Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26697 on Local Government: Reorganisation, when she expects the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to become involved in reviewing electoral arrangements of the proposed new unitary councils; whether the role of the Commission will be (a) formal or (b) advisory; whether there will be public consultation on the electoral arrangements for the new councils; and whether the Commission will be involved in determining the (i) number of and (ii) external boundaries for the unitary councils.

The Local Government Boundary Commission England (LGBCE) is responsible for electoral reviews for local government, reviewing wards, and setting the council size in terms of number of councillors. When a full electoral review of a newly established authority is carried out, the LGBCE will follow its guidance (which is available on its website), and the electoral review process includes a local consultation.

In terms of the number of and external boundaries of new unitary councils, the process set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 is that following the receipt of proposals for a single tier of local government the Secretary of State may request the LGBCE to advise on any matter that relates to the proposal. The Secretary of State may by order implement the proposal, with or without modification; if she has received an alternative proposal from the LGBCE, by order implement that alternative proposal with or without modification; or decide to take no action.