THE government has delivered its choices on local government reorganisation and it is planned that Thurrock will merge with Basildon to form a new South West Essex Council.

Local government minister Steve Reed announced: "Today (Wednesday, 25 March), I have written to the Leaders of councils setting out decisions and/or next steps for all six areas. I have decided to implement the following proposals, subject to Parliamentary approval, in these areas:

Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock: 5 unitary proposal, creating the councils referred to in the proposals as:

• West Essex Council (current local government areas of Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford)
• North East Essex Council (current local government areas of Braintree, Colchester and Tendring)
• Mid Essex Council (current local government areas of Brentwood, Chelmsford and Maldon)
• South West Essex Council (current local government areas of Basildon and Thurrock)
• South East Essex Council (current local government areas of Castle Point, Rochford and Southend-on-Sea).

"We remain committed to the timetable we have set out previously, with elections to the new unitary councils taking place in May 2027, ahead of them going live and delivering services in April 2028."

Local reaction to follow.