2009 structural changes to local government in England

2009 changes to the structure of state administration on a local level in England August 2025 August 2024 thumb|300px|Map of districts in England following the 2009 changes red Two-tier structures merged into single unitary authorities blue Existing districts merged into multiple new authorities #e6e6e6ff Areas unaffected by review On 1 April 2009 structural changes to local government in England took place which reformed the local government of seven non-metropolitan counties: Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, County Durham, Shropshire, Northumberland, and Wiltshire. In each case the government of the county was changed from a two-tier to a unitary system, with Bedfordshire and Cheshire being divided into two new unitary authorities. Elections to the new authorities took place on 1 May 2008 for some of the new authorities, which took up their powers on 1 April 2009. In the remaining authorities elections took place two months later on 4 June 2009. Background Following the passing of the Local Government Act 1992, the Local Government Commission for England recommended a number of unitary authorities to be created in England during the 1990s. The changes that were implemented meant that much of the country continued to have a two-tier arrangement of local government.Sancton, A., Merger Mania: The Assault on Local Government, (2000) Further proposals for unitary authorities in northern England, tied to the option of regional devolution, were put to a referendum in 2004 and were rejected. In 2006 the white paper Strong and Prosperous Communities invited local authorities in England to submit their own consensus-based proposals for unitary authority arrangements, to be submitted before 25 January 2007. Selected submissions went to a public consultation from March until June, with successful proposals announced in July. Legislative requirements for implementation were in place following the enactment of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Proposed changes Early responses Various local councils indicated their wish to seek unitary authority status. One town and three cities were overlooked by the 1990s review: Ipswich, Oxford, Norwich and Exeterhttp://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5105 Exeter City Council Council Submits Unitary Case To Minister 2006-05-09 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071212041711/http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5105 12 December 2007 dead proposed unitary status on their present boundaries, and commissioned a report jointly to press their case.http://www.exeter.gov.uk/media/doc/0/5/0604245FourcitiesINLOGOVreview_1.doc Exeter City Council Four Councils Unite In Bid For Unitary Status 2006-05-09 DOC 29 December 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070928094221/http://www.exeter.gov.uk/media/doc/0/5/0604245FourcitiesINLOGOVreview_1.doc 28 September 2007 Norwich announced its intention to respond to the invitation,http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED26%20Oct%202006%2011%3A44%3A39%3A130 Norwich Evening News City welcomes new council plans 2006-10-26 29 December 2007 as did Ipswich and Exeter.http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=News&tBrand=EADOnline&tCategory=zNews&itemid=IPED26%20Oct%202006%2021%3A50%3A04%3A647 East Anglia Daily Times Ipswich's solo bid sparks council wars 2006-10-27 29 December 2007 https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6090214.stm BBC News £14 m cost' of city independence 2006-10-27 29 December 2007 In Lancashire, Preston and South Ribble desired to form a single unitary authority although Preston bid for it alone.http://www.preston.gov.uk/News.asp?id=SX9452-A7808826 Preston City Council Preston and South Ribble bid for the future 2006-09-01 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080207000822/http://www.preston.gov.uk/News.asp?id=SX9452-A7808826 7 February 2008 dead https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/5305622.stm BBC News Councils to support joint venture 2006-09-01 29 December 2007 The City of Lancaster considered seeking unitary status on its present boundaries (having supported a merger with South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness to form a Morecambe Bay unitary authority during the referendums review).http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/news/News.asp?id=SX7F1D-A7809355 Lancaster City Council Lancaster City Council welcomes Local Government White Paper 2006-10-26 29 December 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070930160323/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/news/News.asp?id=SX7F1D-A7809355 30 September 2007 Blackpool advocated a merger with the Fylde and Wyre districts, which they did not support.http://www.blackpooltoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=1876361 Councillors' snub for "City of the Fylde" bid 2006-11-14 Blackpool Today 29 December 2007 August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Pendle and Burnley also tried to form a unitary authority with Rossendale; however Rossendale rejected this. The Local Government Chronicle suggested that the non-metropolitan counties of Cornwall, Shropshire, Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland would fit the government's criteria, and that the government would be unlikely to favour carving out unitary authorities from existing two-tier counties.http://www.lgcnet.com/pages/news/article.asp?ArticleID=339290 Local Government Chronicle Only five may get unitary go-ahead 2006-10-11 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080126100733/http://www.lgcnet.com/pages/news/article.asp?ArticleID=339290 2008-01-26 dead Shropshire County Council, as well as two of the five districts of Shropshire, stated their wish for a move to unitary