THE future of Essex to come under the spotlight in extraordinary meeting of Essex County Council
In a critically important debate, all 75 Councillors are being asked to look at the potential benefits for residents of streamlining the way councils in the county operate, improving services and bringing value for money to Council Tax payers.
Essex County Councillors are set to debate Essex’s participation in the Government’s devolution priority programme, including local government reorganisation.
It will take place during an extraordinary Full Council meeting on Friday 10 January 2025. The final decision for Essex County Council will be taken by Leader, Councillor Kevin Bentley, following the meeting.
The debate comes after the Government published its White Paper on English Devolution, on 16 December. This set out plans for implementing devolution more widely across England.
It also set out the case for local government reorganisation. This means moving from the two-tier county-district model to unitary local authorities.
In addition, the Government has said that councils may ask to postpone their 2025 elections. This would initially for a period of one year, but potentially for three years.
Councils have been asked to write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 10 January if they wish to proceed with devolution, reorganisation, and to request postponement of their local elections next year.
In Essex, this would be a joint letter from the Leaders of Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council.
All 75 Essex County Councillors have been invited to take part in the debate and vote on the proposal. The decision is a proposal to:
commit to take part in devolution priority programme which would see a mayoral county combined authority established in April 2026 and a mayoral election take place in May 2026
commit to local government reorganisation, with initial plans submitted in the spring and final plans by autumn 2025
request the secretary of state to postpone the council’s 2025 elections for an initial period of one year
Councillor Bentley said: “I have been very clear that there is a road to a better Essex for all who live here, and the way we will get there is through devolution. This presents us with an opportunity for growth and productivity across the county like no other. Linked to this is the proposed reorganisation of council structures which, as the White Paper sets out, is intended to drive greater efficiencies, help deliver better outcomes for people and strengthen accountability to the public.
“This decision is a momentous point in our history and a once in a lifetime chance to improve outcomes for Essex. I look forward to discussing this in January and continuing to engage positively with our partners.”
At this stage, no decisions have been made.
Southend-on-Sea City and Thurrock Councils will hold their own meetings during the week commencing Monday 6 January 2025.
Essex County Council’s Full Council meeting will take place at 10am on Friday 10 January. The meeting will be streamed live on the council’s ‘ECC Democracy’ YouTube channel.
