The LGA has warned that tight timescales and an “unprecedented scale of disaggregation” arising from local government reorganisation (LGR) “pose significant risks to statutory services”.
While it has not previously taken a position on decisions on LGR, the LGA is now raising delivery concerns on behalf of some of its member councils – including around short delivery timelines, limited resourcing, workforce capacity, service continuity, concurrent reforms in other public services and uncertainty about the future of devolution.
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, LGA Chair, said: “A government led by a new Prime Minister presents an opportunity to revisit some of the practicalities of the current local LGR programme.
“For the potential that this government is seeking to achieve through LGR to be realised, the expert view of councils needs to be embedded in the decision-making to help solve real challenges, such as timing, resources and workforce capacity.
“It needs a commitment from government to adjust the approach – including, where necessary, the timetable – where there is local agreement that it is needed to align with the scale of change.”
He added: “The LGR programme is extremely complex, affecting more than 200 councils and the services they deliver to millions of residents. The LGA is supporting councils as they navigate this unprecedented change, to use it as a platform for future transformation.
“For any future local authorities to be in a position to meet the aspirations and challenges of their local communities, the delivery concerns of existing councils need to be heard and acted on.”