Four councils given 24 hours to clarify position on delaying local elections

Last year, the Government asked 63 local authorities if they would like to postpone local elections in order to focus resources on local government reorganisation.

They were asked to respond to the proposals by 15 January.

At least 23 of the councils voted to postpone elections ahead of the deadline, according to analysis from the BBC.

However, representations from Essex County Council, Norfolk County Council, Oxford City Council, and Southampton City Council "were not clear enough on whether or not they want their elections postponed", according to the Secretary of State.

In letters to the four local authorities sent on Monday (19 January), Reed said: "My department has undertaken an initial review of all responses from councils, including responses from opposition groups and individual councillors.

“Some have made explicit requests for postponement, and others have made explicit requests for elections to go ahead.

"However, there are a small number of councils who have set out how postponement would release essential capacity to facilitate reorganisation, but did not make a clear request of whether or not they want their elections postponed. Your representation is one of these."

The councils now have until 10am on Tuesday (20 January) to clarify their positions.

The Secretary of State said he would assume that each council wants its elections to go ahead "in the absence of a clear request".

Adam Carey