Five English counties are to see their local councils reorganised to create unitary authorities from April 1 2009. Financial Times
John Healey, local government minister, said the reorganisation, announced yesterday, covered Cornwall, Shropshire, Wiltshire, Durham and Northumberland. The total number of councils will be cut by 28, saving more than £75m, the government believes. It is still looking at Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Ipswich and Exeter.