Elections to eight English councils, due to take place this May, will be postponed until 2026 to help pave the way for six new devolution deals.
Proposals for new combined county authorities – in Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton – have been accepted onto the Government’s fast-track Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), with inaugural mayoral elections due next year.
County elections in Surrey have also been delayed, to “help speed up reorganisation”.
Additionally, the Government has formally written to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries, inviting proposals for reorganisation.
LGA Chair Cllr Louise Gittins said the fast-track and election announcements would remove uncertainty, but the tight deadline for submitting detailed proposals will be “challenging” and unsuccessful DPP applicants will be “disappointed”.
The LGA is working with government and partner organisations to develop its devolution support offer for all councils.
Cllr Gittins added: “We continue to press government to provide further clarity on aspects of the reforms and timelines for devolution and local government reorganisation, including for those whose bids have not been approved as part of this initial priority programme.
“Government also needs to commit to funding councils up front to deliver on these reforms. It is imperative that any new unitary councils are financially viable, and able to provide sustainable services in the long term.”
- See also ‘The best devo deal for communities’.