90% of councillors could go - district leaders fear being cut out of planning decisions

District council representatives have voiced concerns that they could be sidelined from key planning decisions under the government’s proposed regional reorganisation of local authorities.

The plans – which would replace existing local government structures with larger unitary authorities serving populations of around 500,000 - have prompted warnings from leading academics about the future of local democracy.

In a paper published by the thinktank Localis, the academics estimate that councillor numbers could fall by as much as 90%, from roughly 12,000 to just 1,200 nationwide. Such a reduction, they argue, would place unsustainable workloads on those remaining, with the risk of years of disruption.

They caution that the loss of local representation could make it harder for residents to engage with their elected officials and could leave communities feeling disconnected from decision-making. “Local government may become less local,” the paper warns, with new structures potentially distracting councils from their statutory duties, including meeting housing targets and delivering frontline services.

With ministers yet to confirm the full scope and timetable for reorganisation, district councils are urging the government to ensure they remain active participants in planning decisions and other areas vital to their communities.