Local government reorganisation (LGR)

Summary: Getting rid of two-tier systems (county, district and borough councils), so that there’s just one council for each area, not two. They are called unitary authorities. 

Local government reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. In the context of the English Devolution White Paper, the Government have set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils. 

Summary: These are single councils that run all local services in an area, and they can cover a whole county, part of one, or a big town or city. 

Unitary authorities are a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. They may cover a whole county, part of a county or a large town or city. For example, Cornwall Council, Nottingham City Council and Reading Borough Council are all unitary councils. Large urban areas may have a unique form of unitary authorities called metropolitan councils, such as Oldham or Doncaster. London boroughs are also unitary authorities. Source: LGA Devolution and LGR Hub FAQs

No – while some changes may be made to how some services are managed or delivered, the aim of local government reorganisation is to make them more efficient and easier to access.

Summary: Shadow councils will be elected in May 2027, and the new councils will go live in 2028. 

There are different timelines for areas depending on when their proposals are due, when decisions are taken, and it will also be dependent on the complexity of delivering the new unitaries. 

On devolution, for areas not on the DPP, MHCLG will work with and support areas to access devolution in the future.Source: LGA Devolution and LGR Hub FAQs

As outlined by UK Parliament, "white papers are policy documents produced by the Government that set out their proposals for future legislation". Source: LGA Devolution and LGR Hub FAQs

“English Devolution White Paper: Power and partnership: Foundations for growth” (16th December 2024)

For a more detailed look into LGR visit the Local Government Association Devolution and LGR Hub here: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/devolution/devolution-and-lg-reorganisation-hub

No. Devolution is about transferring powers and funding from national government to new regional strategic authorities - there will be one for the whole of Hampshire - which are usually headed by an elected Mayor.  

LGR is about establishing new unitary authorities instead of the current two-tier system of local government that we have in most of Hampshire. But they are linked, as the new unitary authorities will work closely with the new strategic authority.   

The Mayoral elections for Hampshire are currently scheduled to take place in May 2028.  

You can read more about devolution on the HCC website.