NALC leads discussion on the future of local government reorganisation

We have brought together sector leaders, councillors and officers to explore the opportunities and challenges of local government reorganisation. The session provided practical insight from those with direct experience of creating and working within new unitary authorities, alongside perspectives from areas currently changing. 

Our vice-chair and Northumberland Association of Local Councils representative, Cllr David Francis, reflected on the creation of Northumberland Council in 2009. He emphasised the critical role parish and town councils played in ensuring a successful transition and encouraged county associations to engage early with implementation teams. He also highlighted the value of establishing formal frameworks, such as charters, and focusing on essential priorities during the early stages of reorganisation. 

Providing a current perspective, chair of the Surrey Association of Local Councils, Cllr Deborah Sherry, outlined Surrey's fast-moving reorganisation plans, which will see the creation of two new unitary councils. She highlighted the work underway to support parish and town councils, including pilot neighbourhood area committees, training programmes, and the Stronger Vibrant Communities report, which makes the case for the important role of parish and town councils in delivering services and strengthening communities.   

Member of Somerset Council, Cllr Theo Butt Philip, shared lessons from the creation of the council in 2023. He spoke candidly about the financial and operational challenges new authorities face, including significant budget pressures and the need to develop new ways of working with parish and town councils. He highlighted the importance of maintaining strong local relationships and establishing mechanisms, such as local area networks, to support communication and collaboration. 

The session also explored neighbourhood area committees, community governance reviews, and the creation of new parish and town councils. A clear message emerged that early engagement, strong partnerships, and recognition of parish and town councils as the grassroots tier of local democracy are essential to the success of reorganisation.    

We will continue to support parish and town councils through this period of change and plan further sessions to explore specific aspects of reorganisation in more detail.