Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
The process of restructuring local government structures in England, typically merging district and county councils to create unitary authorities
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Unitary Authority
A single-tier local authority that is responsible for all local government functions within its area
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Shadow Authority
A newly elected council that operates in parallel with existing authorities before vesting day
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Vesting Day
The date when a new unitary authority takes full legal and operational control of all local government services
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LGR Timetable 2026
The schedule of Local Government Reorganisation activities planned for 2026, including shadow elections, transition planning, and preparation for v...
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Shadow Elections
Elections held to elect councillors to the new shadow authority before vesting day
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LGR Governance
The systems, processes, and structures for managing Local Government Reorganisation effectively
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Two-Tier System
The local government structure where responsibilities are split between county councils (strategic services like education and social care) and dis...
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County Council
The upper tier of local government in a two-tier system, responsible for strategic services such as education, social care, highways, waste disposa...
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District Council
The lower tier of local government in a two-tier system, responsible for local services such as housing, planning, waste collection, licensing, and...
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Transition Period
The time between the election of a shadow authority and vesting day, during which both old and new authorities operate in parallel
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Go-Live
Another term for vesting day, when the new unitary authority becomes fully operational and takes control of all services
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Lame Duck Councillors
Councillors in existing authorities who will not be standing for election to the new unitary authority, or whose wards are being abolished
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Devolution
The transfer of powers and responsibilities from central government to local or regional authorities
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Reorganisation Proposal
A formal proposal to restructure local government in a specific area, typically submitted to central government for approval
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First 100 Days
The critical period immediately after vesting day when a new unitary authority establishes its governance structures, priorities, and operational s...
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Section 114
A notice under Section 114 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 that a local authority cannot balance its budget
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Combined Authority
A legal body that enables a group of local authorities to work together on transport, economic development, and regeneration
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Elected Mayor
A directly elected mayor who leads a local authority or combined authority
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Scrutiny
The process by which councillors hold the executive (leader, cabinet, or mayor) to account
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Leader of the Council
The councillor who leads the ruling political group and typically holds executive power in a leader-and-cabinet model
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Cabinet
In local government, the small group of councillors (typically from the ruling party) who make key executive decisions
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Single Transferable Vote
A proportional voting system where voters rank candidates
First-Past-the-Post
A voting system where the candidate with the most votes in a ward or constituency wins
Boundary Review
A process to assess and change electoral boundaries (wards or divisions) within or across local authorities
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Structural Change
A change to the number, boundaries, or type of local authorities in an area
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Structural Change Order
The statutory instrument that gives legal effect to a local government reorganisation in England
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Secretary of State
The UK government minister responsible for local government (currently the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) who decide...
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Councillor
An elected member of a local council
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TUPE
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations
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Business Case
A formal document that sets out the rationale, costs, benefits, and risks of a proposed reorganisation
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Area Committee
A committee or forum within a unitary (or larger) authority that focuses on a specific geographical area
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Council Tax Harmonisation
The process of aligning council tax rates across former district (or county) areas when they become one unitary authority
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Parish Council
A local tier of government below the principal authority (district or unitary)
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Town Council
A local council covering a town, often with similar status to a parish council
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Chief Executive
The most senior paid officer of a local authority, responsible for overall management and delivery of council services
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Voluntary Redundancy
A scheme where staff can choose to leave the organisation in return for redundancy pay
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Redeployment
Moving an employee to a different role or department within the organisation
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Transition Funding
Funding provided by central government (or set aside by authorities) to support the one-off costs of reorganisation, such as redundancy, IT migrati...
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Revenue Savings
Ongoing annual savings to the revenue budget, for example from back-office consolidation, shared services, or reduced senior management after reorg...
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Reserves
Funds set aside by a local authority for future spending or contingencies
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Senior Management
The group of chief officers (e
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Electoral Arrangements
The system of elections and wards for a local authority (e
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Ward Boundaries
The geographical boundaries that define each council ward or division
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Revenue Support
Central government funding that forms part of local authority revenue
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Lessons Learned
Insights and best practice drawn from previous reorganisations
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