A SENIOR CONSERVATIVE councillor has “warned” that if elections were to go ahead in 2026, “completely untested councillors” could be left in charge of complex reorganisation work reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

Essex was one of nine councils where local elections were delayed by one year in May to allow for major reorganisations to take place.

As it stands, the Essex County Council elections are scheduled for May 2026. There will also be mayoral elections to elect the first Greater Essex mayor.

In May 2027, ‘shadow’ councillors will be elected for the new unitary authorities that will take over the roles currently operated by local councils and the county council.

These shadow councillors will work on some council activities alongside Essex County Council in the run-up to the new authorities taking full control in May 2028.

It is understood that any decision to postpone the full council elections further must be made by February 2026 to allow legislation to be passed, enabling further postponement or even cancellation.

The government said the initial postponement “is essential for the delivery of the devolution priority programme and complementary reorganisation”.

It specifies that the elections will take place on the “ordinary day of election of councillors” in 2026. This means that instead of taking place on Thursday, May 1, 2025, they are now scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

However, a cabinet member for adult social care and children’s services told a scrutiny committee discussing the complexities around local government organisation that wanted the government to see the risks of holding elections next year.

Councillor Spence said: “In terms of the risk of political change, I think we could all see that if there were to be elections next year, there would be a chance in the current political climate, you could have an administration come in with completely untested councillors responsible.

“That is very clearly an enormous risk as to the complexity of the work we’re undertaking. So it is a real risk and I hope that the government are thinking considerably.

“While I’m a great believer in democracy, the risks of political leadership change over the next two years are huge. Now, fortunately, we have great officers. But if they were then given the wrong political direction or a different set of political priorities became paramount after May 2026, I would be deeply worried.”

Russell Quirk, a newly elected Reform councillor to Brentwood Borough Council, which would cease to exist in May 2028, challenged Councillor Spence’s standpoint.

He said: “It’s disappointing to hear the Conservatives at Essex County Council attempting to subvert democracy once again. They denied Essex voters their right to vote this year and clearly plan to do so again next year.

He added: “It is for our electorate to decide who is fit to run county services and policy, not a gaggle of career politicians who have failed Essex.

“Of course, it’s in their own selfish interests to try to block your democratic right, because, as my recent by-election victory demonstrates, the Conservatives on Essex County Council would be completely wiped out by the popularity of Reform.”