00:01More than a third of councils in England have asked to delay elections due this May, affecting over 2.5 million voters.
00:09The government is restructuring local authorities, creating new unitary councils responsible for all services in their areas.
00:17Twenty-two councils have formally requested a postponement to manage the changes alongside elections.
00:24Ministers are expected to approve these requests in the coming days.
00:28Opposition parties say delays show some leaders are avoiding scrutiny from voters.
00:34Others argue the move will save money, avoid short-term councillor terms and focus resources on essential services.
