House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Local Government Reorganisation
18 December 2025 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Proposed by Alison McGovern Lab Birkenhead
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- Local government reorganisation in England involves forming single-tier unitary councils.
- Councils are invited to express their views on postponing May 2026 local elections by January 15th.
- The government will consider genuine capacity concerns and may allow a one-year delay for elections.
Issue summary
The statement addresses the ongoing local government reorganisation in England, focusing on the process of forming single-tier unitary councils and addressing concerns about capacity and elections.
Action requested
The Secretary of State is inviting councils to provide views by January 15th on whether postponing their May 2026 local elections would free up essential capacity for reorganisation. The government will consider genuine capacity concerns from councils when deciding on postponements, with a one-year delay being the maximum.
Key facts
- Two new unitary councils have been decided in Surrey.
- Proposals have been received from all 20 remaining invitation areas.
- A consultation is open for proposals from six invitation areas and will launch for fourteen more by early February.
- Elections to new councils are scheduled for May 2027, with the councils going live in April 2028.
- Councils must provide representations on potential election postponements by midnight January 15th.