Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Overview

The English Devolution White Paper was published on Monday 16 December and it set out in detail the Government’s policy to move areas with two tiers of local government to a single tier within the term of this parliament.

What is Devolution?

In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to local people, communities and businesses.

What is local government reorganisation?

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. The Government has indicated that for most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.

Visit the LGA Devolution Hub to find further information and FAQs.