UK Councils Advance Unitary Authority Plans Amid Funding and Transport Concerns

County councils in England are facing challenges from government proposals affecting funding and local government reorganisation. The County Councils Network warns that shifting the Fair Funding Review formula to favor inner London boroughs, particularly by emphasizing housing costs, could worsen conditions for county councils. Warwickshire County Council is proposing significant cuts to home-to-school transport services, potentially impacting over 1,000 children, including changes to support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) students, amid sharply increased transport costs. Meanwhile, local government reorganisation is advancing, with Oxfordshire and West Berkshire councils preparing proposals for unitary authorities to replace existing two-tier systems by 2028, and Cambridgeshire county councillors selecting a preferred unitary authority option despite concerns over rushed processes and restrictive criteria. These changes underscore ongoing tensions as councils adapt to funding pressures and structural reforms mandated by the government.