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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2025 to Question HL070 on Unitary Councils, what criteria her Department plans to use to determine when to make a request to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to (a) provide formal advice and (b) undertake a formal electoral review, in the context of Sections (i) 4 and (ii) 8 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

As set out in my answers to PQ 38625 and 34287, my department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) so that they are involved at the appropriate time.

The process set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allows the Secretary of State to seek the advice of the LGBCE on any matter relating to a proposal that has been submitted in response to an invitation. No criteria have been set for seeking advice, which will depend on the proposals received, as appropriate at the time.

The LGBCE is responsible for its own work programme. It carries out electoral reviews for local government, reviewing wards, and setting the council size in terms of number of councillors.