The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) publishes organograms on staff roles and salaries every quarter on gov.uk. The data for June is available here: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Organograms of staff roles and salaries - National Data Library (https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/73e0260a-0516-44ff-b4eb-ba9fec420c45/organograms-of-staff-roles-and-salaries)

The FCDO will publish the September organogram at the end of November.

The Government provided a total of £7.6m in 25/26 to support the 21 areas undergoing local government reorganisation to develop proposals.

The Government also paid out £1.8m in August 2026 to Surrey, with new councils taking on responsibilities from April 2027. This was part of the committed £63 million capacity funding to councils undergoing reorganisation.

As part of the Review announced on 7 September, the Government will consider the approach to costs and funding given that areas will have committed some resources to reorganisation.

Our ambition is that every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a Strategic Authority by the end of 2027, with Strategic Authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028. The Government recently wrote to all areas without a Strategic Authority seeking confirmation of their devolution ambitions, including their preferences regarding mayoral or non-mayoral devolution.

Where an area favours a non-mayoral Foundation Strategic Authority, and for existing Foundation Strategic Authorities, we will work with them on potential future mayoral devolution. The Government will not impose mayors on areas that do not want one, but we do consider that directly accountable mayors represent the strongest form of governance available, and so the suite of powers available to areas with mayors will be commensurately greater. However, we will consider what powers should sit at the Foundation Strategic Authority level, and recently government confirmed that Foundation Strategic Authorities will be able to raise an Overnight Visitor Levy in their area.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Department provided funding to councils to support the development of local government reorganisation proposals. Details of allocations, including for Kent and Medway, are available at: Proposal development contributions: Proposal development contributions: area allocations - GOV.UK.

The taskforces have been established to deliver on the immediate priorities of the public, building on action the government has already taken. They will be made up of internal civil service and relevant external expertise and operate with ministerial oversight, but are not cabinet committees. The objectives of the taskforces are laid out within the quoted press release.

On 7 September 2026 the Secretary of State announced to Parliament that a review of the local government reorganisation programme would be undertaken and that reorganisation activity in affected areas should be paused while the Government considers next steps. The Government wants to ensure that the programme is aligned with its wider ambitions for effective and sustainable local government and the devolution of power to local areas, including in rural areas.

In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body responsible for electoral arrangements for local authorities. It is a longstanding principle that the Government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

On 7 September 2026 the Secretary of State announced to Parliament that a review of the local government reorganisation programme would be undertaken and that reorganisation activity in affected areas should be paused while the Government considers next steps. The Government wants to ensure that the programme is aligned with its wider ambitions for effective and sustainable local government and the devolution of power to local areas, including in rural areas.

In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body responsible for electoral arrangements for local authorities. It is a longstanding principle that the Government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

In designing its support offer for local government reorganisation, the Department engaged with a range of local government stakeholders to understand how to best support the capacity of statutory officers. In response to that feedback, this year the Department put in place a broad support offer including dedicated sector advisers and a wider programme of support to build capacity and capability in councils led by the Local Government Association. This support will continue to be available to councils during the local government reorganisation review. Depending on the outcome of the review, the Department will consider how to best target future support to statutory officers.

The Government has held discussions with the Welsh Government on police reform in Wales, including options for police governance and accountability following the planned abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners.

These discussions have taken place through ministerial and official-level engagement, Police Governance Reform working groups, and established forums such as the Policing Partnership Board for Wales. The Government will continue to engage with the Welsh Government as proposals are developed and taken forward through the Police Reform Bill.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring ceremonial rights and privileges are maintained where local government reorganisation proposals are taken forward, and there are established mechanisms for doing so.

Many ceremonial matters can be preserved through existing general regulations, including arrangements for the transfer of aldermanic rights and privileges and historic borough status, where appropriate, from predecessor to successor councils. This is distinct from new unitary councils seeking borough status, which would require a resolution supported by not less than two thirds of members voting before a petition for a Royal Charter is submitted to the Privy Council. City status is more complex, as it is granted by Royal Prerogative, and arrangements to preserve it will depend on the circumstances of each area. The Government has committed to work with local leaders to ensure all ceremonial rights, including city status, are maintained through reorganisation.

The position on armorial bearings requires separate consideration. The Department is engaging with the College of Arms, which is considering options for arrangements following local government reorganisation. The Department will consider the College’s advice as this work progresses.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring ceremonial rights and privileges are maintained where local government reorganisation proposals are taken forward, and there are established mechanisms for doing so.

Many ceremonial matters can be preserved through existing general regulations, including arrangements for the transfer of aldermanic rights and privileges and historic borough status, where appropriate, from predecessor to successor councils. This is distinct from new unitary councils seeking borough status, which would require a resolution supported by not less than two thirds of members voting before a petition for a Royal Charter is submitted to the Privy Council. City status is more complex, as it is granted by Royal Prerogative, and arrangements to preserve it will depend on the circumstances of each area. The Government has committed to work with local leaders to ensure all ceremonial rights, including city status, are maintained through reorganisation.

The position on armorial bearings requires separate consideration. The Department is engaging with the College of Arms, which is considering options for arrangements following local government reorganisation. The Department will consider the College’s advice as this work progresses.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring ceremonial rights and privileges are maintained where local government reorganisation proposals are taken forward, and there are established mechanisms for doing so.

Many ceremonial matters can be preserved through existing general regulations, including arrangements for the transfer of aldermanic rights and privileges and historic borough status, where appropriate, from predecessor to successor councils. This is distinct from new unitary councils seeking borough status, which would require a resolution supported by not less than two thirds of members voting before a petition for a Royal Charter is submitted to the Privy Council. City status is more complex, as it is granted by Royal Prerogative, and arrangements to preserve it will depend on the circumstances of each area. The Government has committed to work with local leaders to ensure all ceremonial rights, including city status, are maintained through reorganisation.

The position on armorial bearings requires separate consideration. The Department is engaging with the College of Arms, which is considering options for arrangements following local government reorganisation. The Department will consider the College’s advice as this work progresses.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring ceremonial rights and privileges are maintained where local government reorganisation proposals are taken forward, and there are established mechanisms for doing so.

Many ceremonial matters can be preserved through existing general regulations, including arrangements for the transfer of aldermanic rights and privileges and historic borough status, where appropriate, from predecessor to successor councils. This is distinct from new unitary councils seeking borough status, which would require a resolution supported by not less than two thirds of members voting before a petition for a Royal Charter is submitted to the Privy Council. City status is more complex, as it is granted by Royal Prerogative, and arrangements to preserve it will depend on the circumstances of each area. The Government has committed to work with local leaders to ensure all ceremonial rights, including city status, are maintained through reorganisation.

The position on armorial bearings requires separate consideration. The Department is engaging with the College of Arms, which is considering options for arrangements following local government reorganisation. The Department will consider the College’s advice as this work progresses.