Overview
- Ministers have invited councils to request postponement of May 2026 local elections, citing capacity pressures from reorganisation and concerns over costs.
- Norfolk’s leader says the county will not seek a delay, while Norwich City Council confirms the issue remains under discussion with no decision yet.
- Suffolk County Council has called extraordinary council and cabinet meetings for January 12 as opposition councillors plan a protest at Endeavour House.
- Mayoral elections for Norfolk and Suffolk have already been pushed back to May 2028 to allow time for restructuring.
- Councils have until January 15 to submit representations and ministers say final decisions will follow early this year, with Oxford and West Oxfordshire also weighing their responses after local Conservatives urged votes proceed as planned.