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Local government reorganisation
Legal support through every stage of reorganisation
From the first proposal to the new council’s first years: submissions, structural change orders, shadow authorities, vesting day and the constitution that has to work on the morning after.
The three stages
Each stage has its own legal questions. I have advised at all three.
Proposal and submission
Reviewing and amending the draft submission, compliance with the structural change order and transitional regulations, and electoral and governance matters.
Implementation to vesting
Joint committee and shadow council, the new constitution and governance procedures, lawful asset and staff transfers, and member training.
After vesting
Updating the constitution and procedures, refining strategies and policies under the transitional regulations, and joint arrangements with neighbouring authorities.
Experience
Three authorities, three stages
Devon County Council
Submission proposal
Jan – Dec 2025- Legal review of, and amendments to, the draft unitary submission
- Compliance with the structural change order and transitional regulations
- Electoral matters and governance structures under the statutory schemes
Somerset Council
Implementation: joint committee and shadow council to vesting
July 2021 – April 2023- Drafting the constitution and governance procedures
- Lawful, workable procedures for asset and staff transfers
- Electoral arrangements in the structural change order, for ministerial approval
- Member training and the standards framework
Cumberland Council
Post-vesting improvements
- Updating the constitution and governance procedures where needed
- Refining strategies, plans and policies under the transitional regulations
- Clarifying joint arrangements between the new Cumbria authorities
- Reviewing arrangements with outside bodies
What I help with
LGR legal work
Unitarisation and mergers
Proposals, submissions and the legal steps that follow.
Combined authorities
Governance and constitutional arrangements.
Boundary change
Electoral and governance consequences.
New constitutions
Drafting the constitution a new authority inherits or builds from scratch.
Contact
Planning or delivering reorganisation?
Email me with where your council is in the process and what you need.