Government officials have responded positively to initial plans for the reorganisation of Greater Essex’s 15 existing local authorities into new ‘unitary’ councils in a letter received by council chiefs today (Friday 2 May).
At the end of March, the councils along with the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OFPCC) submitted initial plans to the Government.
Feedback on the plans came in the form of a letter, followed by a verbal brief for all of Greater Essex’s Leaders and Chief Executives.
The 16-page letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is designed to ‘assist in the development of final proposal’, which are due to be submitted to the government by 26 September 2025.
The letter states: “As your plan sets out, you are still identifying potential options for reorganisation. We recognise that plans are at an early stage and further analysis is planned in the run up to submitting the final proposal(s). Further detail on a proposed geography for new unitary authorities and evidence on the outcomes that are expected to be achieved for the whole area would be welcome.”
The letter asks for more information on how final options will meet the financial sustainability criteria, including the risks associated with disaggregating (splitting up) County Council services.
It also asks for efficiency savings to be identified and benchmarked against a population size of 500,000, and an explanation of how efficiency savings have been considered alongside a sense of place and local identity. As some of the options for new unitary councils in Greater Essex cover populations of less than 500,000, the letter states that more detail on the rationale and data for these would be ‘helpful’.
The Government’s expectations on the management of Thurrock Council’s debt are also set out in a separate appendix.
Cllr Graham Butland, Chair of Essex Leaders and Chief Executives and Leader of Braintree District Council, said: “We are grateful for the Government’s feedback and encouraged by its rigour and the constructive guidance offered.
“We certainly have the green light to work toward final proposals. There is much work still to do - data to gather, evidence to understand and decisions to take - but as a group of Leaders, we are all committed to making reorganisation work for Greater Essex.”
Cllr David King, Vice Chair of Essex Leaders and Chief Executives and Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “The joint working, sharing of information and knowledge, and robust debate among political leaders which has got us to this point is something we can be proud of, but there is a lot to do, under significant time pressure.
“Now we need to ensure the final proposals for Greater Essex are of the highest possible standard and offer the best possible outcomes – our residents and businesses should expect nothing less.”
At the end of March, the councils along with the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OFPCC) submitted initial plans to the Government.
Feedback on the plans came in the form of a letter, followed by a verbal brief for all of Greater Essex’s Leaders and Chief Executives.
The 16-page letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is designed to ‘assist in the development of final proposal’, which are due to be submitted to the government by 26 September 2025.
The letter states: “As your plan sets out, you are still identifying potential options for reorganisation. We recognise that plans are at an early stage and further analysis is planned in the run up to submitting the final proposal(s). Further detail on a proposed geography for new unitary authorities and evidence on the outcomes that are expected to be achieved for the whole area would be welcome.”
The letter asks for more information on how final options will meet the financial sustainability criteria, including the risks associated with disaggregating (splitting up) County Council services.
It also asks for efficiency savings to be identified and benchmarked against a population size of 500,000, and an explanation of how efficiency savings have been considered alongside a sense of place and local identity. As some of the options for new unitary councils in Greater Essex cover populations of less than 500,000, the letter states that more detail on the rationale and data for these would be ‘helpful’.
The Government’s expectations on the management of Thurrock Council’s debt are also set out in a separate appendix.
Cllr Graham Butland, Chair of Essex Leaders and Chief Executives and Leader of Braintree District Council, said: “We are grateful for the Government’s feedback and encouraged by its rigour and the constructive guidance offered.
“We certainly have the green light to work toward final proposals. There is much work still to do - data to gather, evidence to understand and decisions to take - but as a group of Leaders, we are all committed to making reorganisation work for Greater Essex.”
Cllr David King, Vice Chair of Essex Leaders and Chief Executives and Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “The joint working, sharing of information and knowledge, and robust debate among political leaders which has got us to this point is something we can be proud of, but there is a lot to do, under significant time pressure.
“Now we need to ensure the final proposals for Greater Essex are of the highest possible standard and offer the best possible outcomes – our residents and businesses should expect nothing less.”
Page last reviewed: 6 May 2025