Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter regarding local government reorganisation sent by the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution to the leaders of all two-tier councils and neighbouring unitary authorities, published on 15 January, what statutory process and timetable they expect to use to postpone the May 2025 local council elections in areas that request this; and what consultation will be undertaken with all principal authorities in those areas.

As set out in my colleague’s letter of 16 December, the Minister will only consider these requests where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. A decision will be made in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible. If the decision is to make secondary legislation to postpone elections from May 2025 to 2026, such legislation would be subject to the negative resolution procedure and would come into force no sooner than 21 days after it is laid in Parliament.

The powers in the Local Government Act 2000 under which that legislation will be made do not apply a statutory requirement to undertake consultation. However, the 16 December letter to all councils in two-tier areas and small neighbouring unitaries welcomed views on any matters raised in the letter. Future consultation will be undertaken on devolution and on the reorganisation proposals that are subsequently developed for all areas to which those proposals apply.