Common Questions

Why did the Local Government Association abandon its neutrality on council reorganisation?

New chair Eamonn O'Brien used his opening day in July 2026 to ask the incoming prime minister to adjust the Local Government Reorganisation timetable where there is local agreement, breaking the LGA's neutral stance for the first time since December 2024.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage

Who is the chair of the Local Government Association?

Eamonn O'Brien, a Labour councillor and Leader of Bury Council, was elected chair of the Local Government Association in July 2026.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage

How many councils are on Exceptional Financial Support in 2026?

The LGA found 22% of upper-tier councils responsible for adult social care, children's services and statutory housing are on Exceptional Financial Support for 2026/27.Source: Local Government Association

Background

The Local Government Association is the cross-party membership body representing councils in England and Wales, led by Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat council leaders. In its Spring Statement submission ahead of the 7 May 2026 elections, the LGA found that 22% of upper-tier councils were balancing 2026/27 budgets solely through Exceptional Financial Support, concluding that EFS 'is no longer exceptional, but is becoming an ever more relied upon mechanism'. The finding landed mid-campaign, with Birmingham, Nottingham and Thurrock's Section 114 notices providing the backdrop; all parties used the data, though they differed on causes and remedies.

Labour councillor Eamonn O'Brien, Leader of Bury Council, was elected LGA chair in July 2026. On his opening day at the LGA conference in the week of 7 July, he broke the body's neutrality on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for the first time since December 2024, telling the incoming prime minister to 'adjust' the LGR timetable 'where there is local agreement', citing risks to statutory services.

The intervention puts the sector's institutional voice behind an argument Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk are already making through judicial review of the reorganisation programme, and lands the timetable question on the desk of incoming prime minister Andy Burnham as one of his first tests in office.