As the deadline approaches for submitting local government reorganisation proposals across England, the focus has been on where the lines will be drawn on county maps. Councillors have been consumed by rows over which authorities will effectively be merged to form new unitary authorities.
However, the complex task of dividing counties and bringing together numerous district-level councils, each with their own systems, assets and – above all else – employees is yet to begin. One of the most immediately apparent issues is that workers from different legacy authorities end up receiving different pay, terms and conditions for doing the same job for the same employer.
