County council requests local election delay

Stephen Davies, Conservative leader of Gloucestershire County Council, is keen to delay May's local elections

A letter has been sent to the Government asking for the postponement of the May elections in Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet met on Thursday afternoon to discuss the prospect of delaying the election until 2026 following the Government's plans to abolish district councils.

The Conservatives have been in power at the county council for two decades, and have pushed for the delay to save time and money.

But Liberal Democrats councillors have accused the party of trying to take political advantage.

'Speed is an advantage'

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced in December that all district councils in England will be abolished, with regional mayors to be introduced in all areas.

This means the likes of Gloucester City Council and Stroud District Council, for example, will cease to exist.

The Conservatives at Shire Hall said holding the elections in 2026 would allow members of the public to vote in councillors for the new unitary council.

Stephen Davies, the leader of the council, said: "While you're going through the process, you've still got to continue to do the day job.

"So the longer you extend the process, the more difficult it is to keep control over our finance as a county, and also that the districts keep focused on being districts until we achieve unitary.

"Speed, I think, is an advantage. It certainly is for our staff."

Lisa Spivey is hopeful with regards to the results of the next local election

Lisa Spivey, Liberal Democrat councillor for the South Cotswolds, said people "really want change" in Gloucestershire.

Following the Conservative defeat in the General Election last summer, the Lib Dems are anticipating taking over Gloucestershire.

"I think if I were the Conservatives, I would also probably want to be clinging on with every single fingernail to the last vestiges of power," she said.

"But I think it's been really, really clear, we've seen it in the General Election in July last year that people really want change and that it's time for something new, something fresh, and a better, ambitious view for Gloucestershire."