Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Added to website 05/03/2025. Updated 06/03/2025.
This collection of resources will help you understand how the government’s plans for devolution and local government reorganisation are impacting music education. Find out more about what Music Mark is doing to support its Members through these changes and stay up to date with the latest news.
English Devolution White Paper
The English Devolution White Paper published on 16th December 2024 set out the government’s vision for simpler local government structures. This includes proposals on devolution but also wider plans for local government reorganisation.
In March 2025, Music Mark held a Big Meet for its Members to find out more about how the plans for devolution and local government reorganisation might affect their work. Download the presentation slides from the meeting.
Devolution
Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. The current plans intend to create a network of Strategic Authorities across the whole of England. These authorities will have new powers and budgets but will not have responsibility for education.
Some of the proposed Strategic Authorities match the Music Hub geographies, but many don’t.
Local Government Reorganisation
Local government reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The Government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils. Some areas with two-tier councils are being fast tracked through reorganisation.
It is likely the local government reorganisation will have an impact on County Music Services, many of whom are Hub Lead Organisations or Hub Partners.
Read updates and supporting documents relating to the government’s programme of local government reorganisation in England.
Keeping Up To Date
Sign up to hear from Music Mark.
Sign up to hear from the Local Government Association.
Create a Google Alert to monitor new content.
Read articles from the BBC News Local Government category.
Further Information
You can read about completed and proposed plans for devolution in a Wikipedia article:
You can read about completed and proposed plans for local government reorganisation in two Wikipedia articles:
- 2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England
- 2024–present structural changes to local government in England
The devolution and Local government reorganisation hub from the Local Government Association, bringing together information and resources on devolution and local government reorganisation for public and local authorities
Devolution and local government reorganisation FAQs from the Local Government Association
Devolution and local government reorganisation glossary from the Local Government Association
Community engagement with English devolution, an article by Helen McCabe
Is my council going to be abolished?, a House of Commons Library article by Mark Sandford
Local government reorganisation: Lessons from new unitaries, a 2024 article in which Paul Dossett and Guy Clifton introduce a report on lessons learned from the eight most recently created unitary authorities
How to make a success of local government reorganisation, a recording of an Institute for Government event that explores how to create simplified and resilient local government structures
Local government unitarisation, an Institute for Government explainer on unitarisation
About the Provider
Music Mark
We are a membership organisation, Subject Association, and an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO) advocating for excellent musical learning in and out of school.
