Local Government Reorganisation

Baroness Stedman-Scott Excerpts

Monday 7th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend. I do not think it is helpful for me to comment on individual areas. However, he is right to point to the focus on growth. There were three main focuses that we looked at: the potential for growth and making sure we could achieve that across the country; ensuring that the key services delivered by local government are protected and supported going forward, including those for vulnerable people; and the issue of community identity which the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, mentioned.

Wherever we looked at those issues, there were different opinions in different areas, which is why we stuck very firmly to the criteria we set ourselves. The growth criteria came in the first criteria, and we looked at all of the proposals before us in respect of that. But we must not make any bones about the fact that we need to change things to get the growth we want to see. That involves making sure local government is enabled to drive that growth forward in the way it is organised, and that we have the devolution so that people who are taking decisions about growth, the economy and key services in their local areas are in that local area and have some skin in the game in relation to the decisions being taken.

[Baroness Stedman-Scott (Con)]

My Lords, when the elections take place next year, what period will the people elected serve? Will it be one year, two years, three years or four years?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

For elections that take place next year, if the programme works through as we anticipate it will, the shadow elections will be in 2028.