Devolution proposals a ‘huge opportunity’ to shift the balance of power to Essex residents

Politics / Thu 10th Apr 2025 at 06:59am

THE leader of Essex County Council has welcomed the ‘huge opportunity’ to shift power out of central government and into the hands of its residents, in its official response to the government’s consultation on devolution.

The council’s response, sent to the government today (Wednesday 9 April 2025) includes expressing its strong support for the proposed creation of a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA). The council believes a MCCA would bring important decisions closer to local people, resulting in:

greater economic growth and investment
improved infrastructure and more joined up transport systems
a more skilled workforce
better health and reduced inequalities for residents
more efficient local government services
an improved environment
The council has also raised a strong objection to the government’s proposals on voting rights for the board of the new MCCA.

Under the government’s current proposals, the County Council would have fewer votes than Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council combined. This is despite 80% of the 1.9 million Greater Essex residents living within the county council area. Instead, the County Council believes this 80% deserve at least half of the votes.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, Leader of the Council, said: “This consultation is an important step in determining what devolution will look like for residents living across Greater Essex.

“The creation of a Mayoral Combined County Authority will bring vast benefits to the county, with important decisions being made closer to local people. This will result in greater economic growth, improved infrastructure, reduced inequalities, more efficient local government services, joined up transport and much more.

“We look forward to seeing the results of the consultation from government and progressing with next steps, as well as revised voting arrangements we believe are better reflective of our population size.”

The council has also welcomed £1 million of government funding allocated to Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council to help deliver devolution for residents.

The County Council’s full response to the consultation has been published at Decision Details: Greater Essex Devolution – ECC’s response to the Government Consultation

5 Comments for Devolution proposals a ‘huge opportunity’ to shift the balance of power to Essex residents:

Seamus

2025-04-10 11:17:42

"THE leader of Essex County Council has welcomed the ‘huge opportunity’ to shift power out of central government and into the hands of its residents, ".. Unless there is a vote for the people of Essex on wether we want this or not, then I'm calling this claim at best, missleading and at worst, a lie. I keep seeing claims of a "consultation" but there has been none with the people of Essex. The only thing that seems to be discussed is the councils themselves micro managing who gets the biggest slice of the power pie and by local politicians that should have been up for election next month. Kid yourself this is democracy councillors, even though you know it is not.

Kim

2025-04-10 18:49:27

Silencing the people.

Realist

2025-04-11 10:11:48

It should be the people of Essex as a whole, that should have been asked what they want, not the decision of the few to decide, because that’s what they wanted regardless of what the people of Essex think. Yet you have the downright cheek to call what you have concocted together democracy. Sorry, this is definitely not democracy for the people of Essex, because the decision was made by you lot behind closed door meetings. Whether or not this process actually reaches its conclusion, and is implemented for the benefit of the people of Essex, I believe the answer to that is questionable at most. Local people deserve local councillors, elected and decided by local people, that’s democracy, and if they don’t perform. The ability and right of the people to vote them out.

Marie

2025-04-11 22:17:17

To the Realist..well said !! Sadly what they say is not what they do. They have a bloody cheek to stop us voting. They have taken away our voice. Our voice does not coincide with what they want so silence the local ppl.

Nostradamus

2025-04-12 07:36:14

These proposals actually do the opposite of what they propose and will provide more power to mayors and new officials who are more distant from local residents, to ride roughshod over local and ward needs, concerns and issues than ever before. The facts that these proposals haven't been subject to a high profile public consultation nor a referendum and that we already see Cllr Bentley and other leaders in neighbouring areas in fighting about who will get the biggest slice of the power pie says it all. The current system has evolved checks and balances and a very local ward system, my ward councillor lives on my street and the new proposed system will destroy local democracy. Improve the current system by improving consultation and by using referenda to decide issues, move forward by evolution not revolution.