Cheltenham Borough Council’s scheduled elections for 2026 could be postponed due to ongoing local government restructuring in Gloucestershire. The Government is aiming to replace the current two-tier system—which includes Gloucestershire County Council and six district councils—with new unitary authorities. Three proposals have been put forward to ministers, with the new councils expected to be established by April 2028.
Given this timeline, Cheltenham Borough Council has formally requested postponement of its planned half-elections next year. Historically, the council held elections in halves every two years, but due to boundary changes, it conducted all-out elections in 2024 to elect 40 councillors.
Council leader Rowena Hay (Lib Dem, Oakley) sent a letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government arguing that postponing the 2026 elections would provide better value for taxpayers. She emphasized that councillors elected in 2024 still hold a strong democratic mandate, and holding elections just a year before elections for the new shadow authorities in 2027 is not prudent.
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Hay highlighted the financial pressures on local councils, noting the Government expects authorities to cover the full cost of implementing the reorganisation without additional Treasury funding. She stated, “While the savings from postponing the 2026 election may not be large, every possible saving helps protect vital services during this unfunded transition.”
The council has requested clarity on the Government’s stance and the practical steps toward allowing the current councillors to serve until the 2027 unitary council elections, eliminating the need for interim elections in 2026.
In response, ministers announced they will offer flexibility to councils involved in reorganisation, inviting 63 areas undergoing local government changes to comment on election postponements. The Government set a January 15 deadline to collect views, with a decision expected early next year.
Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern, acknowledged the challenges councils face balancing reorganisation and resource-intensive elections for soon-to-be-replaced authorities. She said, “We’re listening to councils to ensure they can focus on delivering vital services while preparing for change.”
While councils across 21 reorganisation areas are affected, Surrey follows a faster timetable, with elections planned for May 2026, meaning they were not asked about postponement.
If approved, the 2026 local elections in Cheltenham and other areas would be delayed by one year, taking place in May 2027 alongside elections to the new unitary councils, which are expected to begin operating in April 2028.