status.http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshirecc.nsf/open/6735D40672F70A7680257213003E72FB Shropshire County Council One Council for Shropshire 2006-11-11 29 December 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927082537/http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshirecc.nsf/open/6735D40672F70A7680257213003E72FB 27 September 2007 http://www.shropshirestar.co.uk/2006/11/councillors-backing-unitary-body Shropshire Star Councillors backing unitary body 2006-11-18 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080127193012/http://www.shropshirestar.co.uk/2006/11/councillors-backing-unitary-body 27 January 2008 dead The issue was considered in Durham and Cumbriahttp://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/display.var.990986.0.white_paper_paves_way_for_councils_shakeup.php 2006-10-27 White Paper paves way for councils shake-up The Northern Echo 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071212090809/http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/display.var.990986.0.white_paper_paves_way_for_councils_shakeup.php 12 December 2007 live http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=428534 2006-10-27 Cumbria needs a unity of purpose The Cumberland News 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071212003913/http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=428534 12 December 2007 dead and the idea of a North Cumbria authority covering the Eden, Copeland, Carlisle and Allerdale districts had some support.http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=429281 2001-10-30 MP backs council merger idea Times & Star 29 December 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070928055534/http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=429281 28 September 2007 The issue was also considered in Northumberland, with the county council in favour of one Northumberland unitary authority. Alan Beith, the MP for Berwick at the far north of Northumberland, suggested instead a three unitary solution, with authorities for the largely rural north and south-west, and an authority for the urban south-east (Wansbeck and Blyth Valley).http://www.berwicktoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=970&ArticleID=1855198 Leader voices fears for residents with shake-up Berwick Today 2006-11-02 29 December 2007 August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Consultation period On 26 January 2007, the government confirmed that 26 proposals for unitary authorities had been received.http://www.24dash.com/localgovernment/15788.htm Twenty-six councils bid to become unitary authorities 2007-01-26 24dash.com 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234713/http://www.24dash.com/localgovernment/15788.htm 26 September 2007 dead Various county councils proposed they should become unitary authorities: Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Durham, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Districts seeking to become unitary authorities on their own were Bedford, Exeter, Ipswich, Lancaster, Oxford, Preston. Pendle and Burnley proposed merging as a unitary authority. On 27 March 2007, the government announced that the proposals by Bedfordshire, Bedford, Cornwall, Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Exeter, Ipswich, North Yorkshire, Norwich, Shropshire, Somerset and Wiltshire to become unitary authorities would go into the next phase, as would the proposal of Chester for a two-unitary authority Cheshire and by the districts of Northumberland for a two-unitary Northumberland.http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2007/03/27/woolas-announces-sixteen-successful-bids-for-unitary-status-to-improve-local-services Woolas announces sixteen successful bids for unitary status to improve local services 2007-03-27 29 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071227092535/http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/10037 27 December 2007 dead On 25 July 2007 it was announced that the unitary proposals by Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset Unitary authority plan rejected BBC News 2007-07-25 https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/6915789.stm 2007-07-29 had been rejected.http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/display.var.1572139.0.worst_unitary_fears_confirmed.php Worst unitary fears confirmed The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald On 5 December 2007 it was explained that the unitary proposals by Exeter, and Ipswich, like those of Norwich (which were referred for review on 25 July 2007) did not meet the requirements to proceed; but may be reconsidered after the Boundary Committee has conducted a review of local government structures across the whole of the two-tier counties they are currently a part of. A legal challenge was made by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and by Congleton Borough Council to the government's decisions, on the basis (amongst other things) that the reviews were made without statutory authority. The High Court and then on 4 March 2008 the Court of Appeal rejected the challenge, finding that the review had been legalised retrospectively.Shrewsbury and Atcham BC and another v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government; [2008] EWCA Civ 148 Region Proposed by Proposal Result East Bedfordshire County Council single unitary authority left Not proceedingBedford Borough Council unitary authority with existing boundaries left ImplementedMid Bedfordshire District CouncilSouth Bedfordshire District Council unitary Central Bedfordshire left ImplementedIpswich Borough Council unitary authority with existing boundaries Referred to Boundary Committee who decided in February 2010 that while there was support for a unitary structure in Suffolk there were divergent views on what that structure should be. Accordingly, they suggested the establishment