The government has begun consultations on a major reorganisation of social care responsibilities that could reshape local government in around one-sixth of England and affect thousands of social care workers.
The plans would see 28 of the 153 councils currently responsible for children’s and adult social care undergo boundary changes, as part of a broader push to end two-tier local government structures across England.
In two-tier areas, county councils currently handle major services such as social care, education and transport, while district councils are responsible for housing, waste collection and planning. The government now wants to replace this system with single, unitary authorities that manage all local services in one structure.
Ministers say the move will improve efficiency, speed up decision-making and deliver better value for money. Under the proposals, new unitary councils would typically serve populations of at least 500,000 people.
At present, most social services authorities already operate as unitary councils, but 21 county councils still manage social care in two-tier areas. The reorganisation would also affect 20 smaller neighbouring unitary authorities, expanding the scope of the changes.
Affected councils have been asked to submit detailed reorganisation proposals to the government. These will then be put out for public consultation before ministers decide which plans to approve. Once decisions are made, legislation will be introduced to formally create the new councils, along with timelines for elections and the start of operations.
Social workers and other care staff will transfer to the new authorities under TUPE regulations, which protect employees’ existing pay, terms and conditions and ensure continuity of service.
Cllr Matthew Hicks, Chair of the County Councils Network, described the consultation as a significant moment, calling the reforms “the biggest and most complex changes to local government in a generation.” He urged residents and stakeholders to take part in the process.
Hicks said county councils had submitted evidence-based proposals designed to improve services and reduce bureaucracy, but warned that some competing plans risk breaking up high-performing care services into smaller councils that fall below government size criteria. He also questioned claims of large savings being made without clear evidence.
He stressed that final decisions must be based on evidence rather than politics, warning that the outcome would shape local services for years to come. The County Councils Network, he added, would continue to support councils throughout the reorganisation process and engage with the government over implementation timelines.
