On 7 September, the Government announced a review of the local government reorganisation (LGR) programme to ensure decisions align with its wider ambitions to reform the state, devolve power from Westminster to local communities, and support strong, sustainable local government. During the pause the Government will consider the programme as a whole, including the four areas where decisions were withdrawn, the decisions taken in 14 areas and the two places without decisions.
As a result of this unexpected announcement, local authorities have been left in a situation where there is no clear guidance or timeline for what will happen next. Those councils who sought to judicially review this decision may have planned for this outcome and pre-warned staff of the implications of their challenge to government. However, other councils may have considered the likelihood in the implementation, but are unlikely to have briefed staff on this scenario.
