LGR jigsaw is painstakingly pieced together as more confusion looms

COUNCILS across Devon are putting the final pieces into what one town hall leader has described as the toughest jigsaw he has ever seen.

- By GUY HENDERSON Local Democracy Reporter

In November all of the county's local authorities will tell the Government what they want to do about Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) planned from 2028.

The plan from Westminster is to do away with a level of local government entirely, with large unitary councils taking on the roles currently held by county and district councils.

All of Devon's second-tier and unitary councils will cease to exist in their current forms.

The Government would dearly like all councils to agree on their future structures, and hand in a document on which they all agree. The Government will announce its decision in the late spring or early summer next year.

Now council leaders are also beginning to have their doubts about the timetable, fearing that the recent cabinet reshuffle might cause the scheduled dates to drag. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and local government minister Jim McMahon both left their roles last week, having both been fervent advocates of revamping the council system.

Another local government minister - Steve Reed - has been found, but the role of deputy PM is still up for grabs.