Title

Of the 19 English regions for which the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has released data, just seven public consultations plumped for the sam e unitarisation proposal chosen by ministers.Among the 12 where the public backed other options were Hertfordshire, Devon, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Hampshire and Norfolk – all authorities considering or taking legal action against the Government's plans.One council chief executive said it was ‘shocking' that ministers had ‘completely ignored' the results of their consultation.Highlighting the disparity between the consultation response and the ministerial decision, they said: ‘It just rubs salt into the wounds. It just undermines everything we try to do in localities.'In some cases, the Government's preferred option proved particularly unpopular, according to the consultation results. In Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire the proposals backed by ministers were the least popular options in the public questionnaires, with just 7% of respondents in Leicestershire viewing the selected plan positively.Cllr Sean Matthews, leader of Lincolnshire CC and chairman-elect of the County Councils Network (CCN), said: ‘It just reinforces how this has been decided by a Labour government from the viewpoint of the local Labour council [Lincoln City]. They've just literally gone for their friends' option and it really doesn't make any sense.‘It's shocking really. It's not democracy – it's quite the opposite. I think it's a really poor show by the Government.'Matthews continued: ‘As CCN we are constantly talking to the Government, and we take a view that this is just being done too quickly. This is all the previous government. Everything I've heard from the latest Government is slightly different.'Senior civil servants said the Burnham administration had signed off the reorganisation decisions before the change of ministers.A Whitehall source said: ‘There is very much a desire to get on with LGR [local government reorganisation]. It might get a bit noisy from local MPs [but] I can't see any appetite [from new ministers] for wanting to review those decisions.'In East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, the modified proposal introduced by ministers was rejected in a subsequent public consultation.Lewes DC leader Cllr Zoe Nicholson said: ‘The Government's decision to force through Brighton & Hove's boundary expansion plan is a profound and deliberate rejection of local democracy. Its own consultation results show this beyond doubt – 80% of residents opposed the modifications, yet government ministers have chosen to ignore this landslide in public opinion.‘What makes this decision even more indefensible is that the Government has as yet not provided a single bit of evidence to support its claims that annexing these communities is essential for economic and housing growth.'The MJ understands concerned councils have already warned senior civil servants about the impact the decisions will have on local trust and have challenged MHCLG on the weighting given to consultations in its final decisions.With several councils already taking or considering legal action, the revelation over the consultation rebuff by ministers is likely to strengthen the resolve of authorities opposed to the Government's plans.Harlow DC in Essex last week become the latest council to launch a legal challenge against the process.An MHCLG source said: ‘It's certainly not the case that consultation responses were discounted.' Regions where government ignored public's preferred option• Hertfordshire• Derbyshire & Derby• Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent• Devon, Plymouth & Torbay• Kent & Medway• Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland• Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire & North East Lincolnshire• Nottinghamshire & Nottingham• Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton• Norfolk• Surrey• East Sussex and Brighton & Hove (option modified by ministers) Regions where preferred option matched Government's chosen model• Gloucestershire• Worcestershire• Warwickshire• Oxfordshire• Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen & Blackpool• Suffolk• Essex, Southend-on-Sea & Thurrock Decisions postponed• West Sussex• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

Title

REORGANISATION

EXCLUSIVE: Public rebuffed over reorganisation plans

By Paul Marinko | 30 July 2026

Popular articles by Paul Marinko

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING

Popular articles by Paul Marinko