Submission of proposal to Secretary of State decision
Actions overseen by existing councils
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Activity |
Relevant resources |
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1 |
Ongoing communications and engagement activity to ensure community and stakeholder engagement |
Toolkit: LGA - LGR engagement toolkit Blog: LGA - Insights into local engagement during local government reorganisation webinar: 3 March 2025 Example video: Somerset Council: One Somerset Animation Example video: East Sussex County Council: The way councils work is changing |
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2 |
Councils engage wide range of external partners, to incorporate their feedback into the planning process. |
Toolkit: LGA - LGR engagement toolkit Blog: LGA - Insights into local engagement during local government reorganisation webinar: 3 March 2025 Report: Mutual Ventures - From transaction to transformation (see pages 10-11) |
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3 |
Councils focus on collaborative planning to prepare for different scenarios via joint structures and multi-discipline change teams, and consistent approaches. |
Checklist: MHCLG - List of information on LGR preparatory activities Checklist: LGA - LGR Data sharing principles and checklist (see this resource for guidance on collaborating on data) Video: Solace - Political Savvy for Public Sector Leaders (see this resource for guidance on collaboration across political groups and councils) Presentation: Buckinghamshire Council - Unitary – the Buckinghamshire Experience (see pages 5-8) Blog: Socitim - LGR Get your house in order or risk paying the price (see the section ‘People. Process. Technology. Get them aligned. Now.’) Blog: Socitim - A survivor’s guide to LGR (see the section ‘good housekeeping’) Report: LGiU - Service delivery in uncertain times (see this resource for research on insourcing and outsourcing capacity through LGR, to help support on scenario planning) |
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4 |
Analysis to prepare for smooth transfer of assets and liabilities, including data cleansing, reviewing leases contracts, and financial arrangements. |
Checklist: MHCLG - List of information on LGR preparatory activities Blog: LGA - LGR support: Asset management Webinar: LGA - Local government reorganisation support Asset management Templates and guidance: Local Partnerships – Requests for Information (RFIs) (use these templates to request data from other councils in the area) Checklist: LGA - LGR Data sharing principles and checklist (see this resource for guidance on collaborating on data) Webinar series: Local Partnerships/LGA - Get LGR data-ready (see this resource for guidance on collaborating on data) Blog: Socitim - LGR Get your house in order or risk paying the price (see the section ‘People. Process. Technology. Get them aligned. Now.’) |
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5 |
Councils continue to refine financial models, updating them with consistent and up-to-date data, demonstrating financial sustainability of future unitary structures. |
Guidance: LGA – LGR finance essentials: Ensuring strong financial governance and financial sustainability in the lead up to LGR Guidance: LGA – LGR finance essentials: Establishing the expenditure, funding and balance sheet positions for new unitary councils Report: Northamptonshire County Council - Disaggregation of Northamptonshire CC finances Guidance: CIPFA - Developing an effective assurance framework in a local authority Report: Mutual Ventures - From Transaction to Transformation (see page 14, ‘financial stewardship and governance’) |
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6 |
Continued due diligence and risk mitigation incorporating lessons from other LGR areas. |
Checklist: LGA/MHCLG - LGR risks: Examples and options for mitigation by councils Report: Grant Thornton - LGR Lessons from new unitaries (see the pages 15-17 for guidance on embedding risk management into governance structures) Webinar: LGA / Somerset Council – Reflections and insights from councillors who have been through LGR Article: The MJ - Lessons for uncertainty Guidance: Centre for Governance and Scrutiny - Scrutiny and LGR – a practical guide Report: Mutual Ventures - From transaction to transformation (see page 15 for ‘risk, assurance and continuity’.) |
Secretary of State decision to Structural Changes Order
Actions overseen by voluntary collaboration arrangements
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Activity |
Relevant resources |
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8 |
Establish voluntary collaboration arrangements, such as a voluntary joint committee, to include councillors from all existing county and district councils covered by the new unitary area. |
Guidance: LGA – LGR finance essentials: Establishing the expenditure, funding and balance sheet positions for new unitary councils Report: Tandridge District Council – Establishment of joint committees (see page 3) |
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9 |
Agree terms of reference for voluntary collaboration arrangements with clear mandates to drive implementation in the best interest of the successor body. |
Example: West Surrey Council and East Surrey Council - Joint committee terms of reference and terms of procedure Example: Somerset Council – Joint committee terms of reference Meeting minutes: North Yorkshire LGR implementation board – Meeting minutes of the voluntary implementation board in North Yorkshire (see page 1 for membership of this voluntary collaboration arrangement) |
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10 |
Clearly communicate the outcome to residents, staff, and other stakeholders including details on the new structure, the timetable, and what happens next. |
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11 |
Start interim implementation plans developing detailed, practical plans focussing on how to combine or separate services, transfer contracts, and manage assets and liabilities within successor councils. |
