The English devolution white paper, published in December, commits to “a permanent shift of power away from Whitehall” and a rewiring of national government to work in partnership with mayors and council leaders. But it also heralded the end of two tier local government by ordering counties and districts to reorganise into unitary councils. Over three episodes of The Local Authority, LGC will explore all major aspects of the government’s plans, beginning with reorganisation. In this episode, LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by: Kevin Bentley, Conservative group lead at the LGA and leader of Essex CC Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council Bridget Smith, Lib Dem leader of South Cambridgeshire DC