Local government reorganisation: Plans confirmed for 14 new areas

Major changes are expected to the shape of local government in England, with the announcement of reorganisation in 14 areas of England.

On the 16th July, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed announced the Government’s decisions for the creation of new unitary councils in 14 areas. This follows submissions of proposals from existing councils in the relevant areas and public consultation on those proposals.

Which areas will this affect?

The details announced for each area are:

1. Gloucestershire: 7 councils being reorganised into 1 unitary.
2. Derby and Derbyshire: 10 councils will be reorganised into 2 unitary authorities.
3. Warwickshire: 6 councils will be reorganised into 2 unitary authorities.
4. Worcestershire: 7 councils will be reorganised into 2 unitaries.
5. Oxfordshire: 6 councils will be reorganised into 3 unitary authorities.
6. Hertfordshire: 11 councils will be reorganised into 4 unitaries.
7. Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland: 10 councils will be reorganised into 2 unitary authorities.
8. Nottingham and Nottinghamshire: 9 councils will be reorganised into 2 unitaries.
9. East Sussex and Brighton and Hove: 7 councils will be reorganised into 2 unitaries with boundary modifications.
10. Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent: 10 councils will be reorganised into 2 unitary authorities.
11. Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool: 15 councils will be reorganised into 4 unitaries.
12. Kent and Medway: 14 councils will be reorganised into 4 unitaries.
13. Devon, Plymouth and Torbay: 11 councils will be reorganised into 4 unitary authorities.
14. Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire: 10 councils will be reorganised into 4 unitary authorities.

In Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and West Sussex, the Government has concluded that it needs more time to consider which proposal to implement, and the Secretary of State has written to council leaders to inform them. We expect decisions relating to those areas by October 2026. The government expects that this will still give the relevant areas sufficient time to prepare for elections to the new councils in May 2027 and for the new councils to begin operating from April 2028.

Guidance for councils undergoing reorganisation

The Government has published guidance for councils undergoing local government reorganisation on:

• Sector support
• Staffing issues
• Adult social care, public health and children’s services

Councils in areas that are subject to reorganisation will now need to engage in a period of intense preparation for the establishment of the new unitary councils, whilst continuing to deliver effective services under current arrangements.

Immediate next steps will include the making of structural changes orders which will provide a basis for the establishment of new councils, abolition of currently existing councils, operation of shadow authorities, and provision for transitional arrangements. Councils in the relevant areas will be required to establish joint committees within 14 days of their structural changes order coming into force. Joint committees will need to put in place and keep under review implementation plans for local government reorganisation. In areas where more than one new council is to be created, the joint committees will be expected to work together to establish a single implementation team.

They will need to set up plans across several workstreams and make all the needed preparations to run the new councils. This will include:

• Developing constitutions for the shadow authorities and the substantive new councils.
• Preparing for elections
• Identifying assets.
• Making agreements under section 16 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
• Making appointments to senior posts and dealing with all issues relevant to the transfer of staff to the new councils.
• Considering the need for and making arrangements for shared services.
• Dealing with branding and communication.
• Establishing the cultures of the new councils.

For those involved in reorganisation, the workload and pressure will be demanding but will lead to successful establishment of new authorities, providing for effective future delivery of local democracy and local services.

Want to learn more?

If you wish to learn more about preparing for local government reorganisation, join us for our three-part webinar series exploring the legal and practical issues associated with local government reorganisation.

Part 1: Wednesday 5th August – 14:30 – 15:30

Part 2: Thursday 20th August – 10:00 – 11:00

Part 3: Thursday 3rd September – 10:00 – 11:00

We hope you are able to join us.