of "a countywide constitutional convention to reach a consensus on a unitary solution".Boundary Committee for England - Structural reviewshttp://www.communities.gov.uk/news/localgovernment/1463780 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100304114510/http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/localgovernment/1463780 dead 4 March 2010 Unitary authorities — Exeter and Norwich get green light; Suffolk to decide locally; no change for Norfolk and Devon 10 February 2010 Newsroom Communities and Local Government 9 February 2010Norwich City Council unitary authority with existing boundaries Referred to Boundary Committee. In February 2010 it was announced that Norwich was to become a unitary authority in April 2011, subject to the approval of Parliament. East Midlands no bids London not affected by the review North East Durham County Council single unitary authority left Implemented Northumberland County Council single unitary authority left Implemented Northumberland districts two unitary authorities left Not proceeding North West Cheshire County Council single unitary authority left Not proceedingChester City Council two unitary authorities:Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire EastChester City Council - People & Places https://web.archive.org/web/20071218032301/http://www.chester.gov.uk/peopleandplaces/ 18 December 2007 left ImplementedCumbria County Council single unitary authority left Not proceeding South East no bids South West Cornwall County Council single unitary authority, Cornwall Council left Implemented Exeter City Council unitary authority with existing boundaries Referred to Boundary Committee. In February 2010 it was announced that Exeter was to become a unitary authority in April 2011, subject to the approval of Parliament. Somerset County Council single unitary authority left Not proceeding Wiltshire County Council single unitary authority left Implemented Yorkshire and the Humber North Yorkshire County Council single unitary authority left Not proceeding West Midlands Shropshire County Council single unitary authority left Implemented † - in the context of examining options for unitary arrangements in the wider county area. ‡ - the Boundary Committee is asked to advise whether an alternative unitary proposal for Norwich based on revised council boundaries could deliver the required improvements. Successful proposals On 27 March 2007 Local Government Minister Phil Woolas announced that 16 councils bidding for unitary status had been shortlisted to go forward for public consultation.Communities and Local Government - Woolas announces sixteen successful bids for unitary status to improve local services https://web.archive.org/web/20080731131501/http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/woolasannouncessixteen 2008-07-31 . 27 March 2007. On 25 July 2007 Woolas' successor John Healey announced that nine proposals would proceed, subject to the approval of Parliament in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.Communities and Local Government - Healey announces nine successful unitary proposals https://web.archive.org/web/20071209184536/http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/healey-announces-nine 9 December 2007 . 25 July 2007. A further announcement on 5 December indicated that only the five county level proposals (Cornwall, Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire, and Wiltshire) would proceed, while further consideration was to be given to the various proposals submitted for two more county areas (Bedfordshire and Cheshire).Communities and Local Government - Green light for five flagship Unitary Councils https://web.archive.org/web/20080107061130/http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/575159 7 January 2008 . 5 Dec 2007. On 18 December it was confirmed that the two-authority plan for Cheshire would proceed.Communities and Local Government - Two flagship unitary Cheshire councils to proceed https://web.archive.org/web/20080228223700/http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/618102 28 February 2008 . 18 Dec 2007. On 6 March 2008 it was confirmed that proposals for Bedford Borough Council to become a unitary authority on its existing boundaries, and for Mid Bedfordshire District Council and South Bedfordshire District Council to merge to create a new Central Bedfordshire authority would be implemented. Single authorities In the following areas, the existing non-metropolitan county has now also become a non-metropolitan district (i.e. a "unitary county") and the previously existing non-metropolitan districts have been abolished. Ceremonial county Non-metropolitan districtsabolished in 2009 New unitary authorityfrom 2009 Existing unitary authoritiesfrom 1990s reforms Map pre-2009 Map after 2009 Cornwall PenwithKerrierCarrickRestormel (Borough)CaradonNorth Cornwall Cornwall Isles of Scilly † 115px|center North Cornwall Caradon Restormel Carrick Kerrier Penwith Isles of Scilly 115px|center Cornwall Isles of Scilly Durham Durham (City)EasingtonSedgefield (Borough)TeesdaleWear ValleyDerwentsideChester-le-Street Durham HartlepoolDarlingtonStockton-on-Tees (part) 115px|center City of Durham Easington Sedgefield Teesdale Wear Valley Derwentside Chester-le-Street Hartlepool Darlington Stockton-on-Tees 115px|center County Durham Hartlepool Darlington Stockton-on-Tees Northumberland Blyth Valley (Borough)WansbeckCastle Morpeth (Borough)TynedaleAlnwickBerwick-upon-Tweed (Borough) Northumberland none 115px|center Berwick-upon-Tweed Alnwick Tynedale Castle Morpeth Wansbeck Blyth Valley 115px|center Northumberland Shropshire North ShropshireOswestry (Borough)Shrewsbury and Atcham (Borough)South ShropshireBridgnorth Shropshire Telford and Wrekin 115px|center North Shropshire Oswestry Shrewsbury and Atcham South Shropshire Bridgnorth Telford and Wrekin 115px|center Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Wiltshire