Councils that have bid to be on the fast-track for new devolution deals and reorganisation need extra funding and a quick decision on local elections, the Local Government Association (LGA) says.
In a statement issued today, LGA chair Cllr Louise Gittins said that reorganisation is ‘emotive and polarising’ and puts a lot of strain on ‘scarce resources and workforce capacity’.
Local authorities would need extra funding and support if they are to undertake reorganisation in a manner that avoids frontline services being ‘negatively affected,’ she said.
Cllr Gittins also added that those authorities that have applied for permission to postpone May’s local elections needed ‘quick decisions’.
‘Running local elections is big undertaking for councils. Those who have requested elections to be postponed this year will already be working hard to prepare and put plans in place so will need quick decisions from government.’
