Local government reorganisation is expected to move forward in five counties following the announcement that it was put on hold last month due to legal issues.
Ministers have now confirmed that the programme is continuing and ‘remains aligned with the wider plans to shift power out of Westminster'.
The five areas where the Government will proceed, following a three-week period for ‘further representations' to be submitted, are:
- In East Sussex and Brighton and Hove: the two unitary proposal, including boundary changes requested by Brighton and Hove City Council, except for the parish of Falmer
- The one unitary proposal in Gloucestershire
- The three unitary proposal in Oxfordshire, including boundary changes
- The two unitary proposal in Warwickshire
- The two unitary proposal in Worcestershire
There are nine areas where decisions have been withdrawn but will be reconsidered:
- Derbyshire and Derby
- Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
- Hertfordshire
- Kent and Medway
- Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool
- Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland
- Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire
- Nottinghamshire and Nottingham
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Four areas had decisions withdrawn in September: Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock; Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton; Norfolk and Suffolk. Meanwhile, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Sussex are 'awaiting decisions', ministers said.
Minister for local government, devolution and regional growth, Jim McMahon OBE, told Parliament: ‘We are committed to giving local leaders, local councils and local communities the tools to shape their own future.
‘No areas want to see a return to two-tiers once strong unitary councils are in place. The decisions that we take now will be the building blocks for how this country is governed for generations to come.'
The Government has stated it ‘remains committed' to the reorganisation programme and ‘all options and proposals remain under consideration' for areas where the deals have been withdrawn but not cancelled.
'Every area will have an outcome by early next year', officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said.
Reorganisation in Surrey will remain unaffected, with two new unitary authorities – East and West Surrey – set to go live in April next year.
Local elections are expected to proceed for these areas in May 2027 using the existing council boundaries in an effort to provide ‘certainty for local leaders and communities'.
New councils are then planned to be established for 2029, with elections to shadow councils set for May 2028.
Those areas with previous decisions will receive £450,000 per the number of previously announced new unitary authorities from the £63m capacity fund to cover costs incurred in implementing reorganisation.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Sussex are both set to receive £500,000 as decisions ‘have yet to be made there', with the funds planned to be paid in the coming weeks. The remaining balance will be paid ‘after final decisions'.
