The deadline for councils on the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) to submit final LGR proposals is 26 September 2025. The six areas on the DPP will get mayors with new powers; over housing and transport for example.
Devolution Priority Programme areas are: Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton, Hampshire & Solent.
Most councils fall into the second, non-priority category, with 14 two-tier areas plus some small neighbouring unitaries, in this round of reorganisation. The proposal deadline for all non-priority councils is 28 November.
Currently, the timeframe for all devolution and reorganisation completion is short. Priority devolution areas have a vesting date of 1 April 2027, while non-priority councils have until 1 April 2028 to become unitaries. The Government’s published timetable envisages elections for mayors and shadow unitary authorities a year ahead of each vesting date.
ALARM member councils
ALARM’s recent poll of members in councils planning for local government reorganisation, reflects some uncertainty on the immediate and long-term impact on insurance arrangements and risk management, and the steps and skills needed to address the changes.
We reached out to members from ALARM’s Local and Central Government Group, asking 12 questions to gauge how informed and engaged risk and insurance teams are in their councils’ LGR activity.
Of the members polled, over half of those on the priority devolution path reflected a high level of involvement in LGR activities in their councils.
ALARM support
Many members see ALARM as a useful and reliable source of information and insight, with intelligence from ALARM’s partner organisations and experts providing valuable content.
In this instance, ALARM is reviewing how it can support members through devolution and reorganisation processes, to manage risk and insurance successfully.
In response to ALARM’s poll question: ‘would you welcome guidance on important risk and insurance considerations in relation to local government reorganisation?’ 79% of recipients answered ‘yes’.
Unsurprisingly, ‘aligning risk management practices across distinct organisations,’ came out as the top area of interest, with over 50% of those polled looking for information and insight. While ‘considerations for managing long-tail liabilities through local government reorganisation,’ was the number one priority in 25% of ALARM council responses.
