Epping Forest Council give support to being run by Chelmsford
Politics / Thu 18th Sep 2025 at 10:42am
AT an extraordinary meeting held on Monday 15 September 2025, Epping Forest District Councillors gave an indicative vote on proposals for the future structure of local government in Essex.
The UK Government has asked councils across Essex to submit proposals for local government reorganisation by 26 September 2025. By 2028, the current structure of 15 separate councils is expected to be replaced by a smaller number of larger unitary authorities.
Business case options have been developed, proposing either 3, 4, or 5 unitary councils across Essex.
The indicative vote taken at Monday’s meeting reflects the council’s current preference for the 3-unitary model, which “aims to streamline services and improve efficiency across the county”.
While the vote is not binding, it will inform the decision of the Cabinet when it meets on Monday 22 September 2025 to formally select which proposal to support ahead of the government’s deadline.
David Forman
2025-09-18 10:49:34
Like rats in a sack jockeying for positions. The councils around Essex have different ideas. Just let the government determine it as most people have given up on local politics and this pantomime is finishing their trust.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-09-18 14:41:16
It is worth spending an hour watching the debate which took place. Almost all those councillors who spoke had reservations about how we are to be governed locally in the future. It pains me to say that the person who spoke most clearly and eloquently was the Reform Councillor Jaymey Mc Ivor. Linking Harlow with Maldon and others is being proposed mostly on the gounds of money and council debt, little if anything to do with service to the public. As one councillor said, it is like turkeys voting for Christmas. Residents will be given the chance to comment on the final proposal later in the year. The Harlow Alliance Party will join with all the other Parties who object to these changes to urge residents to vote for no change.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-09-18 14:46:22
What I failed to mention in my earlier comment was that only forty councillors out of fifty three were in the council chamber to vote, where were the rest? Twenty nine voted for the three council proposal, eleven voted for the five council proposal. Split down Party lines with the Conservatives voting in favour of the three council proposal. How does that fit with the Conservatives just five miles down the road at Harlow who want the five council proposal?
ScottH
2025-09-18 15:09:51
The rats in a sack analogy is not a bad one given that Uttlesford has just voted for a merger with Harlow, which itself coveted joining with Epping under a 5 authority model. With Epping plumping for the '3' model, Essex Conservatives' inability to agree will put this squarely in the hands of Labour in Whitehall to settle matters. Just to address a point Nicholas made above, while I believe the Gov't will launch a 'consultation' in November, I'm aware of no mechanism and saw nothing in the White paper to suggest residents will be given a chance to vote on the LGR.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-09-18 16:07:04
ScottH, the issue of a vote may well come with the local elections across Essex next year, this issue will be at the heart of many a campaign. The Reform councillor made it quite clear that all plans will be ditched if they come to power, indeed every other Party other than the Conservatives and Labour share that view.
David Forman
2025-09-18 23:27:04
Reform voters may well settle the question, but then Kemi BadEnough and Free Gear Keir may just get their acts together by next May. On second thoughts, miracles are quite rare.
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