SalisburyWest WiltshireKennetNorth Wiltshire Wiltshire Swindon 115px|center Salisbury District West Wiltshire Kennet District North Wiltshire Swindon 115px|center Wiltshire Swindon † sui generis unitary authority since 1890 Multiple authorities In the following areas, the pre-2009 non-metropolitan counties have been abolished. Each of the two new non-metropolitan districts in Cheshire (resulting from amalgamations of the existing districts) is now also a non-metropolitan county. In Bedfordshire, the new Central Bedfordshire district (resulting from the amalgamation of two existing districts) is now also a non-metropolitan county, and the previous Bedford district is now a unitary authority area. Ceremonial county Non-metropolitan districtsabolished in 2009 New unitary authoritiesfrom 2009 Existing unitary authoritiesfrom 1990s reforms Map pre-2009 Map after 2009 Bedfordshire Mid BedfordshireSouth Bedfordshire Bedford ‡Central Bedfordshire Luton 115px|center Bedford Mid Bedfordshire South Bedfordshire Luton 115px|center Bedford Central Bedfordshire Luton Cheshire Ellesmere Port and Neston (Borough)Chester (District and City)Crewe and Nantwich (Borough)Congleton (Borough)Macclesfield (Borough)Vale Royal (Borough) Cheshire West and ChesterBBC News, 25 July 2007 - County split into two authorities. Retrieval Date: 25 July 2007.Macclesfield borough council press release 25 July 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20080112083743/http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk/standardpage.asp?pageid=11910&item=382 12 January 2008 Retrieval Date: 25 July 2007.Cheshire East WarringtonHalton 115px|center Ellesmere Port and Neston Chester Crewe and Nantwich Congleton Macclesfield Vale Royal Halton Warrington 115px|center Cheshire West and Chester Cheshire East Warrington Halton ‡ existing district Further changes The Boundary Committee for England has completed its structural reviews for Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon.http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/about-structural-reviews About structural reviews - Electoral Commission 2008-08-11 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080810075929/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/about-structural-reviews 2008-08-10 Initial draft proposals were published in July 2008. The committee was expected to make final recommendations by 31 December 2008, but these were delayed, due to legal challenges;http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/boundary-committee-news-centre/structural-reviews/statement-from-the-boundary-committee http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090225023441/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/boundary-committee-news-centre/structural-reviews/statement-from-the-boundary-committee dead 25 February 2009 Unitary patterns of local government in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon 6 February 2009 webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk and because they didn't assess the potential new authorities in proposals which would have split up the counties between two or more unitaries in aggregate. As a result, a further set of draft proposals were published in March 2009: Draft proposals for Devon The further draft recommendations propose two unitary options: A Devon unitary authority comprising the existing county of Devon, with no changes to Plymouth and Torbay. An Exeter and Exmouth unitary authority, and a unitary authority covering the remainder of Devon, with no changes to Plymouth and Torbay.http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/72767/Devon-further-draft-proposals-Web-Final.pdf Archived copy www.electoralcommission.org.uk 17 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20090607190940/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/72767/Devon-further-draft-proposals-Web-Final.pdf 7 June 2009 dead Draft proposals for Norfolk The further draft recommendations propose two unitary options: A single Norfolk unitary authority comprising the existing county of Norfolk. A two authority structure with greater Norwich unitary authority and a rural Norfolk unitary authority for the rest of the county.http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/72769/Norfolk-Further-Draft-Proposals-Web-FINAL.pdf Archived copy www.electoralcommission.org.uk 17 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20090608150051/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/72769/Norfolk-Further-Draft-Proposals-Web-FINAL.pdf 8 June 2009 dead Draft proposals for Suffolk The further draft recommendations propose two unitary options: A single Suffolk unitary authority comprising the existing county of Suffolk. A two authority structure with a North Haven http://www.unitarynews.com/ North Haven Unitary News 2009-06-07 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090509213347/http://www.unitarynews.com/ 2009-05-09 unitary authority consisting of Ipswich and Felixstowe, and a rural Suffolk unitary authority for the rest of the county.http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/72771/Suffolk-Further-Draft-Proposals-Web-Final.pdf Archived copy www.electoralcommission.org.uk 17 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20090608150100/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/72771/Suffolk-Further-Draft-Proposals-Web-Final.pdf 8 June 2009 dead Final recommendations Final recommendations were then due in July 2009, but a successful legal challenge from three District Councils in Suffolk wanting a three unitary model for Suffolk to be considered by the committee resulted in a further delay. The Boundary Committee appealed this decision in favour of Forest Heath, St Edmundsbury & Waveney Councils in October 2009; in December (2009) they found out their appeal had been successful. The Boundary Committee has now submitted its final