City of Lincoln Council has today (22 January 2026) been informed by Government that its local elections, scheduled for May 2026, will be postponed as part of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
City of Lincoln Council has today (22 January 2026) been informed by Government that its local elections, scheduled for May 2026, will be postponed as part of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme for Greater Lincolnshire.
The decision follows Government’s consideration of how best to support councils involved in this once-in-a-generation transformation, which is intended to simplify local government structures and replace existing two-tier arrangements with new unitary authorities responsible for delivering all council services.
City of Lincoln Council has eleven wards, with three councillors representing each ward. Elections are normally held ‘by thirds’, with one councillor elected in each ward every year, except in the year when county council elections take place. Holding an election in 2026 to appoint eleven councillors would have cost approximately £170,000.
This is not unprecedented; over the past decade elections have been postponed wherever local government reorganisation has taken place.
The council is awaiting the start of Government’s consultation and final decision on how Local Government Reorganisation will be structured in Greater Lincolnshire.
The work required to deliver LGR focuses on ensuring that any new authority or authorities are established properly and to the best of the council’s ability, with particular attention given to the safe and lawful integration of key services such as IT, HR, finance and council assets.
It is essential that reorganisation is delivered without disruption to the day-to-day services residents rely on. Creating new councils of this scale requires focus, capacity and careful risk management to ensure continuity, stability and value for money.
Avoiding the cost of running an election in 2026 will support the council’s ability to maintain vital services during the reorganisation process. It also helps enable City of Lincoln Council to freeze council tax for the 2026/27 financial year.
Councillor Naomi Tweddle, Leader of City of Lincoln Council, said:
“City of Lincoln Council is the only authority in Lincolnshire that had been scheduled to hold elections in 2026.
“Delivering Local Government Reorganisation to a high standard requires significant preparation and capacity. This is a once-in-a-generation transformation, we are a multi‑million‑pound organisation and, to deliver reorganisation effectively, we will be merged with other authorities that are equally complex and financially significant.
“Holding a local election is a major undertaking, both in terms of staff resources and cost. With that cost exceeding £170,000, the postponement allows us to focus fully on maintaining the services our residents rely on, while supporting our ambition to freeze council tax at a time when households continue to feel the pressure of the cost of living
“Our priority is ensuring that reorganisation delivers the best possible outcomes for residents and is implemented safely, responsibly and successfully."