The leaders of several district and borough authorities have urged Warwickshire County Council not to delay May's local elections in an effort to press ahead with plans to merge into one local authority. In December, the government published a paper outlining plans to give more power to local councils.

Politicians across Sussex plan to postpone local elections in May in favour of electing a mayor and replacing councils with unitary authorities. East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove councils met on Thursday and agreed on plans to create one strategic authority under a mayor.

The meeting, which took place on Thursday afternoon, discussed the plans and went in favour of the government's Devolution White Paper. The government announced in December it would would like to reorganise how local government works and do away with district and county councils in favour of unitary authorities,

Leaders of four councils have said they are concerned about "the haste" over a local government review "being taken by Warwickshire County Council". Six county, district and borough councils are set to be abolished, if the county authority is allowed to delay May's elections.

T he leader of Essex Council County Council has said people should look at the benefits of devolution amid concerns about plans to delay the election scheduled for May. This week,