
Preston City CouncilĀ
Redditch Borough CouncilĀ
Rugby Borough CouncilĀ
Stevenage Borough CouncilĀ
Suffolk County CouncilĀ
Tamworth Borough CouncilĀ
Thurrock CouncilĀ
Welwyn Hatfield Borough CouncilĀ
West Lancashire Borough CouncilĀ
West Sussex County CouncilĀ
Worthing Borough CouncilĀ
Elections that are going aheadĀ
Basingstoke and Deane Borough CouncilĀ
Brentwood Borough CouncilĀ
Broxbourne Borough CouncilĀ
Cambridge City CouncilĀ
Cherwell District CouncilĀ
Colchester City CouncilĀ
Eastleigh Borough CouncilĀ
Epping Forest District CouncilĀ
Essex County CouncilĀ
Fareham Borough CouncilĀ
Gosport Borough CouncilĀ
Hampshire County CouncilĀ
Hart District CouncilĀ
Havant Borough CouncilĀ
Huntingdonshire District CouncilĀ
Isle of Wight CouncilĀ
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough CouncilĀ
North EastĀ Lincolnshire CouncilĀ
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough CouncilĀ
Oxford City CouncilĀ
Pendle Borough CouncilĀ
Plymouth City CouncilĀ
Portsmouth City CouncilĀ
Rochford District CouncilĀ
Rushmoor Borough CouncilĀ
South Cambridgeshire District CouncilĀ
Southampton City CouncilĀ
Southend-on-Sea City CouncilĀ
St Albans City and District CouncilĀ
Three Rivers District CouncilĀ
Tunbridge Wells Borough CouncilĀ
Watford Borough CouncilĀ
West Oxfordshire District CouncilĀ
Winchester City Council