WIREDGOV

This once-in-a-generation reform will end the outdated two-tier system and build stronger local councils.

Some local authorities being streamlined to improve services and speed up decision-making will have their local elections postponed. 

The government has confirmed it will bring forward legislation to postpone elections for 29 councils that 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– meaning the majority of local elections will go ahead as planned. 

This once-in-a-generation reform will end the outdated two-tier system and build stronger local councils equipped to drive economic growth, improve local public services, and empower their communities. 

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. 

As a result, residents will receive better, more efficient public services, with critical services like housing, planning and roads brought under one roof to speed up decision-making in key areas like housebuilding. 

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said:  

This is a once-in-a-generation reform that will transform local government for the better.  

Cutting through two-tier bureaucracy means faster decisions on housing, simpler access to services, and more money going to potholes, tackling crime and caring for older people instead of being lost to duplication. That’s what residents want and that’s what reorganisation will achieve.

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. 

These decisions follow precedent. Between 2019 and 2022, the previous government postponed local council elections to protect local government reorganisation work.  

Postponement then, as now, is to enable focused work on implementing proposals.

Background guidance 

Elections where legislation will be brought forward to postpone 

• Adur District Council 
• Basildon Borough Council 
• Blackburn with Darwen Council 
• Burnley Borough Council 
• Cannock Chase District Council 
• Cheltenham Borough Council 
• Chorley Borough Council 
• City of Lincoln Council 
• Crawley Borough Council 
• East Sussex County Council 
• Exeter City Council 
• Harlow District Council 
• Hastings Borough Council 
• Hyndburn Borough Council 
• Ipswich Borough Council 
• Norfolk County Council 
• Norwich City Council 
• Peterborough City Council 
• Preston City Council 
• Redditch Borough Council 
• Rugby Borough Council 
• Stevenage Borough Council 
• Suffolk County Council 
• Tamworth Borough Council 
• Thurrock Council 
• Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council 
• West Lancashire Borough Council 
• West Sussex County Council 
• Worthing Borough Council 

Elections that are going ahead 

• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council 
• Brentwood Borough Council 
• Broxbourne Borough Council 
• Cambridge City Council 
• Cherwell District Council 
• Colchester City Council 
• Eastleigh Borough Council 
• Epping Forest District Council 
• Essex County Council 
• Fareham Borough Council 
• Gosport Borough Council 
• Hampshire County Council 
• Hart District Council 
• Havant Borough Council 
• Huntingdonshire District Council 
• Isle of Wight Council 
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council 
• North East Lincolnshire Council 
• Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council 
• Oxford City Council 
• Pendle Borough Council 
• Plymouth City Council 
• Portsmouth City Council 
• Rochford District Council 
• Rushmoor Borough Council 
• South Cambridgeshire District Council 
• Southampton City Council 
• Southend-on-Sea City Council 
• St Albans City and District Council 
• Three Rivers District Council 
• Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 
• Watford Borough Council 
• West Oxfordshire District Council 
• Winchester City Council