Council opposes combined authority voting plan

Essex County Council has told the government it "cannot support the proposal for devolution in Greater Essex in its current form".

The local authority supports a major shake-up and reduction in the number of councils in the area.

However, as part of the plans, a Greater Essex mayor would be elected and a so-called combined authority would be set up to make key decisions on issues including transport and housing.

Conservative-run Essex County Council says it should have more voting power on this combined authority, compared with councillors from neighbouring Southend and Thurrock.

Under this plan, Essex would have three voting members on the combined authority, whilst Southend and Thurrock would both have two.

The Labour leaders of Southend and Thurrock support the proposed setup.

The county council argues that it represents 80% of the population of Essex and should have at least 50% of the votes.

Essex leader Kevin Bentley told Local Government Minister Jim McMahon it would "ensure fairer representation".

He proposed there should be two voting members from Essex, and one each from Southend and Thurrock, with the mayor potentially having the deciding vote.

Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, told the BBC: "Southend has been clear we wouldn't accept anything other than what has been proposed.

"We think it is fair and balanced and it sets us up in the right way for local government reform."

The existing council structure in Essex is set for radical change with plans for the current 15 councils to become between three and five all-purpose unitary authorities.

A timetable for reforming local government in Essex has been set out:

• Elections for a Greater Essex mayor on 7 May 2026
• Elections for the new-look Essex councils in May 2027
• The new councils would replace the existing ones in 2028

The mayor would be directly elected, which means the population will choose their preferred candidate.

John Kent, Labour leader of Thurrock Council, said devolution "gives us the opportunity to grow the Essex economy and we cannot afford little wrangles like the niceties of voting numbers to scupper that".

Cowan added: "We have all worked together collegiately to get to this point so far.

"It's now disappointing that the county council doesn't believe we can continue in that vein."

Members of the public and institutions can comment on the devolution proposals until this Sunday.

The government in Westminster will have the final say.

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