THURROCK Council’s cabinet has voted to ask the Government to postpone local elections scheduled for May, citing the pressures of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
At a specially convened meeting on Tuesday, cabinet members unanimously agreed to write to ministers outlining concerns about the council’s capacity to deliver “all-out” elections while preparing for the biggest structural overhaul in decades.
If approved, it would be the second time polls have been cancelled in Thurrock, following last year’s postponement.
Basildon Council has also voted to request elections are postponed, however this week Southend Council insisted the elections would go ahead.
Thurrock Council was due to elect all councillors in May for the first time, replacing the usual system of electing by thirds.
However, plans to merge Thurrock with 14 other Essex authorities into up to five new unitary councils have prompted ministers to ask whether delaying elections would free up resources. In December Local Government Minister Alison McGovern said she was “minded to approve” requests for postponement until 2027.
Council leader Lynn Worrall told the meeting: “Elections are important to our democracy, especially in Thurrock where we need to build confidence and accountability. My default position is to support elections, and we have been planning to do so.
“However, we must consider what is proportionate given this council will not exist in a couple of years. LGR presents the most significant opportunity for wholesale change in our lifetimes. We cannot take risks that jeopardise its delivery.”
Ms Worrall stressed the final decision rests with the Secretary of State, not the council, adding: “We do not have the power to cancel elections or change cycles.”
Non-executive councillors voiced strong opposition. Alan Benson, Reform councillor for Ockendon, said: “I haven’t spoken to anybody who supports cancelling elections. People want their democratic right to vote on May 7.”
Alex Anderson, leader of the Reform Group, added: “Elections have only ever been cancelled for world wars or a global pandemic. Local government reorganisation is not a convincing excuse to pause democracy.”
Conservative leader George Coxshall expressed caution, noting merger details remain unclear until March. He said: “I’m still not comfortable postponing when we don’t know what the end product looks like.”
Cabinet will now write to the Government, including councillors’ views.
A full council meeting on the issue was scheduled for Wednesday.
