Three-quarters of county councils apply for local government reorganisation
Sixteen county councils have applied to take part in the Government's priority devolution programme and delay elections, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed.
News of the programme came in December when the Government published the English Devolution White Paper, which revealed plans to replace England's two-tier areas with unitary councils, covering populations of around 500,000.
It also detailed the Government's intention for all parts of England to have a mayoral strategic authority.
Councils selected for the programme may have their upcoming May 2024 elections delayed until next year, but only where postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution "to the most ambitious timeframe", the Government said.
Councils were asked to voice their interest in the scheme by Friday last week (10 January).
The MHCLG has now reported that 16 of the 21 county councils covering two-tier areas in England have applied to the programme.
These councils are:
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- East Sussex
- West Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Hampshire
- Kent
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Norfolk
- Oxfordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Warwickshire
- Worcestershire
It also reported that two unitary authorities – Thurrock and Isle of Wight – have applied.
The following councils did not apply:
- Cambridgeshire
- Hertfordshire
- Lancashire
- Nottinghamshire
- Staffordshire
An update from the MHCLG said: "We welcome the large number of areas that have come forward to recognise the benefit of mayoral devolution, reflecting our own ambition for pace and coverage across England.
"We have received letters from the leaders of the following county and unitary councils with requests that involve postponing their election from 2025 to 2026.
"We will consider these requests and we will only postpone elections where there is a clear commitment to delivering both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe as made clear in the 16 December letter."
The Ministry also noted that not all areas listed will go forward to be part of the priority programme.
It added that a decision on which councils are selected will be made in due course, "recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible".
Adam Carey
