Blog by Leader of Essex County Council, Councillor Kevin Bentley.
This week, the three ‘upper tier’ councils in Essex – the County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council - will debate a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve local government in the county, in the best future interests of our residents and businesses.
That opportunity would involve agreeing becoming part of the Government’s Priority Programme for devolution and local government re-organisation – leading to changes which would completely change the landscape of our local authorities.
Devolution would mean Essex getting more money and powers from central government, and a directly elected Mayor to direct investment in areas like transport and skills and our economy.
Local government re-organisation would mean doing away with the current two-tier council structures we have in most of Essex, in favour of a smaller number of new ‘unitary’ (all purpose) councils. Much clearer and simpler, and also, offering better value for money.
The prize is clear - Devolution is the biggest chance we will get to rethink our system and bring more power into the hands of local people. It is about residents having more say on the things that are important to them locally, and new structures that work for people with politicians who are empowered to support them.
In order to give councils the best chance of succeeding in delivering this vision, and undertake the work need to make this once-in-a-generation change, the government has said it would be minded to consider the delay of this year’s May elections for Essex County Council and for Thurrock Council. It has also set an exacting timescale, with elections for the Mayor of Essex happening in Spring 2026.
I would stress, this would ultimately be the government’s decision. But nevertheless, it will be debated by Essex County Councillors this Friday, at an extraordinary meeting of the council, which will decide whether we will ask to be part of the government’s Priority Programme.
I am looking forward to listening to the views of my fellow councillors later this week, on all of the issues associated with devolution and re-organisation, including elections. It is vital they have their say.
But equally, it is vital that we do not lose sight of the potential prize on offer for Essex, and keep in mind the long-term gains of new powers and structures which offer the best chance of councils offering decent public services at a price taxpayers can afford.
We must not turn this debate into a political football, with the short-term political gains for the few outweighing the long-term wider games for the many – and by the many, I mean Essex’s residents and businesses.
Holding an election during the process of developing these proposals would compromise our ability to do that in a cross-party way, and to engage the public in our developing thinking.
We will be setting ourselves up for the future in the best way possible and to do this, we need consistent, steady and experienced council leadership. Elections on top of this, at no little expense to a body that will in all likelihood case to exist within two or three years of an election, would all but ensure we could not deliver to the government's exacting timeline. In short, holding elections becomes a key risk in the process.
While this is new to Essex, other parts of the country have had their elections delayed until new structures were agreed and in place.
Of course, people will have their opinions and have the right to have their say, and as public bodies it is right that we should listen to all viewpoints on devolution, reorganisation and the elections question.
But as politicians, we are ambitious for our place and people. Devolution is the biggest chance we will get to take control, to take bold decisions and rethink our system so that it actually works.
We want greater powers in the hands of local people, residents having more of a say on the things that are important to them locally, stronger local accountability, and politicians with the ability to make real change. We have a government ready to give this to us. We must have the vision to seize this opportunity, or risk being left behind by those who do.