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Reorganisation was thrown into turmoil when ministers withdrew decisions about creating a fresh wave of unitary authorities in four areas and paused a further 16.Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government interim permanent secretary Will Garton has been quick attempting to allay fears over the impact on devolution, claiming plans for an England-wide strategic authority rollout by 2028 will be unaffected.But peers are among those already concerned, with Lord Reid of Cardowan questioning how areas can plan devolution ‘when the autonomous units are constantly moving'.Even if Garton's optimism is well founded, further devolution pitfalls await ministers, with several areas still blighted by ongoing disagreement over strategic authority boundaries.Responses from councils to a call this summer from ministers to outline their plans highlight the extent of the battle ahead, with some unable to give a preference and others only able to submit contested plans.For example, Liberal Democrat-led Milton Keynes and Luton councils are keen to form a mayoral strategic authority, which would also cover Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.But Bedford BC, which is led by Conservative Mayor Tom Wootton, is less enthusiastic, with a spokesperson saying the council had still ‘not made any decision'.Central Bedfordshire Council is far from keen, with its independent leader Cllr Adam Zerny instead preferring a link up with Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire that he believes is ‘likely to be far more powerful'.North Northamptonshire leader Cllr Martin Griffiths believes this is the ‘only option that meets all the Government's criteria' and has wide support among business groups.Elsewhere, an imminent devolution decision for Gloucestershire and neighbouring Worcestershire and Herefordshire is another that looks unlikely.Green-led Worcestershire CC, as well as Labour-led Worcester City Council and the county's five district and borough councils want to form a mayoral strategic authority with Herefordshire Council, with the door left open for Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.But Gloucestershire CC's Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Lisa Spivey says the council instead wants to become a foundation strategic authority ‘in its own right', with a view to joining neighbouring West of England Combined Authority ‘at the earliest opportunity'.Spivey added ‘this is the best for' the county in terms of investment and public services, despite a lack of enthusiasm from the combined authority's Labour mayor Helen Godwin who has said Gloucestershire joining is ‘not a priority.'Similarly, Warwickshire has expressed an interest in joining West Midlands Combined Authority, which is not thought to be actively considering such a partnership.Herefordshire's future devolution direction is uncertain, with a spokesperson for the Conservative-led unitary saying it was considering ‘all options' after earlier this year outlining a preference to partner with Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. A source at the council added it would ‘take anything' at this stage.Shropshire's future is in flux, with the Liberal Democrat-led unitary unable to give ministers a preference for devolution.A spokesperson said that while the council was ‘keen to progress' it believes there was ‘no single, straightforward devolution geography that fully reflects the county's economic relationships, public service boundaries and cross-border role between Wales and the West Midlands'.One solution could be to partner with undecided Telford and Wrekin Council, which is continuing to ‘explore options'.If it is unable to link up with partners, Shropshire might form a single unitary strategic authority.Already the Government has indicated it will support this single strategic authority move for Cornwall, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggesting the ‘same could be true in Shropshire'.Devolution for Oxfordshire may be some way off, following a change in leadership at the county council.Under previous leader Cllr Liz Leffman, a Thames Valley region proposal, involving councils across the county and those in Berkshire and Swindon, had been considered.But over the summer this was rejected by the county council's new leader Cllr Tim Bearder, with a spokesperson later confirming that ‘discussions on devolution arrangements remain ongoing'.Unless these local differences around the country can be resolved, the Government's ambition for effective strategic authorities to be in place England-wide within two years seems optimistic.

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POLICY AND POLITICS

Dithering continues despite Burnham's push for devolution

By By Joe Lepper | 17 September 2026

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