A CALL has been made for the residents of Thurrock to have a say in any possible changes to local government in the region.

The government is currently looking at changing the structure of local councils and a number of options have been mooted for Thurrock.

One involves bring part of a wider South Essex council with partners from Brentwood, Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford and Southend. Thurrock is currently a member of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) and its chairman is Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill who has championed the idea.

That plan has not met with overwhelming support and has been roundly criticised in Southend in particular.

Nor does it appear to be popular with the government, who appear to favour Essex County Council's own plans for a restructuring across the county, with Thurrock coming under its wing. Minister for regional growth and local government Simon Clarke said: "I will always judge every proposal on its merits. However, it is not clear to me on first sight that south Essex would be the right geography for such an arrangement."

And recently Thurrock and Basildon councils broke new ground by signing a Memorandum of Understanding that will see them look at the possibility of shared services – and maybe even more links.

That has prompted leader of Thurrock Council's Labour group Cllr John Kent to call for a period of reflection on the options opening up – and he says whatever happens the residents of Thurrock should have a direct say.

Speaking to Nub News he said: "There is a lot of talk in the corridors of power at several of the region's councils at the moment, with a number of options being debated about how local councils might be restructured.

"That's all well and good, but where is the engagement with the people who really matter – residents of Thurrock?

"The possible merger of Thurrock with Basildon to form a new South West Essex Council is Groundhog Day for me.

"When I was first elected to Thurrock Council a similar merger was very much on the cards as a result of the Banham Commission on the future of local government which had been set up by the then Conservative government.

"The Commission recommended the creation of a single tier of local councils sweeping away the old two tier system of Counties and Districts.

"It looked for a long time as though the result of this for us would be a new council for Thurrock and Basildon - in those times "Basrock" and today South West Essex Unitary Authority.

"It looks as though there may be another round of local government reorganisation in a new white paper, a policy document produced by the Government that sets out their proposals for future legislation, this summer and for Thurrock and Basildon Council's to be talking about how they might respond to any proposals is sensible - but we need some clarity on what our preferred outcome is.

"For me, it's pretty simple - local decisions are best taken as locally as possible and by those elected by the communities that will be affected by those decisions. That means Thurrock remaining as an independent council on our current boundaries.

"Thurrock has incredible potential - 18 miles of riverfront, close to London but not London, the chance to create tens of thousands of jobs across the borough.

"Equally we have some real challenges, fighting the worst impacts of the new Lower Thames Crossing, a housing crisis that leaves thousands of Thurrock folk without a home of their own and adult skill levels too low for many to get the jobs that may be created - and that's without the incredible challenge of rebuilding as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.

"Given all that, I really believe lengthy wrangling about the future structure of local councils would be an unnecessary distraction and hope that government decides against ordering us to expend time and energy looking inward rather than delivering for residents.

"But, if we do have to revisit those arguments of the early 1990s, then we should put democracy at the centre of the discussion and, before Thurrock Council agrees to back any proposal to be part of a new Unitary Council, that must be put to a local referendum so all Thurrock residents can have a say on their future."