In certain respects local government in England is very durable. Some cities or boroughs have charters dating back manmy centuries. Southampton will appoint its 799th mayor next month. Although the geographical definition of Southampton and the powers vested in the mayor, burgesses, corporation, and council of Southampton have changed many times, there is a real continuity. In certain respects local government has a longer history than some aspects of national government.
However in other respects local government arrangements can seem very fragile: its duties and powers are constantly changing, there are frequent restructures and renamings. Indeed, yesterday there were some important changes in several areas. By convention, and to align with the local government financial year, such restructurings take place on 1st April – April Fools Day. The non-metropolitan county of Northamptonshire and all the district councils within it were abolished yesterday. Two new unitary councils were formed: North Northamptonshire, comprising the former districts of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough; and West Northamptonshire, comprising the former districts of Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire. This followed a major financial crisis at Conservative-led Northamptonshire County Council.
Other areas have been reorganised recently: Dorset, Somerset and Suffolk in 2019, and Buckinghamshire in 2020. These have tended to reduce the number of councils, and often to replace a two-tier system with a single-tier unitary system in which all local services and powers are held by a single council. Sometimes council’s change their name: for example Shepway became Folkestone and Hythe. Usually this is to replace an obscure name with one using more familiar geographical features: such as the principal town(s).
Whilst there is often a good reason for such changes, it would not be true to say that consistent principles have been applied over the past 25 years. Constant change tends to create the impression that all local government arrangements are provisional and can be changed on a whim. Some stability and a clear definition of the constitutional role of of local government in England would be welcome….. in my opinion.
Demographic Insight 