Stevenage Borough Council is one of several local authorities going through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) where elections will be postponed for one year.

The Secretary of State has outlined several reasons for this decision to postpone the elections, this includes:

• To relieve councils of the additional capacity and resource pressure of running full elections during an intensive reorganisation period.
• To avoid the costs associated with electing members to councils that will be abolished shortly afterwards under LGR proposals.
• To ensure councils can direct their full attention to delivering the complex work required ahead of the proposed new unitary structures going live in April 2028.

The Government will now begin the legislative process, including laying the required Statutory Instrument before Parliament. An explanatory memorandum will also be published, summarising the representations received from councils, MPs, residents and other stakeholders.

A judicial review relating to the potential postponement of May 2026 elections will be heard on 19 and 20 February. We will continue to monitor the outcome closely and will provide an update once the court has issued its decision.

Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said,

“Local democracy and regular elections are vital to sustaining public confidence in all levels of government. Our council wants to help ensure a clear, consistent message is shared about what today’s announcement means for Stevenage residents.

“Our focus is on making sure we are well‑placed for the work ahead as LGR continues. The delay of one year will mean we can make sure the necessary resources are available for reorganisation work and avoid wasteful costs from holding elections to a council that will be restructured soon, and for councillors elected only two years ago.

“The delay is a small part of the changes that await our council, as we navigate the impact of new and streamlined structures in local government for Hertfordshire. This is the most significant modernisation of local government in fifty years and provides an opportunity to better serve our community into the future.”