The government has confirmed that there is ‘no plan’ to postpone any elections in the Tees Valley - following a local MP’s letter that predicted likely council mergers in the region.

Earlier this year, nine councils across the south of the country saw their May local elections delayed for a year, with Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner explaining in February that the delay would allow major reorganisation to take place. No specific update was offered from the government regarding councils merging in the Tees Valley, although the devolution bill currently making its way through Parliament is set to enable unitary authorities to submit proposals to merge.

The previously published devolution white paper set out that unitary authorities deemed to be “smaller or failing” would be expect

See Full Page