recommendations to the Secretary of State. In all three counties the committee has stated that its preferred option is for a countywide unitary covering the whole of the existing two-tier area to be implemented. In addition in relation to Suffolk they have stated they have no major reservations about the two unitary pattern of North Haven & Rural Suffolk being adopted.http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/all-reviews/eastern/suffolk/suffolk-structural-review Suffolk structural review - Electoral Commission www.electoralcommission.org.uk 17 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20080910221158/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/all-reviews/eastern/suffolk/suffolk-structural-review 10 September 2008 dead Interested parties had until 19 January 2010 to make their representations to the Secretary of State. Decision on reform On 10 February 2010, Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Local Government, announced the proposed final decisions on the unitary proposals: Norwich to become a unitary authority, the remainder of Norfolk to retain two-tier structure due to lack of support for change. Exeter to become a unitary authority, the remainder of Devon to retain two-tier structure, again due to lack of support locally. The boundaries of Exeter are to remain unchanged.http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12312 Unitary Gets Green Light 10 February 2010 Exeter City Council 9 February 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110807120905/http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12312 7 August 2011 Suffolk to be divided into unitary authority areas, the boundaries of which will be decided by a countywide convention. The changes in Devon/Exeter and Norfolk/Norwich were to come into effect in April 2011, subject to judicial review. Draft structural changes orders were approved by the House of Lords on 22 March 2010,https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldhansrd/text/100322-0012.htm Lords Hansard text for 22 Mar 201022 Mar 2010 (pt 0012) Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Lords Westminster publications.parliament.uk though the Lords took the unusual step of formally noting its regret.The Lords amended the Government motions approving the draft orders to add: "but this House regrets that Her Majesty's Government have laid before Parliament the draft Order, which does not comply with the Government's published criteria with respect to affordability of the future structure, without providing more evidence on whether the course proposed is likely to achieve its declared policy objective; and calls on Her Majesty's Government not to proceed with the draft Order before conducting further consultation with the residents of Norwich and Norfolk" and similarly for "...Exeter and Devon". The amendments did not alter the draft orders or affect the legal validity of the Lords approval. The House of Commons approved the draft orders on 23 March.https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100323/debtext/100323-0014.htm House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 Mar 2010 (pt 0014) Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons Westminster publications.parliament.uk The final Exeter and Norwich orders were made on 24 March following a Government statement responding to the Lords vote.https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldhansrd/text/100324-wms0002.htm Lords Hansard text for 24 Mar 201024 Mar 2010 (pt 0002) Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Lords Westminster publications.parliament.uk However, the orders were quashed in a judicial review Exeter and Norwich each lose 13 councillors BBC News Online 2010-07-05 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10509395 2010-08-03 causing elections to be held in Exeter and Norwich in September 2010. September by-elections for Exeter and Norwich BBC News Online 2010-07-19 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10687867 2010-08-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20100724060449/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10687867 24 July 2010 live Cancellation of further structural changes Local Government Act 2010 The Queen's Speech at the May 2010 State Opening of Parliament included a Local Government Bill to revoke structural change orders that would have established Exeter and Norwich as unitary authorities and prevent the implementation of the Suffolk unitary proposals.http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsstories/newsroom/1600142 Queen's Speech 2010 The bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 27 May 2010.http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/localgovernmenthl.html Local Government Act 2010 — UK Parliament services.parliament.uk See also History of local government in England Local government in England Earlier local government reforms: 1974 structural changes to local government in England 1995–1998 structural changes to local government in England Later local government reforms: 2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England Upcoming structural changes to local government in England History of local government districts in Durham References External links Office of Public Sector Information: Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 Cornwall (Structural Change) Order 2008 County Durham (Structural Change) Order 2008 Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008 Shropshire (Structural Change) Order 2008 Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008 Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010 Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 Category:History of local government in England Structural changes to local government Category:2009 in British politics Category:Public policy in England Category:Mergers of administrative divisions