Almost half of all councils undergoing reorganisation to have elections delayed

Whitehall proposed delaying elections last year for 63 councils in order to allow them to focus resources on replacing their two-tier local authorities with unitary councils.

A statement on Thursday (22 January) said that the 29 local authorities had "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.

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.

The announcement comes as Reform UK pursues a judicial review challenge to the postponement of elections.

A divisional court is now set to hear the claim over two days in February.

However, barristers at 11KBW said the Secretary of State is "in the meantime not prohibited (should he so decide) from laying an order under s.87 of the Local Government Act 2000 which would postpone certain local elections".

In a letter to the councils, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, said the delay "ensures our continued delivery" against the ambitious timetable for reorganisation.

He added: "By delaying these elections, I am confident that we will be releasing essential capacity within councils to allow your teams to focus their full energy on the complex reorganisation process, while also addressing concerns regarding the cost of holding elections for bodies that will soon cease to exist."

Reeve said the legislative process to postpone the elections will now commence, and the necessary Statutory Instrument "will be laid as soon as possible".

An Explanatory Memorandum will also be published alongside the Statutory Instrument, which will give more detail about the representations received.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "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."

On Monday (19 January), the Government called on four councils to clarify their requests on postponement ahead of their decisions, claiming the local authorities' representations on the matter made no explicit requests either way.

All four councils - Essex County Council, Norfolk County Council, Oxford City Council, and Southampton City Council - have since been included among the list of councils set to have their elections postponed.

Adam Carey