House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Simplified Local Leadership Structures
24 June 2025 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Proposed by Jim McMahon Lab Co-op Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- Simplified governance arrangements for local authorities in England are proposed by abolishing the committee system.
- Councils are required to transition to the leader and cabinet model under new government legislation.
- Regulations will pause any changes between governance models and extend referendum deadlines until May 2027.
Issue summary
The statement addresses plans to simplify governance arrangements for local authorities in England by abolishing the committee system and requiring councils to transition to the leader and cabinet model.
Action requested
The government intends to introduce primary legislation to mandate that all councils operate under an executive form of governance, with regulations pausing any change processes between governance models. These regulations will extend referendum deadlines and delay inaugural elections for directly elected mayors until May 2027.
Key facts
- The Government plans to legislate to abolish the committee system.
- Currently, councils can operate under cabinet arrangements with a directly elected council mayor, leader and cabinet, or the committee system.
- There are 13 legacy directly elected council mayors that will be allowed to continue while new ones will not be facilitated.
- The regulations extend referendum deadlines and delay inaugural elections for directly elected mayors until May 2027.