Example: Buckinghamshire Council - LGR implementation plan Example: Dorset Council – Dorset LGR implementation plan Example: Cumberland Council/Westmoreland and Furness Council – Cumbria LGR implementation plan Example: North Yorkshire Council - North Yorkshire LGR implementation plan Example: Somerset Council - Somerset LGR implementation plan Template: CIPFA - Finance template Use this resource to develop more detailed business cases and implementation plans. Report: Grant Thornton - LGR Lessons from new unitaries Presentation: Buckinghamshire Council -Unitary – the Buckinghamshire Experience Report: Mutual ventures - From transaction to transformation (see pages 17 -18) |
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12 |
Secure agreement on how the transition costs will be shared among the existing councils and determine the level of government financial support required. |
Guidance: LGA – LGR finance essentials: Establishing the expenditure, funding and balance sheet positions for new unitary councils Example: Somerset Council - Somerset LGR implementation plan Report: Grant Thornton - LGR Lessons from new unitaries Blog: LGA - LGR - financial planning and transformation Report: Northamptonshire County Council - Disaggregation of Northamptonshire CC finances |
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13 |
Engage staff and their representatives to explain the implications of reorganisation and encouraging collective input into development of the new organisational culture and values. |
Webinar: Institute for Government - How to make a success of LGR Report: Mutual Ventures - From transaction to transformation (see pages 9-11) |
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14 |
Propose names for the new unitary councils ahead of the SCO. |
N/A |
Shadow authority elections or elections to continuing authority to vesting day
Actions overseen by shadow authorities or continuing authorities
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Activity |
Relevant resources |
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23 |
Once the shadow authorities or continuing authorities are elected, they will take over from the joint committees or implementation executives to manage the final transition period. |
Guidance: LGiU - What is a shadow authority? Guidance: Centre for governance and scrutiny - Scrutiny and LGR – a practical guide Blog: Anthony Collins Solicitors – Transitional arrangements for LGR: shadow councils and preparing councils Webinar: LGA - Supporting new councillors through LGR (see ‘Key concepts’) |
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24 |
Determine the vision, values, strategic priorities and branding of the new councils. |
Webinar: LGA - Reflections and insights from councillors who have been through LGR (see minutes 15:35-21:03 for Somerset’s experience) Report: Department for Communities and Local Government - Establishing unitary councils in April 2009 (see pages 10-13 on localism, relations with others and local performance framework) Guidance: LGA - Ten essential workforce considerations for local government reorganisation (LGR) (see ‘creating effective new cultures’) Blog: Insights into local engagement during local government reorganisation webinar (see ‘internal communication and culture’) Report: Mutual Ventures - From Transaction to Transformation (see pages 5-11 for insights around democratic resilience, place leadership, culture and local identity) |
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25 |
Oversee the redesign of service delivery models and corporate functions, including finance, HR, legal, and ICT. |
Report: KPMG - Cumbria LGR programme closure report Guidance: LGA - LGR: Cyber, Digital, Data and Technology Considerations Webinar: LGA - LGR: Cyber and Digital Webinar Case study: LGA - Dorset Council: A digital transformation journey Toolkit: Local Partnerships - Business Process Mapping Toolkit Report: LGiU - Service delivery in uncertain times (see report for discussion around impact of LGR on service delivery decisions including insourcing, outsourcing and joint ventures) |
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26 |
Work to harmonise disparate policies of the existing councils (e.g., planning policies, waste collection) into a single, cohesive framework for the new unitary body. |
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27 |
Work with HR teams and trade unions to manage the transfer of existing staff to the new organisation, under TUPE, and resolve HR issues. |
Guidance: LGA - Ten essential workforce considerations for local government reorganisation (LGR) (See ‘transferring staff’) Guidance: Brown Jacobson – A practical guide to local government reorganisation (see ‘staff and employment considerations’ pages 15-16) Report: Trowers & Hamlins: Local government reform: bridging the divide (see page 13 for advice on employee transfers) |
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28 |
Formulate and approve the first budget for the new unitary authority (or authorities) for financial year following vesting day. |
Guidance: LGA – LGR finance essentials: Establishing the expenditure, funding and balance sheet positions for new unitary councils. Resource available later in February 2026. Blog: LGA - LGR - financial planning and transformation Template: CIPFA - Finance template (use this resource for support on council tax equalisation calculations and four-year forecasts) Report: Trowers & Hamlins: Local government reform: bridging the divide (see page 17 for advice on financial considerations and council tax) |
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29 |
Transfer council assets and liabilities, including property, to the new unitary structure. |
Further guidance available in February 2026. Blog: LGA - Asset management webinar Webinar: LGA - Asset management Report: Trowers & Hamlins: Local government reform: bridging the divide (see page 12 for advice on asset transfers) Article: Local Government Lawyer – Local government reorganisation and historic liabilities |
