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2024–present structural changes to local government in England

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Proposed structural changes to local government in England were set out in the English devolution white paper published by the UK government on 16 December 2024. The white paper announced that where possible, there was a desire for existing two-tier area—where services are provided by both county councils and district councils—to be reorganised into a smaller number of unitary authorities, where local services are provided by a single authority[1][2] for at least 500,000 people.[3][4]

Background

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See also: History of local government in England and 2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England

A round of local government reorganisation took place in England between 2019 and 2023 during the Conservative governments of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. Here several large unitary authorities were created between either by abolition of district councils, (in Somerset, Dorset, Buckinghamshire and North Yorkshire), or by the abolition of county councils and grouping of districts into new unitaries, (e.g. in Cumbria and Northamptonshire).

The Labour Party returned to power following a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, and in her Autumn budget statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves outlined that a forthcoming English Devolution Bill would include plans for "working with councils to move to simpler structures that make sense for their local areas", suggesting that a new round of local government reorganisation could be likely.[5][6]

Priority programme

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In November 2024, it was reported that Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Norfolk and Suffolk would be included in the first wave of local authority reorganisation with the two-tier system of county councils and district councils being replaced by unitary authorities.[7][8] In February six areas were announced to join the fast track priority programme. Two of these, Cumbria and Cheshire & Warrington, were reformed in earlier changes and will gain mayoral combined authorities. Essex, Norfork & Suffolk, Sussex & Brighton, and Hampshire & Solent will also involve local authority restructuring.[9]

Essex

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Present arrangements

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Essex

Essex is administered by Essex County Council, which shares governance with twelve non-metropolitan districts in a two-tier system of local government, and by two independent unitary authorities:

  1. Uttlesford
  2. Braintree
  3. Colchester
  4. Tendring
  5. Harlow
  6. Epping Forest
  7. Chelmsford
  8. Maldon
  9. Brentwood
  10. Basildon
  11. Rochford
  12. Castle Point
  13. Southend-on-Sea (unitary)
  14. Thurrock (unitary)

Proposals

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In early December 2024, Basildon councillors proposed a five unitary authority model for the county: West Essex (Basildon and Thurrock), South East Essex (Southend-on-Sea, Castle Point and Rochford), Mid Essex (Chelmsford, Brentwood and Maldon), North West Essex (Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford) and North East Essex (Braintree, Colchester and Tendring).[10]

Later in December 2024, it was reported that the government would reorganise Essex into two or three local authorities with over 500,000 people each. The unitary authorities of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea will be abolished and merged with other areas of the county, with local elections likely postponed until 2026.[11] Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley confirmed that his council would ask the government to postpone local elections for the unitary and two-tier authorities of Essex to prepare for the county's reorganisation.[12] Essex was accepted on to the priority programme in February 2025.[13]

Hampshire

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Present arrangements

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Hampshire

Hampshire is administered by Hampshire County Council, which shares governance with eleven non-metropolitan districts in a two-tier system of local government, and by two independent unitary authorities:

  1. Test Valley
  2. Basingstoke and Deane
  3. Hart
  4. Rushmoor
  5. City of Winchester
  6. East Hampshire
  7. New Forest
  8. Southampton (unitary)
  9. Eastleigh
  10. Fareham
  11. Gosport
  12. Portsmouth (unitary)
  13. Havant

Norfolk and Suffolk

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Norfolk and Suffolk were announced as part of the priority programme on 5 February 2025.

Present arrangements

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Norfolk

Norfolk is administered by Norfolk County Council and seven non-metropolitan districts.

  1. Norwich
  2. South Norfolk
  3. Great Yarmouth
  4. Broadland
  5. North Norfolk
  6. King's Lynn and West Norfolk
  7. Breckland
Suffolk

Suffolk is administered by Suffolk County Council and five non-metropolitan districts:

  1. Ipswich
  2. East Suffolk
  3. Mid Suffolk
  4. Babergh
  5. West Suffolk

Sussex and Brighton

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Other proposals

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Cambridgeshire

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Present arrangements
Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire is administered by Cambridgeshire County Council, five non-metropolitan districts and one unitary authority:

  1. City of Peterborough (unitary)
  2. Fenland
  3. Huntingdonshire
  4. East Cambridgeshire
  5. South Cambridgeshire
  6. City of Cambridge
Proposals

In November 2024, the former leader of Fenland District Council, and the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on East Cambridgeshire District Council urged that Cambridgeshire be included in the next round of local government reorganisation.[14]

Hertfordshire

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Hertfordshire did not bid to become part of the priority programme.[15]

Present arrangements
Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is administered by Hertfordshire County Council and ten non-metropolitan districts:

  1. North Hertfordshire
  2. Stevenage
  3. East Hertfordshire
  4. Dacorum
  5. City of St Albans
  6. Welwyn Hatfield
  7. Broxbourne
  8. Three Rivers
  9. Watford
  10. Hertsmere

