11 councils ask Government to postpone local elections ahead of reorganisation
Share:
Eleven councils have so far asked to postpone elections this year, ahead of the biggest reorganisation of local government in decades, it is understood. Local authorities have until Friday to request permission from the Government to postpone their elections, after plans to abolish two-tier council areas were announced in December, as part of Labour’s proposals to devolve more power away from Westminster.
With 21 county councils and 10 unitary authorities due to hold elections this May, some have sought to delay them to allow time to develop proposals on reorganisation. They include Surrey, Oxfordshire, Devon and Norfolk county councils, which have all voted to push their elections back.
Worcestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Gloucestershire and Thurrock have also requested postponements. Ministers have previously said there would be “very clear criteria” for delaying elections, with postponement only considered “where this would help deliver reorganisation and devolution”.
On Friday, Downing Street said delays would not be “mandated” and the Government would “work collaboratively” with councils to ensure postponement “fits with reorganisation and devolution in the most ambitious timeframe”. But the prospect of delaying local elections has met with opposition from a range of political parties.
