"Last month ministers told 63 local authorities they would authorise delays to the polls if there were "genuine concerns" about delivering them alongside the government's overhaul of local government. Twenty-one councils have asked to postpone their ballots ahead of a Thursday deadline, whilst 34 will not, and eight are yet to confirm their position. Ministers are expected to approve the requests in the coming days."
"The government's rejig of local government will replace the two-tier system of district and county councils that exists in many parts of England with new 'unitary' councils responsible for delivering all councils services in their area. It means some of the councils up for election this year will be folded into new unitary councils in 2027 or 2028, so councillors could only be in office for a year."
"The BBC contacted the 63 councils who could request a delay to their May elections to ask for their decision. Among those to say they will ask for a postponement are East and West Sussex County Councils, Suffolk County Council, Exeter City Council, Preston City Council and Peterborough City Council. Other smaller councils to request a delay include Cheltenham, Hastings, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Ipswich, and Redditch Borough Councils."
About a third of eligible councils in England have requested postponement of their May elections amid a government reorganisation of local government. Ministers told 63 local authorities that delays could be authorised where there were genuine concerns about running polls alongside the overhaul. Twenty-one councils have asked to postpone, 34 have not, and eight remain undecided. The reorganisation will replace many two-tier district and county councils with single unitary councils responsible for all local services, meaning some councillors elected this year could serve only until 2027 or 2028. Requests are expected to be approved soon.
Read at www.bbc.com
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