How pausing plans to merge councils affects Cambridgeshire

Plans to merge seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are being reviewed.

The government has decided to reconsider proposals to abolish two-tier council systems across England following new legal advice.

In some areas, mergers have been scrapped, while in other areas they have been put on hold.

Here is what it means for voters in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Plans to reorganise local government in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which have already been delayed, were due for an update in September.

They involved forming two or three bigger councils - which are responsible for all services - by merging existing ones, including:

• Cambridgeshire County Council
• Cambridge City Council
• East Cambridgeshire District Council
• Fenland District Council
• Huntingdonshire District Council
• Peterborough City Council
• South Cambridgeshire District Council

However, these plans are being "reviewed and paused" while the government reconsiders its shake-up of local government across England.

It means local elections in Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Cambridge City will go ahead in 2027.

South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire already had their elections in May.

The idea previously was to hold "shadow elections" in May 2027 across the county for the new unitary authorities, which would be up and running the following year.

The government said it wanted to replace the two-tier system in the country with single unitary authorities to eliminate duplication and drive efficiency and savings.

Currently, lower-tier district councils look after things like bin collections, council tax payments and leisure facilities.

The county council, as the upper-tier authority, has responsibilities including public health, special educational needs and disability (SEND) services and highways.

The exception is Peterborough, which is already a unitary authority and covers all these services.

There are four options on the table for Cambridgeshire, which suggest creating either two or three new councils for the whole county.

Political leaders say the plans have involved thousands of hours of work and left them in limbo.

Cambridgeshire County Council's Liberal Democrat leader, Lucy Nethsingha, has called for clarity on what happens next, adding: "I can see the rationale for unitaries, but the process has been a charade."

Anna Bailey, the Conservative leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said the government's handling of the proposals was "shambolic".

"I seriously object to the uncertainty that ministers have created for councils, staff, residents and taxpayers," said Bailey.

Shabina Qayyum, the Labour leader of Peterborough City Council, said she understood the need for the review and that it was "important the government [took] its time" for the "best outcome possible".

Voters in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough still do not know exactly how their councils will be carved up – or if the process will go ahead.

Speaking about the review of the plans in Parliament, Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner said that "in light of legal advice, I want to satisfy myself firstly that the right process is in place, that it is robust, and of course complies with the law".

She added: "And secondly, I want to fully test whether our proposals for local government reorganisation meet the priorities of a new administration and a new prime minister and any additional considerations."

Rayner acknowledged the announcement was "disappointing" and said the government "did not take this lightly".

She added that the government was "determined more than ever to devolve power closer to the people we represent" - a key priority of new PM Andy Burnham.

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