About local government changes in Essex

Essex is a special place with a proud past and a bright future. To help Essex grow and do even better, we are proposing to make changes to how it is run. These changes will make things easier to understand and help decisions get made faster. 

The government wants councils to be simpler, so it’s clear who is in charge of local services. This will help councils be more efficient and make councils work better. 

Right now, Essex has two levels of councils – smaller ones like borough, city and district councils, and a county council, Essex County Council. Some places, like Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, already have just one council that does everything. Some areas also have a town, parish or community council. This reorganisation process does not affect these very local councils. 

Having two levels is confusing and costs more. We want to change to one level – called a unitary council – that does all the jobs in one area.  

There are currently 15 councils in Essex. Some look after things like bins and parks. Others look after schools and care for children and older people. It’s hard to know who does what. 

We want to make it easier for everyone - including local people, businesses, the NHS, and the police - to know who is in responsible for what and how we can work together to make Essex even better.

Aerial view of Writtle, village in Essex

What unitary council means

A unitary council is one council that is responsible for all the services for its area. In other places, two different councils might share the work - but a unitary council does everything. 

Typically, these unitary councils cover big towns or cities that are large enough to function on their own. They look after things like schools, roads, bins, and care services. 

If you live in Southend or Thurrock, you already have a unitary council. The new plans would create more of these councils, covering bigger areas than now. 

This is what the government wants to do

The government has written a plan called the English Devolution White Paper, which you can read on GOV.UK. It gives more power and money to mayors in England, so they can help make big decisions for their areas. 

The plan also explains how local councils will be changed and improved. This will help local areas have more say in their future, make councils work better, and help people know who is responsible for services.
 

What is devolution? 

Devolution means giving more power and money to local areas instead of the government making all the decisions. It means local councils can make choices about things like transport, housing, and jobs. 

You can read more about devolution on the Essex County Council website. 

What is Local Government Reorganisation? 

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) will change the current two-level council system into new, bigger councils called unitary councils. This will make things simpler. 

Councils in Greater Essex are working on ideas for how to do this. The government wants these ideas to: 

  • use areas that make sense on a map, usually based on current council borders 
  • make sure the new councils can manage their money well 
  • keep services working smoothly 
  • think about local pride, history, and culture 
  • aim for each new council to cover around 500,000 people (but this can change depending on the area) 

Final business cases

While all councils in Essex are united in recognising LGR as the right direction for the future, there are differing views on how best to deliver it.  

Each council has their own unique local priorities, challenges, and opportunities which has led to the development a number of business cases. These business cases reflect a shared commitment to finding the most effective solution for residents and businesses. 

Once these business cases have been finalised, we will add them to this website for you to read. 

Construction new houses in England from ground

Why it matters for Essex 

LGR will change how councils are run and lead to services working better. It can also bring efficiencies and give stronger local leadership. 

Here are some ways it can help: 

  • services can be easier to use and understand 
  • councils can work together and stop doing the same jobs twice
  • running things more simply can cost less in the long run
  • bigger councils can speak up more for their areas
  • bigger councils can deal with problems better
  • changes can help people in Essex have more say in what happens in their area 
Female home carer supporting old woman to stand up from the armchair at care home

How services will change 

LGR means that new, bigger councils will take over local services. 

The same services will still be there - like bins, schools, and care – but they might cover a bigger area. 

The aim is to make councils work better and save money by having fewer of them. 

The goal is to build a stronger, simpler council system that works well for local people. 

Right now, nothing is changing. Services will carry on as normal, and we are still working hard to give you the best service. 

Stay updated

Keep checking this website to see what has been done as each key deadline approaches. You can also sign up to your local council newsletters and follow them on social media for further updates.