The Government’s local government reform gives councils two routes through change. They are called Head Start and Backstop. The names are doing a lot of work, and understanding the difference is the key to following what your council is doing. This guide explains both.
Two pathways, one goal
The Government wants to reorganise local government, with a clear preference for new unitary authorities. It has set up two pathways to get there. Head Start is the voluntary, council-led route. Backstop is the Government-led route for councils that do not, or cannot, take the first option. The Government has been clear that keeping the status quo is not on the table.
The Head Start pathway
Head Start was announced on 5 May 2026. It lets groups of two or more councils work together and put forward their own proposal to reorganise into a new unitary authority. The appeal is control: councils that move early get to shape their own future rather than have a structure imposed on them.
The deadline. Councils have until 9 August 2026 to submit outline proposals. Ministers have described this timeframe as non-negotiable, which puts real pressure on councils that want to take part.
Who can apply. A proposal must be submitted jointly by at least two territorial authorities, representing either a majority of the affected councils or a majority of the population in the proposed area.
How proposals are judged. Proposals are assessed against five criteria: deliverability, support for the new planning system, simplification, economies of scale, and maintenance of a strong local voice.
The Backstop pathway
Backstop is what happens to councils that do not submit a Head Start proposal, or whose proposal is not accepted. Rather than designing their own future, these councils enter a Government-led process after the 2028 local elections, with limited ability to influence the outcome.
Under the Backstop, the Government has signalled it would apply a standardised approach, including transitional governance arrangements such as a board of mayors or another interim body in place of elected regional councillors. In plain terms, Backstop means the decisions get made for you rather than by you.
The key dates
5 May 2026. The Head Start pathway is announced.
9 August 2026. Deadline for councils to submit outline proposals under Head Start.
Late 2026. Cabinet considers which proposals progress to detailed design.
7 November 2026. The general election, which could affect the direction and pace of reform.
2028. Local elections, after which the wider Government-led process and the Backstop are expected to apply.
One important caveat
No enabling legislation is yet in place, and the November 2026 general election adds genuine uncertainty. Councils are working to the current direction while knowing it could change. That is why many are exploring options without committing, and why community input over the next year matters.
