MPs across the political spectrum are backing a proposal for five new unitary authorities in Greater Essex that keeps decision making close to residents. Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs have indicated that if Local Government Reorganisation goes ahead, the option for five councils is the only one they support.
Labour Members of Parliament Bayo Alaba MP, David Burton-Sampson MP, Pam Cox MP and Chris Vince MP have all expressed their support. Liberal Democrat Marie Goldman MP is also in favour of five, and although Conservatives Sir Bernard Jenkin MP and Sir John Whittingdale MP prefer the status quo, they would choose the proposal for five unitaries of all the options on offer.
The Government has asked councils to submit proposals for how local government in Essex could be reorganised into fewer councils. Ten councils have worked together on a joint proposal for five unitary authorities that would deliver bigger new councils that still feel local and accountable to residents.
The five unitary option is the most local of all the proposals submitted to the Government, with decision making kept as close to communities as possible. Prioritising this accountability to residents, along with the creation of areas that feel like real places rather than clunky administrative areas, has helped to win cross-party backing from Essex parliamentarians.
Bayo Alaba MP (Labour), for Southend East and Rochford says the proposal strikes the best balance between efficiency and democratic representation.
“Local Government is at its best when local people are properly represented and decisions are made for the best interests of local people.
"The five-council model put forward by the majority of councils across Essex will best protect local services, while making a significant amount of savings.
“This is the most credible proposal for Essex and I'm glad to see that it is supported by a number of political parties and would protect against the creation of a small number of mega councils, while delivering real public sector reform.”
Marie Goldman MP (Liberal Democrat) for Chelmsford, is clear that this option is the only one with her backing: “The five unitary authority model is the only configuration for local government that comes close to retaining a strong sense of community and place, while also allowing new unitary councils to be agile and responsive to residents' needs.
“The accompanying detailed financial analysis backs up the economic sustainability of this proposal.
“The five unitary proposal is the only option that has my support.”
Creating any larger council area means a reduction in councillors, but the five-council proposal delivers savings with the least dilution of accountability to the electorate. Five new councils would result in 434 councillors across the Greater Essex footprint, with an average ratio of around one councillor to 3,200 voters.
Other proposals put forward by ECC, Thurrock and Rochford for either three or four unitary authorities would reduce the total number of councillors by 60% to between 280 and 285, creating some of the least local and accountable unitary authorities in the country. Average voter representation per councillor would be around one council member to every 4,900 electors under these proposals.
For Sir Bernard Jenkin, MP (Conservative) for Harwich and North Essex, maintaining accountability is key: “I very much welcome Tendring District Council's decision to promote a five-unitary solution for Essex. The great disadvantage of this whole project (apart from the massive administrative disruption caused by the reorganisation) is that much of local government will become more remote from the citizen.
“The five-unitary proposal mitigates this as far as possible. Smaller is better: closer to the citizen and will drive greater accountability.”
The five-council model is the only proposal with support from all the political parties that lead councils across Essex. It reflects the best practice standards set by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) and has been built around empathy with local communities, avoiding the risk of placing process over human decision making and interaction that comes with some of the bigger proposed authorities.
Councils supporting the proposal for five unitaries include:
Basildon Borough Council
Brentwood Borough Council
Castle Point Borough Council
Chelmsford City Council
Colchester City Council
Harlow District Council
Maldon District Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Tendring District Council
Uttlesford District Council
Find out more about local government reorganisation (LGR) in Essex and read all the proposals submitted to Government on the Essex LGR Hub: https://www.essexlgrhub.org/proposals
Page last reviewed: 13 October 2025