English councils face unnecessary race against time' to organise elections, leaders say

"Councils are experiencing whiplash and face an unnecessary race against time to organise ballots after the government abandoned plans to delay 30 council elections in England, local authority leaders have said. Ministers had wanted to delay elections at councils undergoing major reorganisation, with many set to be merged or subsumed into others, but faced a legal challenge from Reform UK, which argued it was undemocratic."

"The government confirmed on Monday that it was dropping its plan to delay elections, giving councils and local parties just over 11 weeks to organise elections before polling day on 7 May. Matthew Hicks, the Conservative leader of Suffolk county council, said ministers had consistently expressed confidence in their decision to postpone, so the announcement had come as a surprise."

"Local councils across the country are experiencing whiplash as major government decisions shift repeatedly and without warning, he said. This uncertainty makes it almost impossible to plan effectively, deliver stability for residents or provide clarity for our staff and partners. He said the move left a significant question mark over the wider plans for local government reorganisation. There is continuing debate in the area over whether Suffolk should be governed by one unitary authority, or three, after the shake-up."

Ministers abandoned plans to delay 30 local elections, after a legal challenge from Reform UK, leaving councils and parties just over eleven weeks to arrange polling on 7 May. The delay had been intended for councils undergoing major reorganisation, including mergers and unitary authority proposals. Local leaders described the reversal as causing whiplash and creating severe logistical and staffing pressures that impede planning and service stability. Uncertainty is raising questions about the future shape of local government in areas such as Suffolk. Opposition and committee figures called for additional resources to allow councils to run elections without cutting frontline services.

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