Half of county councils in England might see election delay

Greater than half of the county councils in England with elections scheduled for this 12 months might search to have the votes postponed, the BBC can reveal.

A minimum of 12 out of 21 county councils as a result of maintain elections in Might are poised to ask ministers to delay the ballots to discover choices set out in a main redesign of native authorities introduced in December.

The federal government has set Friday because the deadline for areas to point out curiosity within the first tranche of devolution plans.

However a delay in elections would see tens of millions of voters “disadvantaged of their native democracy,” in line with the District Councils Community, which represents smaller native authorities.

The federal government stated no choices had been taken.

Elections are as a result of happen in 21 county council areas in England in Might, in addition to some unitary authorities and elections for some regional mayors.

When it introduced its devolution plans in December, the federal government recommended a few of these elections, particularly in county councils, might be delayed by a 12 months or extra. Scheduled mayoral elections is not going to be affected.

Below the plans, introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, smaller district councils and bigger county councils might be merged to create single councils to deal with all companies.

Ministers see the reorganisation of native authorities as a key a part of their plan to devolve powers out of Westminster to native communities.

Native authorities minister Jim McMahon wrote to councils in affected areas asking them to precise their curiosity in collaborating.

A number of councils are holding pressing conferences this week to resolve whether or not to press forward.

County councils which have indicated they’re and will see elections postponed embrace:

• Devon
• East Sussex
• Essex
• Gloucestershire
• Hampshire
• Kent
• Norfolk
• Suffolk
• Surrey
• Warwickshire
• West Sussex
• Worcestershire

Ministers will make the ultimate choices on whether or not native elections are postponed.

Cllr Kevin Bentley, the Conservative chief of Essex County Council, stated it was a “as soon as in a lifetime likelihood to enhance outcomes for Essex”.

Cllr Tim Oliver, the Conservative chief of Surrey County Council, stated: “We owe it to Surrey’s residents to get the most effective devolution deal doable for our county.”

The elections in Might are set to be the primary electoral take a look at for Labour for the reason that social gathering took energy at Westminster in July final 12 months, and an vital measure of the general public temper.

Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf criticised the potential delay, saying: “Labour and the Tories are so fearful of Reform’s rise that they’re colluding to rob the British individuals of their democratic rights.”

Rayner instructed a choose committee this week it might be “ludicrous” for councils to carry elections in the event that they had been planning to reorganise their buildings.

However stated the federal government was not “dictating” what ought to occur in council areas.

In 2021 the earlier Conservative authorities delayed native elections in North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Somerset when councils in these areas had been present process reorganisation.

However the present plans have prompted a backlash from some native leaders.

The District Councils Community claimed ministers had “rushed” the proposals to reorganise native authorities and had been depriving residents of getting a say.

The organisation’s chairman Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen stated: “The cancellation of the native elections comes after the federal government’s normal election manifesto uncared for to say that it sought to take energy away from communities by changing district councils with mega councils.

“Democracy is being side-lined with the native voters being disadvantaged of any democratic alternative to provide their verdict on a significant reorganisation that may have far-reaching repercussions for the future of hundreds of English cities and villages.”

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities spokesperson stated: “No choices have been taken on suspending elections.

“We are going to solely contemplate suspending elections for areas the place the council involved have requested it and the place it helps an space to ship reorganisation and devolution to essentially the most formidable timeline.”