Reshuffle or Reorganisation: will the new Minister deliver on the changes to councils?

When the Prime Minister announced the reshuffle of the Government, he set out that delivery had to be the priority of the Government, that entering “Phase 2” was beginning. Well, that phase hit a bit of a snag when the Department responsible for key policy delivery was distracted by the former Deputy Prime Minister’s “situation”. Now, we find the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government inhabited by a brand-new set of ministers.

Steve Reed has replaced Angela Rayner as Secretary of State for MHCLG, the man tasked with delivering the housing and changes wanted by the Prime Minister, but there’s also been changes in the department including Alison McGovern replacing Jim McMahon as the Minister responsible for local government reorganisation. However, she has taken on a wider portfolio area of homelessness and other housing areas.

When Jim McMahon was in the job his overall focus was on devolution and local government reorganisation, meaning his focus could be on the task of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), especially with the first tranche of changes due to be announced later this year. So, does this change of Ministerial duties suggest a change in approach? Will the new Minister prioritise LGR as a policy focus?

Over the last year councils across England have been put into the various stages of proposals, discussion and negotiations on how they want their councils to look as unitary authorities. This was driven by the desire to see more efficient delivery of services, as well as finding savings. As we all know, local government funding is a significant pressure with councils struggling to find money to deliver services and the Government wanting to find savings for the Treasury.

Following the consultation over the summer the Government is now reviewing submissions, with the expected announcement of new Unitary authority areas to be announced in November, and elections for them to be held in May 2026. However, is this still the case? Does the Labour Government still have the appetite for such change when they have identified other areas that are more important: immigration, the NHS, defence.

What we do know, is that Steve Reed as Secretary of State delivered a large housing programme when he was a Council Leader, and I’m sure the Prime Minster saw that as a just reason for putting him in charge of housing. But does he need new councils to deliver that? Or, do they intend to deliver this current set of changes and then quietly shelve the programme for the rest?

It’s still very early to tell, but I find it interesting that there is no longer a dedicated Minister like it was with Jim McMahon.  

Follow us at the CCP for analysis and updates on the changes coming forward in Local Government, and what that will mean for your site in the planning system.