WITH the devolution and local government reform agenda moving forward rapidly and a new structure of three unitary councils across Greater Essex now under consideration, Citizens Advice Harlow is acting early to influence the direction of reform. As key decisions are now being shaped, now is the time to ensure advice is firmly on the agenda from the outset.

Our manifesto, Powering Local Voice and Resilience, sets out the case for a Central Essex Advice Guarantee. It proposes stronger local partnerships linking advice, health, and public services and calls for a major expansion of our successful model of providing advice within GP surgeries. The result would be a more resilient, responsive system that treats advice as a form of early intervention and essential civic infrastructure.

We are calling on every candidate for the new Greater Essex Mayor to set out their commitment to accessible, high-quality advice services as part of their plans for health, fairness, and civic renewal. At its heart, this is about people – ensuring they can get help when they need it most. We hope candidates will see this as a chance to work with us and others to build a fairer, more connected system that truly supports local communities to thrive.

Ayub Khan, CEO of Citizens Advice Harlow, said:

This isn’t about defending the past – it’s about shaping the future. If we want services that are truly fit for the 21st century, we need to embed advice where people already are, in GP surgeries, community spaces, and online, not wait for them to come to us. By focusing on prevention, we can catch problems early, reduce pressure on public services, and offer people the right help at the right time. It’s about building a system that’s more responsive, more efficient, and ultimately designed around people’s real lives.

Read the full manifesto piece here: Citizens Advice Harlow Manifesto for Greater Essex