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2024–present structural changes to local government in England

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Proposed structural changes to local government in England are anticipated to be included in an English devolution white paper due to be published by the UK government in December 2024. Existing two-tier areas, where services are provided by both county councils and district councils, are expected to be reorganised into a smaller number of unitary authorities, where local services are provided by a single authority[1][2] for at least 500,000 people.[3]

Background

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See also: History of local government in England and 2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England

A round of local government reorganisation took place in England between 2019 and 2023 during the Conservative governments of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. Here several large unitary authorities were created between either by abolition of district councils, (in Somerset, Dorset, Buckinghamshire and North Yorkshire), or by the abolition of county councils and grouping of districts into new unitarys, (e.g. in Cumbria and Northamptonshire).

The Labour Party returned to power following a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, and in her Autumn budget statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves outlined that a forthcoming English Devolution Bill would include plans for "working with councils to move to simpler structures that make sense for their local areas", suggesting that a new round of local government reorganisation could be likely.[4][5]

First wave

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In November 2024, it was reported that Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Norfolk and Suffolk would be included in the first wave of local authority reorganisation with the two-tier system of county councils and district councils being replaced by unitary authorities.[6][7]

Essex

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Present arrangements
Essex

Essex is administered by Essex County Council, twelve non-metropolitan districts and two unitary authorities:

  1. Uttlesford
  2. Braintree
  3. Colchester
  4. Tendring
  5. Harlow
  6. Epping Forest
  7. Chelmsford
  8. Maldon
  9. Brentwood
  10. Basildon
  11. Rochford
  12. Castle Point
  13. Southend-on-Sea (unitary)
  14. Thurrock (unitary)
Proposals

In December 2024, Basildon councillors proposed a five unitary authority model for the county: West Essex (Basildon and Thurrock), South East Essex (Southend-on-Sea, Castle Point and Rochford), Mid Essex (Chelmsford, Brentwood and Maldon), North West Essex (Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford) and North East Essex (Braintree, Colchester and Tendring).[8]

Hertfordshire

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Present arrangements
Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is administered by Hertfordshire County Council and ten non-metropolitan districts:

  1. North Hertfordshire
  2. Stevenage
  3. East Hertfordshire
  4. Dacorum
  5. City of St Albans
  6. Welwyn Hatfield
  7. Broxbourne
  8. Three Rivers
  9. Watford
  10. Hertsmere

Kent

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Present arrangements
Kent

Kent is administered by Kent County Council, twelve non-metropolitan districts and one unitary authority:

  1. Sevenoaks
  2. Dartford
  3. Gravesham
  4. Tonbridge and Malling
  5. Medway (unitary)
  6. Maidstone
  7. Tunbridge Wells
  8. Swale
  9. Ashford
  10. City of Canterbury
  11. Folkestone and Hythe
  12. Thanet
  13. Dover

Norfolk

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Present arrangements
Norfolk

Norfolk is administered by Norfolk County Council and seven non-metropolitan districts.

  1. Norwich
  2. South Norfolk
  3. Great Yarmouth
  4. Broadland
  5. North Norfolk
  6. King's Lynn and West Norfolk
  7. Breckland

Suffolk

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Present arrangements
Suffolk

Suffolk is administered by Suffolk County Council and five non-metropolitan districts:

  1. Ipswich
  2. East Suffolk
  3. Mid Suffolk
  4. Babergh
  5. West Suffolk

Surrey

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Present arrangements
Surrey

Surrey is administered by Surrey County Council and eleven non-metropolitan districts:

  1. Spelthorne
  2. Runnymede
  3. Surrey Heath
  4. Woking
  5. Elmbridge
  6. Guildford
  7. Waverley
  8. Mole Valley
  9. Epsom and Ewell
  10. Reigate and Banstead
  11. Tandridge

Other proposals

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Cambridgeshire

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Present arrangements
Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire is administered by Cambridgeshire County Council, five non-metropolitan districts and one unitary authority:

  1. City of Peterborough (unitary)
  2. Fenland
  3. Huntingdonshire
  4. East Cambridgeshire
  5. South Cambridgeshire
  6. City of Cambridge
Proposals

In November 2024, the former leader of Fenland District Council, and the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on East Cambridgeshire District Council urged that Cambridgeshire be included in the next round of local government reorganisation.[9]

Lancashire

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Present arrangements
Lancashire

Lancashire is administered by Lancashire County Council, eleven non-metropolitan districts and two unitary authorities:

  1. Lancaster
  2. Wyre
  3. Blackpool (unitary)
  4. Fylde
  5. Preston
  6. Ribble Valley
  7. South Ribble
  8. Hyndburn
  9. Burnley
  10. Pendle
  11. West Lancashire
  12. Chorley
  13. Blackburn with Darwen (unitary)
  14. Rossendale
Proposals

In November 2024, a group of Lancashire MPs called for the replacement of the current two-tier system with a smaller number of unitary authorities. Three and four authority models were proposed.[10][11] In December 2024, the leaders of South Ribble Council and Chorley Council proposed forming a unitary authority together with West Lancashire Council.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Host of councils reportedly set to be axed in local government restructure". Insider Media. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  2. ^ Moore, Henry (25 November 2024). "Labour to abolish 'dozens' of councils in biggest reform for a generation". LBC. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  3. ^ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper#foreword-by-the-minister-of-state-for-local-government-and-english-devolution
  4. ^ "Budget: LGR confirmed in high tax, high spend Budget". www.themj.co.uk. 2024-10-30. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  5. ^ "Budget 2024: Local government on path to reorganisation". Highways Magazine. 2024-10-30. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  6. ^ "Call for clarity over devolution and reorganisation plans". 25 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Could this be the new council map of the east of England?".
  8. ^ "Council votes for major local government shake-up". BBC. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Government urged to include Cambridgeshire in local government reorganisation - Cambridgeshire News | CambsNews.co.uk". 2 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Group of Labour MPS want to abolish all of Lancashire's 15 councils". 23 November 2024.
  11. ^ "MP calls on Government to establish three unitaries in Lancashire". 2 December 2024.
  12. ^ https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/lancashire/news/merger-plan-revealed-for-lancashire-councils/
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