The Devolution White Paper launched in December 2024 paper set out a blueprint for the most radical overhaul of the structures in local government for over half a century. In March 2025 affected authorities submitted initial proposals for local government reorganisation to the government. This has led to the postponement of elections in a number of areas included in the priority programme for reorganisation which had been due to take place in May 2025.
The areas where elections are postponed are:
- Norfolk County Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Essex County Council
- Thurrock
- East Sussex
- West Sussex
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
- Surrey
In other areas, elections go ahead as planned. These will be the first election since the general elections and some authorities could face the challenge of a change of administration. There are also elections for the new mayoral combined authorities in:
- Greater Lincolnshire
- Hull and East Yorkshire
There are also two new non-mayoral county combined authorities which have been set up in Devon and Torbay and Lancashire.
In addition, six areas agreed to join the Devolution Priority programme. These are:
- Cumbria
- Cheshire & Warrington
- Norfolk & Suffolk
- Greater Essex
- Sussex & Brighton
- Hampshire & Solent
These six areas are working on an ambitious timetable to bring forward mayoral combined authorities for implementation by May 2026.
Authorities in two- tier areas have until November 2025 to submit final proposals to government for reorganisation. Those in the priority programme will submit proposals in September. The experience of putting together initial proposals suggests that consensus will be easier to achieve in some areas than others.
The aim is to move to elections of the shadow authorities in May 2026 in the priority programme areas, and May 2027 in all other areas, with the new authorities operating from May 2027 and 2028 respectively.
There is much work to be done and at a time when capacity within local government has been reduced by years of austerity and savings. The task of restructuring and reorganisation, with many areas moving to unitary authorities at the same time as developing a combined authority, is not to be underestimated with significant governance, staffing and legal issues to be addressed. The sector will rise to this challenge as it always does but there may be some bumpy times ahead.
