UK puts local government reform on hold
In the United Kingdom, the government has paused a major local government reform after receiving updated legal advice indicating that the proposed process may not comply with the law. Reorganisation plans in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn, while decisions on another 16 areas have been put on hold.
As The Guardian World reports, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the review must ensure the procedure is robust and aligned with the new government's plans to reform the state.
Reorganisation plans
The reform announced in December 2024 envisaged abolishing the two-tier system of district and county councils. It was planned to replace it with a smaller number of unitary local authorities covering large areas.
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At least eight councils have already filed legal claims or were considering doing so because they disagreed with the boundaries of the new authorities set by the government. Kent County Council, led by Reform UK, was due to consider seeking a judicial review on Tuesday after receiving no government response to a letter raising concerns.
Elections and Surrey
The government must also confirm that local elections in May 2027 will take place under the current council boundaries. Reorganisation in Surrey was not included in the review: two new unitary councils — East Surrey and West Surrey — are due to begin operating in April 2027.
The elected chair of the County Councils Network, Sean Matthews, said some councils might welcome the withdrawal or review of decisions they considered financially unsustainable and damaging to local services. Local Government Information Unit chief executive Jonathan Carr-West said councils involved in the reorganisation had spent thousands of hours on complex preparatory work under tight deadlines.
