The government has dramatically paused local government reorganisation (LGR), in a move that is set to create even more uncertainty for local authority lighting teams.
Proposals to merge smaller councils to form larger authorities in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn, local government secretary Angela Rayner told MPs today in Parliament, the BBC reported. Meanwhile, plans for 14 other areas will also be reviewed and paused in light of new legal advice.
Reorganisation in Surrey, where councillors for two new unitary authorities were elected in May, will not be affected by the review, the BBC said.
The government confirmed local elections in May 2027 would go ahead on existing council boundaries.
Confirming the review in Parliament, Rayner told MPs that “in light of legal advice, I want to satisfy myself firstly that the right process is in place, that it is robust, and of course complies with the law”.
She added: “And secondly, I want to fully test whether our proposals for local government reorganisation meet the priorities of a new administration and a new prime minister and any additional considerations.”
LGR originated under Sir Keir Starmer’s government, when Rayner was also local government secretary, before she was replaced by Steve Reed.
The government was already facing legal challenges over proposals to reorganise councils in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Sean Matthews, from the County Councils Network, welcomed the move, telling the BBC: “Many of our members will be relieved that the decisions they viewed as damaging to local services and financially unsustainable have been withdrawn or are being reviewed.”
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