Devolution
Greater Essex devolution consultation
The UK government has launched the Greater Essex devolution consultation. The consultation seeks views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
The consultation invites those who live and work across Greater Essex to share their views on:
- the proposed geography
- the effect of establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority in Greater Essex
- how the Mayoral Combined County Authority will make decisions
Have your say on the UK government’s devolution consultation
The consultation opened on Monday 17 February and will run until Sunday 13 April 2025.
What is devolution?
Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from UK government to local authority level. It is important because decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.
Devolution would provide greater freedoms and flexibilities for councils to work more effectively to improve public services and outcomes for residents and businesses.
What does devolution look like?
A devolution deal would create a new single body, known as a Strategic Authority, for Essex. It would initially take the form of a combined county authority.
These arrangements would be agreed prior to the first Mayoral election, which would take place in May 2026.
The key functions of the strategic authority would include strategic transport functions, such as support for buses, trains and concessionary fares, skills and driving economic growth.
What would devolution mean for us?
In Essex, devolution could mean:
- better co-ordination of transport across the whole county
- better skills because money is spent locally rather than by the UK government
- better jobs because this would be co-ordinated by a Mayor
- a stronger voice for Essex with UK government – at the moment the UK government finds it difficult to know how to talk to Essex as a place
- more strategic control over planning and housing
You can read more about devolution in other areas
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority (seven devolution deals since 2009)
- West Midlands Combined Authority (three devolution deals since 2015)
What is Greater Essex?
Greater Essex refers to the combined area represented by Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, and Thurrock Council.
What is the Devolution Priority Programme?
The Devolution Priority Programme is for areas aiming to move towards devolution quickly. It is aimed at areas wishing to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority.
The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has outlined that participants must have local agreement to progress around a sensible geographical area.
What is a Strategic Authority?
A Strategic Authority is a legal body set up using national legislation, with its own board and governance arrangements.
This would enable a group of two or more councils to collaborate and make collective decisions across council boundaries.
Depending on the form of devolution in an area, there are three levels of Strategic Authority available:
- Foundation Strategic Authority: Available to those areas without an elected Mayor. It will have limited devolution. For example, the current Lancashire devolution deal will establish a Foundation Strategic Authority.
- Mayoral Combined County Authority: For those with an elected Mayor, a range of powers will be devolved. For example, the West of England is a Mayoral Combined County Authority.
- Established Mayoral Strategic Authority: For those Mayoral Strategic Authorities, who are able to satisfy a number of additional governance requirements. They will have access to the most devolution. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are already at this stage.
The UK government is looking to create a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Greater Essex by May 2026.
What would the Mayor do?
The UK government’s intention is for devolution to be accompanied by a directly elected Mayor. If this happens in Essex, we expect the Mayor would ultimately take on the current role of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.
What powers would the elected Mayor have?
The Mayor would be directly elected by the people of Essex. The elected Mayor would have the ability to speak directly to government ministers and secure funding for local projects. They would also be able to make strategic decisions, help attract investment and improve infrastructure.
What is the role of a directly elected Mayor in a Mayoral Combined County Authority compared to a local council Mayor?
The main difference lies in their scope of responsibilities and the level of governance they would oversee.
A directly elected Mayor in a Mayoral Combined County Authority has a broader role that typically covers multiple local councils within a Combined or Strategic Authority. The directly elected Mayor would have significant powers over strategic functions such as:
- economic development
- housing
- infrastructure
- transport
For example, in Essex the elected Mayor would also serve as the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner. The Mayor would make strategic decisions, help attract investment and improve infrastructure.
On the other hand, a Mayor for a local council is responsible for the governance of a single local authority. The mayor's powers are more focused on the day-to-day administration and local services within that specific council area. They work closely with the council to implement policies and manage local services such as:
- community services
- local planning
- waste collection
The key difference is that a Mayor in a Mayoral Combined County Authority has a wider, more strategic role that spans multiple councils. Local council Mayors focus on the governance and services within a single local authority.
What is the role of Mayors compared to council leaders?
The UK government believes that within Strategic Authorities, Mayors should have a unique role to focus on devolved responsibilities. Council leaders are expected to lead their areas and deliver essential services.
What is a Combined Authority?
A combined authority is a legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries. It is expected that Combined Authorities will be replaced by Strategic Authorities.
Read more about Combined Authorities in the LGA’s publication.
When can we expect this to take place?
Now we have received confirmation that we are on the Priority Programme, the UK government is looking to create a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Greater Essex by May 2026. Mayoral elections would take place in that month.
Does devolution mean the county council elections in May 2025 will be postponed?
The UK government’s consultation will run from Monday 17 February until Sunday 13 April 2025. The postponement would be for an initial period of a year, but if proposals to reorganise local authorities are agreed, it is likely that there would be no further elections to ECC until its abolition, other than by-elections.
Do residents have a say in this?
The UK government’s consultation will run from Monday 17 February until Sunday 13 April 2025. This will be supported by local activity in Essex to reinforce messages with local audiences including residents and businesses.