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Local Government: Reorganisation

Asked by David SimmondsConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 16 June 2026UIN 8780

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date does the ban on councils adopting the Committee system of governance take effect, and whether councils will be required to phase out existing use of the Committee system.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

All councils currently operating the committee system, unless they are protected, must adopt the Leader and Cabinet model within the period of one year after commencement of relevant provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. Those provisions will commence two months after Royal Assent of the Act, on 29 June. Protected councils will be permitted to retain their committee systems until the end of their current moratorium periods, before undertaking a review into their governance arrangements.

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