This week is a landmark week for the future of local government in Essex, and I couldn’t be prouder to share why with you.
We have just published the final Proposal for Greater Essex, a key moment in our journey to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). This is more than just a document – it’s a bold, ambitious vision for how we can unlock the full potential of our county and deliver better services, as well as a stronger, smarter, more sustainable local government for everyone who lives and works here.
Essex is changing. Our communities are growing, our economy is evolving and the way we live our lives is shifting. The way we plan, deliver and pay for local services needs to change too. The current two-tier system with 15 councils simply isn’t working as well as it could. It’s time to streamline, simplify and strengthen.
That’s why we’re proposing a three unitary model – one each for north, mid, and south Essex. These new councils would be big enough to be efficient and sustainable, but remain closely connected to the residents, businesses and communities they serve.
In short: less bureaucracy, more local say, greater impact.
Our proposal is built on solid evidence, independent research and is the result of months of hard work. It reflects the unique character of our county – its geography, its people and our ambitions for a bright future. And it’s driven by a clear set of goals:
- cut out duplication and waste
- deliver better, more joined-up public services
- make local government more transparent and accountable
- offer better value for money
- empower communities and make decisions closer to communities
- drive economic growth
I’m incredibly proud of everyone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to develop our proposal, as well as the collaboration I’ve witnessed across the councils in Greater Essex. While we may not all agree on the best solution, we all committed to making the change Greater Essex needs.
We’ll be discussing the proposal at our Cabinet and Full Council meetings on 18 September and I’m looking forward to those conversations. But this week is about celebrating how far we’ve come and looking ahead to what comes next in terms of the Government’s consultation and the chance for you to have your say.
This is a pivotal moment for Greater Essex.
👉 Read the full Proposal for Greater Essex
👉 Learn more about LGR and what it means for you
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