Local councils across the country, including in Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Hertfordshire, are set to undergo significant changes as part of a promise from Whitehall to provide increased funding.
England has 21 county councils, supported by 164 district councils. County councils oversee services such as transport and social care, while district councils handle tasks like waste collection and day-to-day planning permissions.
Ministers are reportedly concerned that two-tier local government structures are inefficient, with district councils accused of accumulating cash reserves instead of investing in public services. They are also viewed as obstacles to growth, often blocking housing developments.
Government sources stated that they had "extensively" consulted with councils about the changes and were focusing on areas that actively support the reforms. Ministers have reportedly identified ten regions that are receptive to the proposed changes, which will form the first wave of reorganisation.
The two-tier local government system will be replaced by larger unitary authorities, each serving populations of at least 500,000 people. A white paper on English devolution is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
County leaders discuss ambitious devolution plans amid uncertainty
Speaking to Asian Voice, Norfolk County Council leader Councillor Kay Mason Billig said: “Norfolk has always been a forward thinking and ambitious county and was ready to embrace a level three county devolution deal under the previous Government. We will continue to look for ways in which we can engage with the Government to bring new powers and funding for our residents and ensure the county has the most efficient and effective form of local government. It is premature to speculate on what that could mean for the shape of local government in Norfolk, as a business case would need to be developed.”
Councillor Kevin Bentley, Leader of Essex County Council, said: “We are ambitious for our residents and businesses, and want better services and opportunities for them, which is why we are enthusiastic about the potential of a devolution deal for Essex. We are awaiting the details in the White Paper on local government reorganisation, but we look forward to working with the government and our partners on developing appropriate plans and doing so at pace.”
Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Martin Hill said: “The devolution deal we’ve agreed with the government does not include any local government reorganisation of existing councils. We’re expecting a devolution white paper from the government in the coming weeks which will outline their proposals for local authorities moving forward. When this comes out, we’ll work with our district council colleagues to understand what the implications are for Lincolnshire, continuing our focus on campaigning for a fairer government funding deal for councils across the whole county.”
