A VOTE to cancel elections in the name of helping usher in major reorganisation of the political system in Essex has been rapped as “cowardly.” by Reform reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

It comes after Essex County Council voted to confirm that it wants to proceed with devolution and the reorganisation of local councils in the area.

In a joint letter with Thurrock Council and Southend-on-Sea City Council, all three authorities confirmed that the councils want to be part of the Government’s devolution priority programme.

Essex County Council and Thurrock Council will also request the postponement of elections scheduled for May this year in their areas.

Leader of Essex County Council, Councillor Kevin Bentley said elections would hamper the work needed to push through the devolution project this spring adding the £2.5 million cost of elections may only elect members for two years.

However he could not guarantee that the actual extra term length may be as long as three years.

The request for a delay in elections comes amid government plans to overhaul local government in Essex by replacing the county’s existing two-tier council system with unitary authorities.

The proposal suggests scrapping Essex County Council and the 12 district and borough councils, consolidating their responsibilities under regional “super authorities.”

These unitary authorities, responsible for populations of at least 500,000, would manage everything from social care and education to bin collections and highway maintenance. The plan is accompanied by a proposal to create a directly elected mayor responsible for a new Greater Essex Combined Authority.

This would see a mayoral strategic authority established in April 2026 and a mayoral election take place in May 2026. The creation of unitary authorities would likely involve first creating “shadow” councils, which could be elected in May 2027. These could work to prepare for a switch on date – possibly in April 2028 – when they would start operating and the county council ceases to exist.

However, until that point, the administration at Essex County Council could be operating to oversee those services it currently looks after. This has generated accusations the council would be operating for up to three years without a proper mandate.

Tory and Labour members voted in favour of cancelling this year’s elections,

But Liberal Democrats and the one Reform councillor were accused of being in an “unholy alliance by voting against, arguing the move was “undemocratic”.

Reform Councillor Jaymey McIvor said: “I can assure you,, unless something’s happened in between me arriving at this meeting and not, there is no alliance.

“But you know, it’s not unusual for politicians to agree, and they can be in different parties.

“I think reform and the Lib Dems completely disagree on things like Brexit, but clearly when it came to what’s right for our residents and democracy, we both were on the same page, and I thought many of the councillors spoke very well today.

He added: “What you have seen is the two major political parties are literally sinking as we speak.

“And it’s no surprise that they do not want the Liberal Democrats or Reform anywhere near a ballot paper anytime soon,.

“So I don’t blame them for doing their best to try and get out of elections.

“I think it’s cowardly and I think using local government reform as an excuse is actually really misleading the people of Essex.

“They’ve chosen to do that and at some point they will face a ballot box and the people will be heard

“And I think you’ll see that the two major parties are something resigned to history for the short term in Essex.”

Leader of Essex County Council Kevin Bentley said: “For me this is about people not politics.

“You heard me. I didn’t once go into party politics and a political stance, I went into what is good for the people fo Essex.

“I stick to that . Others can squabble I am determined to get this right for the people of Essex.”

Labour councillor Aidan McGurran also denied that voting for a election cancellation was about being “frightened” of the ballot box.

He is also confident the new unitary authority system will be switched on and the county council dissolved in 2027.

The elections scheduled for 2020 were postponed for a year due to Covid.

Polls were due in 118 English councils, the London Assembly and for seven English regional mayors.

Lib Dem councillor Stephen Robinson (Chelmsford North) said: “There is a real danger that both of these changes are just reorganising the deck chairs on the Titanic.

“The ‘Local Government ship’ has already hit not one but three icebergs – massively rising costs of adult social care, children’s services and homelessness. Where is the Government support to stop the ‘Local Government ship’ from sinking?

“The recent budget did not make things better and probably made the future worse for all councils.

“Liberal Democrats support genuine devolution, if it brings real power closer to residents, ensuring that decisions for our communities are made by local people.

“Genuine local control over funding must follow the devolution of powers, so that councils can properly fund community services and vital infrastructure.

“This model of devolution – supported by Conservatives and Labour – means places that want new powers have to have an elected Mayor. Liberal Democrats oppose putting so much power in the hands of one person. There is no real accountability during their four years, however bad or dangerous they become.

“It is a real shame that the Labour Government is little different from the Conservative one – neither really care what local residents want, both want to force change through and both want to avoid an election for as long as possible.”

Councillor McGurran, who represents Labour, said: “Much as I like to say Kevin Bentley is moving the goalposts and denying democracy. That not the case.

“It makes sense where there is serious local reorganisation going on to save the time and trouble and expense of having an unnecessary election.

“It’s been done before. It’s not new.”