This report, commissioned by the County Councils Network (CCN) and produced by Henham Strategy, argues that the current structure of English local government is fragmented and confusing. It argues that the existing two‑tier system presented as inefficient, costly and poorly understood by residents. The CCN highlights that public understanding of local government responsibilities is low, contributing to disengagement and mistrust. The report demonstrates that counties are well placed to act as strategic authorities: they are large enough to plan at scale, rooted in place identity, and trusted locally. It makes the case that unitarisation – at scale - would simplify governance, improve resilience, reduce duplication and enable faster decision‑making. The report concludes that devolution should move beyond bespoke deals towards a consistent national framework, with counties as the primary vehicles for decentralised power. Strengthened counties, equipped with the same powers as mayoral combined authorities and supported by reformed governance, are presented as essential to delivering levelling up and long‑term economic recovery. Recommendations put forward in the report include: Make counties the principal vehicle for devolution in non‑metropolitan England Replace two‑tier systems with unitary county authorities where possible Adopt a clear national framework for devolution with consistent powers Devolve growth, skills, transport and planning powers to counties Establish county‑wide Growth Boards and strategic spatial planning roles