Proposal for four new councils in Greater Essex published
News / Thu 11th Sep 2025 at 12:58pm
THURROCK Council has published its full proposal for changes to future local government in Essex as the deadline looms for all county local authorities to submit their own ideas to ministers.
At next week’s Cabinet meeting, Thurrock’s most senior councillors will have the opportunity to endorse a proposal which is focused on creating four new unitary local authorities in Essex, with value-for-money, financial stability and keeping decision-making close to communities at its core.
The proposal has been developed following months of discussion, debate and engagement – including with Thurrock residents through a summer programme of online and in-person events which have been led by the Leader of the Council.
Cllr Lynn Worrall, Leader of Thurrock Council said: “I believe that Thurrock’s Cabinet has before it a carefully developed and costed proposal that has value-for-money and good services for local residents at its core.
“It has been informed by the views of local people and I want to thank all the residents, members and partners who took the time over the summer to share their views. We heard that making sure the finances stack up was an absolute priority for residents. We also heard that local people want their services to improve, and they want councils to stay close to the communities they serve. All of this is reflected in our proposal.
“Our proposal calls for four unitary councils to be created, with geographies that make sense and which retain local identity. We’ve carefully assessed how key services will work, such as adults and children’s social care and education, and based all our plans on evidence and ensuring equity.
“Our role in shaping these plans is a privilege but also a huge responsibility. I have lived in Essex my whole life and I care deeply about its future. We must make sure we maintain what makes this place what it is, but also embrace the future and address the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. We must create a system that drives prosperity for all and continues to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. We must step forward and think afresh what local government can and should be for the rest of this century.”
Adam Taylor
2025-09-11 13:30:38
Can we have none please and be done with these petty tyrants who seek to control our lives, while stealing our incomes.
jarrett
2025-09-11 14:09:12
First paragraph is meaningless given they are what i assume is bankrupt. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrxypp4pg9o
Seamus
2025-09-11 15:02:55
No matter what council has had their opinion, everyone of them has lied and they should all step down. I'm fed up of seeing claims of " for the residents benefit". The residents have never been involved in this, never asked if we even wanted it and is very unlikely to see the losing councils sack staff that overlap, to give the "cost savings" claimed. What we have seen is various councils and councillors, fighting like rats in a barrel to stay top of the hill. It's been degrading to watch and a process that has zero credibility amongs the residents of Essex
Nicholas Taylor
2025-09-11 15:59:07
Seamus is right when he says that this has nothing to do with residents benefit. Here in Harlow our political leaders have done little if anything to publicise what is going on, unlike in other parts of the county. There are at least three well documented proposals, all making a good case basically to save money, but little to do with improving services. The matter is being debated tonight at Harlow Councils Cabinet meeting by councilors from both main Parties, with the recommendation that five authorities are created in Essex. If councillors across the county can not even agree with the best way forward they should leave well alone. Lets also not forget, Harlow Alliance, the Lib Dems, the Green Party, Reform and Residents for You at Uttlesford do not agree that any such changes should be made.
Steven
2025-09-12 00:45:27
One thing to note, whose idea was it for these councils to merge and in some cases for a mayor to be elected, that's right, the former Deputy Prime Minister who was most recently sacked for breaking ministerial code. Furthermore there has been no mention of how much this will cost council tax payers, shouldn't the cost be borne through government who want the mergers in the first place. I believe the creation of these new councils will dilute the needs of Harlow people and also the future of Harlow which is currently undergoing rapid change. We need a focused Council like we have at the moment, we should not have to saddle the requirements of other areas which may be currently lacking. The whole idea must be pushed back to Government for costings and in fairness to the people of Harlow.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-09-12 10:55:14
The film of last nights Cabinet meeting when the Council formally sided with the five unitary council proposal makes an interesting watch. From what was said, Councillors from the two main Parties are clearly unhappy about the details of these changes and the consequences which will last for many years. Despite this, they are pressing on, when they should be saying enough is enough, we cannot make a proper case for any of the proposals. Add to this, Cllr Swords keeps saying that Harlow is expanding and in 10 yeats time it will be bigger than Cambridge, but that is simply not the case, the 30,000 to 40,000 people living at Gilston will not be living in Harlow or even Greater Essex.
Rosendo
2025-09-12 21:04:30
This government promised us change - They promised millions of new homes during this parliament, with a list of New Towns by the end of the summer - That didn’t happen - So a quarter of the way into the parliament they haven’t even managed a list! - They love to ‘tinker’ and not ‘do’ - Fannying with local authorities in ‘tinkering’ - We have profound problems as a country - This won’t address any of them.
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