Kent

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Present arrangements
Kent

Kent is administered by Kent County Council, twelve non-metropolitan districts and one unitary authority:

  1. Sevenoaks
  2. Dartford
  3. Gravesham
  4. Tonbridge and Malling
  5. Medway (unitary)
  6. Maidstone
  7. Tunbridge Wells
  8. Swale
  9. Ashford
  10. City of Canterbury
  11. Folkestone and Hythe
  12. Thanet
  13. Dover
Proposals

Kent County Council and Medway Council applied for a devolution deal in January 2025 which would include a Mayor of Kent above several unitary authorities.[16] In February 2025 it was announced that Kent would not be part of the priority programme.[17]

Lancashire

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Present arrangements
Lancashire

Lancashire is administered by Lancashire County Council, eleven non-metropolitan districts and two unitary authorities:

  1. Lancaster
  2. Wyre
  3. Blackpool (unitary)
  4. Fylde
  5. Preston
  6. Ribble Valley
  7. South Ribble
  8. Hyndburn
  9. Burnley
  10. Pendle
  11. West Lancashire
  12. Chorley
  13. Blackburn with Darwen (unitary)
  14. Rossendale
Proposals

In November 2024, a group of Lancashire MPs called for the replacement of the current two-tier system with a smaller number of unitary authorities. Three and four authority models were proposed.[18][19] In December 2024, the leaders of South Ribble Council and Chorley Council proposed forming a unitary authority together with West Lancashire Council.[20]

Leicestershire

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Present arrangements
Leicestershire

Leicestershire is administered by Leicestershire County Council, seven non-metropolitan districts and one unitary authority:

  1. North West Leicestershire
  2. Charnwood
  3. Melton
  4. Harborough
  5. Oadby and Wigston
  6. Blaby
  7. Hinckley and Bosworth
  8. Leicester (unitary)
Proposals

Two rival plans emerged for Leicestershire in February 2025. Leicestershire County Council is proposing a "doughnut" model with a large unitary authority covering the entire area currently served by the county council. Leicestershire districts are proposing two smaller unitary authorities; "North Leicestershire and Rutland Council" serving the area presently covered by Charnwood borough, North West Leicestershire district council, Melton borough council, and Rutland county council; and a "South Leicestershire Council" serving the areas currently covered by Blaby district council, Harborough district council, Hinckley and Bosworth borough council and Oadby and Wigston borough council. Neither plan seeks to change the status or boundaries of the existing Leicester City Council unitary authority.[21]

Surrey

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Present arrangements
Surrey

Surrey is administered by Surrey County Council and eleven non-metropolitan districts:

  1. Spelthorne
  2. Runnymede
  3. Surrey Heath
  4. Woking
  5. Elmbridge
  6. Guildford
  7. Waverley
  8. Mole Valley
  9. Epsom and Ewell
  10. Reigate and Banstead
  11. Tandridge

References

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  1. ^ "Host of councils reportedly set to be axed in local government restructure". Insider Media. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  2. ^ Moore, Henry (25 November 2024). "Labour to abolish 'dozens' of councils in biggest reform for a generation". LBC. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  3. ^ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper#foreword-by-the-minister-of-state-for-local-government-and-english-devolution
  4. ^ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper#local-government-reorganisation
  5. ^ "Budget: LGR confirmed in high tax, high spend Budget". www.themj.co.uk. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Budget 2024: Local government on path to reorganisation". Highways Magazine. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Call for clarity over devolution and reorganisation plans". 25 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Could this be the new council map of the east of England?".
  9. ^ Eichler, William (5 February 2025). "Six areas chosen for devolution fast track | LocalGov". www.localgov.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Council votes for major local government shake-up". BBC. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  11. ^ Kendix, Max (20 December 2024). "Taxpayers could be liable for £43bn of debts in council mergers". The Times. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  12. ^ Calkin, Sarah; Ventura, Tiago; Weakley, Kirsty (18 December 2024). "Three counties set to postpone elections". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  13. ^ England, Sophie (22 February 2025). "Public invited to have their say on potential devolution of Greater Essex". Halstead Gazette. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Government urged to include Cambridgeshire in local government reorganisation - Cambridgeshire News | CambsNews.co.uk". 2 December 2024.
  15. ^ Holmes, Amy (3 January 2025). "Hertfordshire County Council rules out early devolution bid". BBC News. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  16. ^ BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4glgk2pre8o
  17. ^ Finlay, Simon (5 February 2025). "Kent and Medway miss out on fast track devolution - KCC elections are on". Kent Online. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Group of Labour MPS want to abolish all of Lancashire's 15 councils". 23 November 2024.
  19. ^ "MP calls on Government to establish three unitaries in Lancashire". 2 December 2024.
  20. ^ https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/lancashire/news/merger-plan-revealed-for-lancashire-councils/
  21. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgee1zw8zxo
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