PLANS for a major shake-up of local government are on hold, after the government launched a review in light of new legal advice.Proposals to merge some smaller councils to form larger authorities have been withdrawn while plans for 14 other areas, including Gloucestershire will also be reviewed and paused.

Confirming the review in Parliament, Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner told MPs 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".

West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion responded and said: “The uncertainty around local government reform also affects policing directly.

“The Government has said that new strategic authorities will set the future footprint for how policing is governed and delivered. Until there is clarity on what those authorities will look like, forces cannot plan confidently or align priorities with the councils and partners they work with every day.

“I fear decisions so far have been driven by political intent rather than local views. I hope this pause gives the Government the chance to take stock, look again and find a long‑term solution by listening to local communities and delivering reform that not only stands up legally but delivers the change that is genuinely needed.”

“Reform to our local public services, including policing and local government, is needed - that’s not in question.

“Communities deserve services that are modern, effective and efficient. But once again, the mission and the delivery are drifting apart.

“Decisions of this scale must be lawful, transparent and shaped by local communities.

“We’ve seen successive governments push through structural change only for it to be challenged or overturned - and yet the same mistakes continue to be made.”