JUST three councils in Essex have asked for their local elections to be cancelled. Basildon, Harlow and Thurrock councils say they want elections due in May scrapped due to the pressures local authorities are already facing from local government reform (LGR) reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The council’s responses come after Alison McGovern, Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, met with council leaders regarding the work to merge the current 14 councils into three to five large unitary councils. The Government is expected to make a decision in the coming days on whether to postpone elections for a year.
Basildon Borough Council local elections
Councillor Andy Barnes, Tory group leader at Basildon Council, accused the administration of running scared due to polling data. He said: “We’ve known local government reform and these elections have been coming for years for years. Why is this suddenly a problem? Why has it suddenly come out of the blue? I bet it wouldn’t be if the Labour party was riding high in the polls.”
Basildon leader Gavin Callaghan, in a response to a letter from Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay Richard Holden, who has also criticised the stance from the Labour administration, said: “There is a long-established and well-understood precedent for the government’s postponing elections where local government reorganisation is underway or imminent.”
Thurrock Council local elections
Thurrock Council’s Labour administration has also voted to ask for this year’s local elections to be scrapped amid what it says would otherwise be a “significant risk” to its work to deliver local government reorganisation. Reform Councillor Russell Cherry described the move as “dictatorial”
Labour council leader Lynn Worrall told a public cabinet meeting: “We have to do what is right for Thurrock residents. This is a council that will not be here in two years’ time.”
Harlow Council local elections
Tory-run Harlow council said if its district council elections were to proceed in 2026, they would be for only 11 council seats, which does not warrant the extra work given LGR pressures.
A letter from council leader Dan Swords said: ”Considering all material factors, the council formally requests that the Secretary of State postpone the Harlow Council elections for the 11 seats currently scheduled for 7 May 2026. In doing so, essential capacity will be released to safely and effectively fulfil the legislative framework for LGR.”
Labour group leader James Griggs said: “This decision was taken by the Conservative council leader and his administration. In a number of authorities across the county, special meetings allowed councillors the opportunity to scrutinise the choice; this did not happen in Harlow. Harlow Labour group made no request of the Government on this matter.”
Essex County Council local elections
Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley has been accused of “advancing all the arguments for postponing the May Elections whilst not asking for the elections be postponed”.
In a letter to the government, he said statutory service commitments already put financial strain on the council – even without LGR. He said: “Clearly, only the Government can determine whether the 2026 elections should be postponed. Essex County Council is not calling for them to be postponed.”
A statement from Basildon and Thurrock Lib Dems said: “It’s clear what’s going on here. The Conservatives want the elections postponed. But want Labour to take the blame.”
Braintree District Council local elections
The Leader of Braintree District Council has written to the Minister requesting an early decision on whether elections across Greater Essex will proceed in May 2026, so that councils can plan effectively and maintain momentum on LGR.
Councillor Graham Butland said: “ To keep the programme on track, councils need early clarity on May’s elections and on the framework for Shadow Authority elections in 2027.”
Chelmsford City Council local elections
Lib Dem-run Chelmsford City Council wants them to go ahead. Council leader Councillor Stephen Robinson said he is writing to set out its clear view “that these elections should proceed as planned.” He added that Chelmsford is “confident that we retain the necessary operational capacity to deliver safe and well-run elections alongside this ongoing work.”
Colchester City Council local elections
In December, Colchester City Council voted to demand that elections go ahead.
Brentwood Borough Council local elections
Lib Dem-led Brentwood Borough Council also says it wants elections to proceed. A motion has now been sent to the Minister that calls on “HM Government to confirm the status of elections unequivocally in 2026 for Brentwood residents and underlines that this Council expects elections to proceed”.
It comes to ensure “clarity” following an earlier letter from leader Barry Aspinall said: “Our residents deserve certainty at the earliest possible opportunity and we would welcome an early decision.
Brentwood Borough Council will continue to meet all statutory electoral duties and participate fully in the LGR program. However, the operational pressures between March 2026 and April 2028 are such that we would like to ask the ministry to take these factors into account when confirming appropriate arrangements for the 2026 election cycle.”
Epping Forest District Council local elections
The leader of Tory-led Epping Forest District Council, Chris Whitbread, says he has made it clear that the council believes residents should have the opportunity to vote as planned.
He said: ”The right to vote is fundamental, and we believe our residents should have their say. That is why we are not asking for a postponement of our May 2026 elections.”
Rochford District Council local elections
A letter from Rochford Council said: “Having carefully considered the invitation to express our views, we wish to make clear that Rochford District Council objects to any postponement or cancellation of the May 2026 elections.
“We believe that holding elections as scheduled is fundamental to upholding local democracy and ensuring that our residents retain their right to elect their representatives at the appropriate time.”
Southend City Council local elections
Southend Full Council has voted unanimously that it wishes for local elections to take place as planned in May 2026. Councillor Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, said: “Local elections will go ahead in Southend, and this has always been our position.”
Maldon, Tendring and Castle Point councils’ local elections
Maldon, Tendring and Castle Point councils’ election systems meant they would not have had elections scheduled for 2026.
