DEVOLUTION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION

The biggest shake up of local government in over 50 years.

A lot has happened since the Government published its Devolution White Paper – Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth in December 2024, not least that it is now at the Bill stage. Local government leaders all over the country have been working hard to create proposals for reorganisation, the final drafts of which were submitted prior to the November 2025 deadline (unless you are a council in the Surrey area, which had to submit by 9th May).

From our initial review of all of these proposals, it is clear that this will be the biggest shake up of local government in over 50 years. Here are some of the key numbers to demonstrate this:

317 – the current number of councils in England

187 – the highest number of councils we will have in England after LGR

150 – the lowest number of councils we will have in England after LGR

165-175 – the expected number of councils post LGR based on how proposal match up to Government requirements.

This significant change is in support of the Government’s devolution agenda. The Government wants every area of England to be covered by the devolution of powers from Westminster to local government, ideally by the end of this Parliament. That is ambitious, with just 61% of England currently covered by a devolution deal (90% of the North of England but only 46% of the South of England). Six priority areas have already been identified for fast-tracked devolution. Devolved authorities will be led by an elected Mayor (with limited exceptions). Priority areas have been selected and the areas not within that programme are working around the clock to ensure they do not get left behind.

The challenges local government leaders and their teams have been enormous over the past year but in many ways, the real difficulties begin here. Once the Government announces which proposals it selects, there will be significant transitional challenges to overcome, including establishing a shadow authority and dealing with key strategic and people based transitional arrangements. We will continue to provide you with resources to support you.

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HOW WE CAN HELP

Since the Devolution and Local Government Reform (LGR) White Paper launched just before Christmas in 2024, local authority leadership groups have worked tirelessly to create their proposals for restructuring, whilst simultaneously ensuring that their existing council continues to deliver services in difficult times. Either one of these would be all-consuming at the best of times but the ambitious timelines set out by the Government and the recent announcements relating to this have added additional layers of complexity. We are here to help you navigate these challenges and can do so as follows:

Advice on the strategic issues, for example, how to make decisions that achieve best value duty without compromising the future unitary authority, for example in acquisitions, disposals and project work

Advice on practicalities of asset transfers (e.g. asset reviews, and particular title/terms), including identifying all assets in your possession, any liabilities attached to them (e.g. contamination, rights of way, third party interests) and the options available for transfer (particularly complex if a multiple unitary option is emerging).

Advice on disposal of surplus assets, including consideration of ‘best value’, public law duties, timings (before or after vesting day), overage and clawback.

Review of leasehold estate, including identifying term expiry, break clauses, termination/exit provisions.

As an Arbiter on disputes arising from the interpretation of the transfer regulations

Interpreting charitable objects and the transfer of charitable assets to a successor unitary authority

By providing you with additional capacity on your property, planning, construction and other needs in busy periods and helping you to achieve the necessary objectives ahead of vesting day.