Local government reorganisation delayed?

There are reports circulating that the planned reorganisation of the local government in the north – including the reduction in the number of councils from 26 to 11 – may not, in fact, take place in time for next year's planned local elections.

In fact, the local government elections should have taken place last year (they run on a four year cycle, and the last were in 2005), but were delayed to allow the reorganisation to take place.

But if the delays are as severe as reported, there may be no alternative but to hold elections next year for the existing 26 councils, and then reorganise before the following elections.