Plans to reorganise cash-strapped Northamptonshire County Council have stalled amid the general election.
Legislation to turn the county and its seven districts into two unitaries failed to pass before parliament was suspended.
The plan, which had been supported by all authorities apart from Corby BC, was laid before parliament on 28 October, but was not ratified.
North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils were due to be created on 1 April 2021 – having already been put back by a year – with shadow authorities established after the elections in May.
Now the decision will need to be made by the next parliament, after the general election.
Shadow local government secretary, Andrew Gwynne, has said he would favour a third unitary, covering Northampton.
