Public Sector Reform
2 years today -this is
not an April fool!
LGR (01.04.26)

Western
Suffolk
Eastern &
Central
Suffolk
Ipswich &
Southern
Suffolk

Beginning of clarity
•Decision letter (25.03.26) Local government reorganisation: decision letter to Suffolk
council leaders – GOV.UK
•Structural Changes Order letter (26.03.26)
•Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) – Mark Ash
•£900k government funding for each unitary

Council name Number of
Cllrs
Size of joint
committee
Deputy SROReturning
Officer
Ipswich & Southern60? 10 TBC TBC
Western 60? 8 TBC TBC
Central & Eastern60? 8 TBC TBC

Caveats
•Judicial Review?
•2026 Elections & Politics!
•Point of no return – SCO ‘made’ (Autumn 2026)

Two statutory periods of transition – established by Structural
Change Order (SCO), preceded by voluntary arrangements
SCO comes
into force
Inaugural
elections for
new councils
Vesting DayDefined date
after
elections
First transition period Second transition period
Voluntary joint
committees?
SoS decision

DISCOVERY DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION
Now and into 1
st
transition
Overlapping 1
st
and 2
nd
transition
2
nd
transition and beyond
Transition (‘Safe & Legal’) v Transformation

Implementation bodies
SCO comes
into force
Inaugural
elections for
new councils
Vesting Day
Defined
date after
elections
First transition period Second transition period
Three Joint Committees
Set up within
14 days of SCO
End after first
meeting of
Shadow Authority
(up to 14 days
after election)
4-year term
Shadow Council Cabinets

Joint Committees’ role
Do Do not
•Carry out preparatory functions
•Formulate proposals for a code of conduct
and governance model for the new unitary
•Create implementation (officer) team
•Prepare an implementation plan
•Give direction to the implementation team
•Gather financial information to inform early
budget-setting by Shadow Council
•Ensure adequate arrangements are proposed
for the unitary councils to undertake its
activities (e.g. budget setting)
•Prepare job profiles & key accountabilities for
Statutory Officers (to be appointed by Shadow)
•Take decisions on behalf of new councils
•Fetter any future decisions of new Shadows
•Carry out recruitment
•Design or implement operating models
•Consider, set or develop budgets
•Make decisions about service delivery or policy

Shadow Council’s role
Second transition period
•Agree a Leader & Cabinet governance model
•Agree Code of Conduct
•Appoint interim & then permanent Head of Paid
Service, s151 Officer, Monitoring Officer
•Agree other key interim appointments
•Agree Member allowances
•Agree constitution
•Agree Vision, Target Operating Model & Values
•Set first budget

Role of B&MS (predecessor councils)
•Continue to operate with legal competence, independence and
authority to vesting day
•Deliver BAU services & prepare for transfer to new councils
•The SCO places duties:
•consult & co-operate with each other to secure a good transition of
functions, property, rights and liabilities
•provide any information reasonably requested by other current or
Shadow councils
•release officers from normal duties as reasonably required
•If section 24 direction applied then need consent from Shadow
Council(s) or SoS to dispose of assets or enter into large contracts

First transition period
SCO comes
into force
Inaugural
elections for
new council
May 2027
Vesting Day
1 April 2028
Defined date
after elections
Three Joint Committees Shadow Cabinets
New
unitary
councils –
full powers
and
functions
Second transition period
Implementation Team
Predecessor councils
Full picture
March – Autumn
Voluntary Joint
Committees
Voluntary joint
committees?
SoS decision

March 2026
•‘Minded to
decision’
for 3
councils
May 2026

•Suffolk
County
Council &
Ipswich
Borough
Council
Elections
Summer
2026
•Draft
Structural
Changes
Order laid
•Consent to
creation of
Mayoral
Combined
Authority
Autumn 2026
•Structural
Changes
Order
made
•Draft
Section 24
directions
published
LGR & Devolution

Autumn 26
•Joint
Committees
formally
established
•Start of
Combined
Authority
May 27
• Election of 3
shadow unitary
Councils
•Joint
Committees
cease
1st April 28
•Current
County,
District &
Boroughs
dissolved
•Vesting Day
May 2028
•Mayoral
Election
LGR & Devolution

Some lessons from elsewhere
•Ruthless prioritisation
•Be flexible
•Building relationships essential because collaboration is key
•Communicate, communicate, communicate
•You can’t start too soon
•Make use of what you already have
•Capacity implications

•Challenge Structural Changes Order (SCO) letter
regarding council names, sizes and joint committees
•Respond by 29 May regarding warding, parish elections
and Returning Officers for shadow elections
•Appoint Programme Director
•Review & scope officer workstreams – what’s missing,
what might sit better in a different theme / merged or
separated out
•Populate project teams to support workstream leads
•Consider whether to establish voluntary joint committees
Next Steps