Big Council Shake-up - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Big Council Shake-up – RESIDENTS are being called upon to give their views on a big council shake up

Big Council Shake-up - RESIDENTS are being called upon to give their views on a big council shake up

RESIDENTS are being called upon to give their views on a big council shake up that would reduce the current number of local authorities in Essex and replace them with bigger unitary councils.

The public consultation has been launched by a number of authorities to guide their proposed vision for the new unitary councils across the county, set to be in place by 2028.

Under these plans, Southend would merge with Castle Point Borough Council, Rochford District Council to become one of the proposed five new future councils.

Chair of the ‘five councils’ group, Southend City Council Leader Coun Daniel Cowan, is urging people to share their views.

He said: “Essex is a fantastic place, proud of its transparent and genuine spirit.

“We’re now facing the biggest change in local government in 50 years, and your voice matters more than ever. We can’t shape a proposal without first listening to what you have to say.

“Our vision is for five stronger, more resilient councils that still feel rooted in the communities they serve – places that feel like home. But we won’t make any final decisions without hearing directly from the people we represent.”

Greater Essex currently comprises 15 councils serving nearly 1.9 million residents.

Southend and Thurrock operate as unitary authorities, meaning they manage most local services independently.

In contrast, the rest of Essex follows a two-tier system: district councils like Basildon, Castle Point and Chelmsford handle local services such as waste collection, street cleaning, and leisure facilities, while Essex County Council oversees broader services including highways, adult social care, and special educational needs.

As part of the Government’s devolution agenda, the five new bodies would consolidate responsibilities, delivering all local services except those managed by town and parish councils.

Coun Cowen continued: “This consultation is your chance to tell us what matters most to you, your family, or your business – wherever you live in Essex. It only takes around ten minutes to complete the survey, but your input could help shape the future of local services for generations to come.”

Residents can have their say up to 20 July by visiting https://shorturl.at/hapld.

Alternative formats are also available on request.

You can ask for a paper version of the survey by calling 01702 215408 or by emailing [email protected].

Once the survey has ended, the councils will use the feedback gathered to refine their bid before submitting a final proposal at the end of September.

The Government will then consider all the submissions it receives, before deciding how councils should be structured in Essex.

New councils are planned to be in place from April 2028.

Picture: the proposed unitary councils.

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