United Kingdom

Government to proceed with local government reorganisation in five areas

Ministers are pressing ahead with new unitary councils in five counties after an October pause over legal issues, while Hertfordshire's four-unitary decision is withdrawn.

Photo: highwaysmagazine.co.uk

What happened

Ministers have confirmed that local government reorganisation is continuing after the programme was put on hold last month because of legal issues. highwaysmagazine.co.uk The Government said the programme remains aligned with wider plans to shift power out of Westminster. highwaysmagazine.co.uk It will proceed in five areas after a three-week period for further representations, including a two-unitary proposal for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, a one-unitary proposal for Gloucestershire and a three-unitary proposal for Oxfordshire. highwaysmagazine.co.uk The East Sussex and Brighton and Hove proposal includes boundary changes requested by Brighton and Hove City Council, except for the parish of Falmer. highwaysmagazine.co.uk On Thursday, October 29, the Government withdrew its earlier decision to create four new unitary authorities in Hertfordshire. The Comet

Around it

Hertfordshire County Council leader Steve Jarvis said he was pleased with the withdrawal of the four-unitary decision. The Comet Hertfordshire had submitted two-unitary, three-unitary and four-unitary proposals for the reorganisation. The Comet Under the shake-up, the county council and all 10 district and borough councils in Hertfordshire would be abolished and replaced by new unitary authorities taking over all responsibilities in their areas. The Comet

What comes next

The five areas now enter a three-week period for further representations. highwaysmagazine.co.uk A new decision on Hertfordshire is due by early next year. The Comet

Sources

  1. highwaysmagazine.co.ukFive areas set to proceed with local government reorganisation (opens in a new tab)
  2. The CometCounty council leader ‘pleased’ by four-unitary decision withdrawal (opens in a new tab)

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