Why Local Government Reorganisation Fails Without Strong Governance: Interview with Andrew Kelly

Local Government Reorganisation is reshaping councils, planning systems and democratic accountability across England. In this episode of the LGR Governance Series, series editor Rowan Cole speaks with former Cabinet Member for Planning Andrew Kelly about the democratic consequences of creating larger unitary authorities.While reorganisation is often sold as an efficiency reform, Kelly argues the real risk sits elsewhere. Fewer councillors, larger wards and more distant decision making can weaken local representation, stretch casework capacity and erode public trust. Drawing on lived experience from Surrey and beyond, this conversation explores what happens when scale grows faster than democratic capacity.The discussion examines why planning decisions can never be purely technical, how judgement and accountability shape outcomes, and why political oversight matters most on controversial or finely balanced schemes. Kelly also reflects on reform fatigue, transition risk and the danger of councils beginning life with thin electoral mandates.This episode is essential listening for councillors, planning officers, developers, consultants and anyone working in or around local government reform. It offers grounded insight into the trade offs behind Local Government Reorganisation, and why democratic legitimacy may be the hardest issue for new councils to resolve.Subscribe to the LGR Series for expert analysis on governance, planning reform and the future of local democracy in England.