Eleven councils have so far asked to postpone elections this year, ahead of the biggest reorganisation of local government in decades, it is understood.

Local authorities have until Friday to request permission from the Government to postpone their elections, after plans to abolish two-tier council areas were announced in December, as part of Labour’s proposals to devolve more power away from Westminster.

With 21 county councils and 10 unitary authorities due to hold elections this May, some have sought to delay them to allow time to develop proposals on reorganisation.

They include Surrey, Oxfordshire, Devon and Norfolk county councils, which have all voted to push their elections back.

Worcestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Gloucestershire and Thurrock have also requested postponements.

Reform UK, which hopes to make significant gains in May’s polls, has also objected to delays, and deputy leader Richard Tice on Monday accused Conservative-led councils of “bottling it and abandoning the elections”.