LONDON, Dec. 18 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
English councils set to be streamlined tospeed up decisions, improve services, and empower communitieshave been invitedto give viewsonpostponingelectionsnext yearto release capacity todeliver thesevital reforms.
With landmark reforms happening at pace in councils moving from a wasteful two-tier system to single unitary authorities, Ministers have today written to affected localauthorities after somesaidelections could divert substantialtime andresourcesaway from delivering local government reorganisation - with new councillors serving only briefly before theircouncilsare replaced with new ones.
Some councils have told the department that electionscould derail once-in-a-generation plans to scrap wasteful 'two-tier' councils and create strengthened unitary authoritiesby2028acrossthe final20areas.
Reorganisationwill cut the number ofcouncillors, and bring critical services like housing, planning and roads under one roof to speed up decision makingin keyareas like housebuilding.
As a result, residents will receive better, more efficient public services, freeing up cash to be invested in local priorities.
Ministers have nowinvited a total of 63 areas to set out their views on the potential postponement of local elections in their areas and their local capacity to deliver local government reorganisation alongside elections.
A deadline of 15 January has been set for representations and anyevidencewill be reviewed bygovernmentwith a finaldecision to bemadeby ministersearly next year.
Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern said:
We have listened tocouncils who've told us of the challenges they face reorganising while preparing for resource-intensive elections for areas which may shortly be abolished.
Several have submitted requests to postpone elections so it is therefore right we let them have their say so they can focus their time and energy on providing vital services while planning for reorganisation.
Ourgoalistocreate new councils who canimproveservices for residentsand it is only right that we listen to councils.
There are 204councils across 21 areas undergoingreorganisation.63of these councilsare scheduled to hold elections in May 2026and have been written tofor viewson potential postponement.
Surreyis on afastertimetableforreorganisation,andwe planto hold localelections to new councilsin May2026,sotheir views have not beensoughtonpostponements.
If delayed, these elections would be postponedfor one year, before elections to the new unitary councils in May 2027, with the new councilsthenexpected to beup andrunning in April 2028.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
