2019–2021 structural changes to local government in England


Structural changes to local government in England have taken place or will take place in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Some of these changes continue the trend of new unitary authorities being created from other types of local government districts. Ceremonial counties will not see any changes to their boundaries, but for some counties there will as a consequence of the structural changes be a redefinition in terms of their composition of unitary authorities.

Changes in 2019

In all new authorities created in 2019, new councils were elected on 2 May 2019, along with local elections in other parts of the country. See 2019 United Kingdom local elections for details.

Dorset

On 1 April 2019, the ceremonial county of Dorset was changed from consisting of a non-metropolitan county and two unitary authorities, into consisting of two unitary authorities. The new unitary authorities in Dorset are:
Charter trustees were established for Bournemouth and for Poole as a consequence. For details of the inaugural elections to the new councils, see 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election and 2019 Dorset Council election.

Suffolk

On 1 April 2019, the number of districts in Suffolk was reduced from seven to five. West Suffolk was created by merging Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury. East Suffolk was created by merging Suffolk Coastal and Waveney. These new districts are not unitary authorities, and the two-tier structure of county and district councils remains in place.
For details of the inaugural elections to the new councils, see 2019 East Suffolk District Council election and 2019 West Suffolk District Council election.

Somerset

On 1 April 2019, the number of districts in the non-metropolitan county of Somerset was reduced from five to four, when Taunton Deane and West Somerset were merged as Somerset West and Taunton. This new district is not a unitary authority, and the two-tier structure of county and district councils remains in place.
Charter trustees were established for Taunton as a consequence. For details of the inaugural elections to the new council, see 2019 Somerset West and Taunton District Council election.

Changes in 2020

In all new authorities created in 2020, new councils were scheduled to be elected on 7 May 2020, along with local elections in other parts of the country. However, all local elections in the United Kingdom were postponed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, so elections scheduled for 2020 will instead be held on 6 May 2021. See 2021 United Kingdom local elections for details.

Buckinghamshire

The existing Buckinghamshire County Council and the non-metropolitan districts of Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks, and Wycombe in Buckinghamshire was replaced by a single unitary authority known as Buckinghamshire Council on 1 April 2020. This plan was proposed by Martin Tett, leader of the county council, and backed by then-Communities Secretary James Brokenshire. It received approval from Parliament in May 2019.
Before this was approved by Parliament, the district councils had proposed a different plan in which Aylesbury Vale would become a unitary authority and the three southern districts would become another unitary authority. The district councils opposed the single unitary Buckinghamshire plan, and considered legal action against it.
For details of the inaugural elections to the new council, see 2021 Buckinghamshire Council election.
The existing unitary authority of Milton Keynes was not affected; since 1 April 2020, the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire has therefore been composed of two unitary authorities.

Changes in 2021

In all new authorities to be created in 2021, new councils will be elected on 6 May 2021, along with local elections in other parts of the country. See 2021 United Kingdom local elections for details.

Northamptonshire

On 1 April 2021, the non-metropolitan county of Northamptonshire and its seven districts will be abolished, and two new unitary authorities will be created:
The Conservative government proposed the changes in Northamptonshire as a cost saving measure, as the Conservative controlled county council had been experiencing financial difficulty. The joint committee for West Northamptonshire claims that the changes will save 85 million pounds per year. The Northamptonshire Order 2019 was brought before Parliament in October 2019, but due to the dissolution of Parliament on 6 November leading up to the general election on 12 December 2019, the changes were not then given final approval. Parliament went on Christmas break after the election, with the order finally being made on 14 February 2020.
For details of the inaugural elections to the new councils, see 2021 North Northamptonshire Council election and 2021 West Northamptonshire Council election.