Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation
This once-in-a-generation reform will end the outdated two-tier system and build stronger local councils.
Some local authorities being streamlined to improve services and speed up decision-making will have their local elections postponed.
The government has confirmed it will bring forward legislation to postpone elections for 29 councils that provided sufficient evidence on how postponement would release capacity to help deliver local government reorganisation.
The remaining 34 councils also going through reorganisation will hold local elections in May– meaning the majority of local elections will go ahead as planned.
This once-in-a-generation reform will end the outdated two-tier system and build stronger local councils equipped to drive economic growth, improve local public services, and empower their communities.
About one in three people in England currently live in an area covered by two local authorities, creating duplication and waste — two chief executives, two sets of councillors, two finance directors.
Streamlining councils will eliminate that confusion and duplication so more can be spent on the things the public want — caring for older people, fixing potholes, creating great places to live and work.
The reform will cut the number of councillors by around 5,000 and eliminate highly-paid senior roles, freeing up cash for local priorities.
As a result, residents will receive better, more efficient public services, with critical services like housing, planning and roads brought under one roof to speed up decision-making in key areas like housebuilding.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said:
This is a once-in-a-generation reform that will transform local government for the better.
Cutting through two-tier bureaucracy means faster decisions on housing, simpler access to services, and more money going to potholes, tackling crime and caring for older people instead of being lost to duplication. That’s what residents want and that’s what reorganisation will achieve.
Where elections are postponed, existing councillors will have their terms extended.
Elections to the new unitary councils are expected to take place in May 2027, with the new councils expected to be up and running in April 2028.
These decisions follow precedent. Between 2019 and 2022, the previous government postponed local council elections to protect local government reorganisation work.
Postponement then, as now, is to enable focused work on implementing proposals.
Background guidance
Elections where legislation will be brought forward to postpone
Adur District Council
Basildon Borough Council
Blackburn with Darwen Council
Burnley Borough Council
Cannock Chase District Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
Chorley Borough Council
City of Lincoln Council
Crawley Borough Council
East Sussex County Council
Exeter City Council
Harlow District Council
Hastings Borough Council
Hyndburn Borough Council
Ipswich Borough Council
Norfolk County Council
Norwich City Council
Peterborough City Council
Preston City Council
Redditch Borough Council
Rugby Borough Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Suffolk County Council
Tamworth Borough Council
Thurrock Council
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
West Lancashire Borough Council
West Sussex County Council
Worthing Borough Council
Elections that are going ahead
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Brentwood Borough Council
Broxbourne Borough Council
Cambridge City Council
Cherwell District Council
Colchester City Council
Eastleigh Borough Council
Epping Forest District Council
Essex County Council
Fareham Borough Council
Gosport Borough Council
Hampshire County Council
Hart District Council
Havant Borough Council
Huntingdonshire District Council
Isle of Wight Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
Oxford City Council
Pendle Borough Council
Plymouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council
Rochford District Council
Rushmoor Borough Council
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Southampton City Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council
St Albans City and District Council
Three Rivers District Council
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Watford Borough Council
West Oxfordshire District Council
Winchester City Council