It revokes structural change orders that would have established Exeter and Norwich as unitary authorities and prevents the implementation of the Suffolk unitary proposals.

The implementation orders were blocked by a High court ruling,[specify] but Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said the "zombie proposals" still theoretically existed and had to be killed off.

[2] It ultimately passed third reading in Lords on 5 October.

In favour of the Bill, the Government said that halting the plan would save £40 million in reorganisation costs.

[3] Lord McKenzie of Luton, a member of the opposition Labour Party, said that the bill would "shut out Exeter and Norwich from the opportunity to become unitary councils" in "an arrogant, dictatorial and brutal way".