THURROCK Council is calling on residents and local organisations to take part in a major consultation on the future shape of local government in Essex.

The consultation launched today (Wednesday, 19 November) follows proposals submitted by Essex councils to ministers outlining options for restructuring. Residents, businesses, and community groups are now being invited to share their views on which model they prefer.

Across the wider Essex county all its unitary and district council have spent months putting together differing options. The 15 councils in the county will be replaced with either five, four or three all-purpose unitary authorities.

Essex County Council, supported by a number of district councils, want three new unitary authorities. Thurrock has put forward a proposition for four councils, with it being part of an alliance with Epping, Brentwood and Harlow – though those councils do not support it. Rochford has put forward a plan for four different unitaries, while A plan led by Southend (and supported by Basildon),  wants five unitaries. Under that scheme, Thurrock would be paired with Basildon.

Thurrock is backing an option to create four new unitary councils, arguing this strikes the right balance between financial sustainability and keeping decision-making close to communities.

A map of different colored regions

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Thurrock Council leader, Cllr Lynn Worrall, said: "The launch of the consultation across Essex is an important milestone as we work to improve how local services are provided.

"Local government reorganisation (LGR) provides us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-shape what is currently a complex and confusing landscape of different councils with different powers, into a new simpler, stronger structure.

"While there are different options to choose from, Thurrock Council's position is clear: we believe that a four unitary option provides the right balance for the future. Our careful analysis shows that it strikes the right balance between financial resilience and closeness to the people we serve. These are the things local people have said they care most about.

"If there are too few local councils across Essex, we risk a remote and distant council taking decisions far from communities.

"We fear that too many smaller councils will simply not be strong enough to weather the significant financial pressures facing local government, especially when Thurrock's debt and the debt of some other neighbouring councils, is considered.

"Four new local authorities for Essex strikes the right balance. We've worked hard to make sure that our submission is based on evidence, insight and the feedback we've had directly from residents. We believe four new authorities will be sustainable and financially secure into the future, as well as maintaining decision-making close to communities.

"Whatever your views on the proposals which are being consulted on, the Government wants to hear from you. Now is the time to shape local government in Greater Essex for the future – and so I urge you to get involved."

The consultation will consider all four proposals before ministers make a final decision. The government says it wants to hear from residents, businesses, and voluntary organisations across Essex.

The consultation closes on Sunday 11 January 2026. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/essex-southend-on-sea-and-thurrock-local-government-reorganisation

• Paper copies of the proposals will be made available at libraries
• The government is expected to announce its preferred option from among the four proposals submitted in March 2026, following the consultation process
• New unitary councils are planned to go live in April 2028
• More information about local government reorganisation in Greater Essex can be found on the Greater Essex joint LGR Hub

In addition to Local Government Reorganisation, an election will be held next May (2026) to appoint a new county-wide Mayor who will have extensive powers.

The mayor is set to get power and money from Westminster over house building, infrastructure, transport and adult training and skills.

The election will take place on 7 May and a combined authority of unitary and county councils will join the mayor in making key decisions.

It is early days, there are no manifestos yet. But in alphabetical order, these are the candidates who have declared so far and what they stand for:

James Allen - Liberal Democrat

Liberal Democrat James Allen.

A former magistrate he stood for the party in Southend East and Rochford in last year's general election.

Mr Allen said in a statement: "As mayor, I will focus on improving transport and infrastructure, boosting skills and jobs, tackling the housing crisis with genuinely affordable homes, and building safer, healthier communities through joined-up work with Essex Police, Fire Services, and the NHS."

Adam Fox - Labour

Adam Fox was previously the deputy leader of Colchester City Council

Adam Fox, 42, has been deputy leader of Colchester City Council and stood for Labour to be Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner.

He has worked in the charity and health sector and currently works for local MP Pam Cox.

"What I want to deliver is real fairness and opportunity for people across the county. That's about providing good jobs and skills," he said. "Making sure people have genuinely affordable homes to live in."

Mr Fox said new housing should be built around existing transport infrastructure like train stations and said garden communities built with infrastructure first is the right approach.

"We have one of the best rail networks in the country, Greater Anglia just brought back into public ownership and C2C," he continued. "But we haven't got the best buses.

"One of the things I want to look at is a franchising model and bring down fares particularly for younger people.

"One brand, one fare system."

He added he wanted to see "people being able to use their ticket across multiple different bus companies" like in London and Manchester.

Louise McKinlay - Conservative

Louise McKinlay said the economy would be her focus if elected

Louise McKinlay, 47, is deputy leader of Essex County Council. Born in Rochford hospital, she lives in Brentwood with her family and she used to be the local council leader. She runs a property management company with her husband.

"I want to be a mayor that can be advocating for business, particularly small businesses, they are the backbone of the Essex economy," she said.

"They need somebody who understands the county and who has run a business themselves."

Mrs McKinlay said the economy is her priority: "If we get the economy really firing on all cylinders then that means people will have better standards of living."

She says the county has great opportunity with the two freeports and "driving forward the investment that we need in our infrastructure whether that is on our roads or public transport" would be her focus.

Mrs McKinlay said she is campaigning to widen the A12 to three lanes in both directions between Chelmsford and Colchester - a project which was scrapped by the government in the summer.

James Miller - Confelicity

James Miller said he wanted to protect green belt land

James Miller, 44, is operations director of Stockvale group whose businesses include Adventure Island in Southend.

He founded a local party called Confelicity, which means "joy in other people's happiness".

Mr Miller said it is neither left or right and policy is decided by its 100 members.

Confelicity has fielded candidates across Southend in local elections, but has no councillors.

"If there is one thing I would do if I was elected is stop all the building on the green belt land," he said.

"It was protected for a reason by people that came before us and we should honour that. I really dislike this idea that they [the government] transferred green belt into grey belt."

Mr Miller said he is not against house building, "but I am saying lets get an accurate demand for housing".

He supports local referendums on key decisions and would not bring in an emissions zone like ULEZ in Essex.

Philip Miller - Independent

Independent Philip Miller would prioritise backing the police force

Philip Miller, 70, is the executive chairman of Stockvale Group that runs Adventure Island and Sealife Adventure in Southend where he was born.

He said he was "standing as a businessman".

"Every time I see another crackers decision whether it is government or council, I always think why on earth are they doing this. I just thought I can just do a better job."

Mr Miller would "have a cull as much as possible as there are far too many chiefs and not enough Indians".

His priority is backing the police and having "stop and search back in really strong" and "old fashioned policing".

Mr Miller said he has a "dad's army" team of retirees who will help him, including a former senior Essex police officer.

Mr Miller wants free parking for the first two hours on every high street in Essex to give "all the retailers a boost". Though parking restrictions are usually decided by councils.

He is against building on the green belt and backs building homes on high streets.

Natasha Osben - Green

Green candidate Natasha Osben believes public transport needed to be looked at in Essex

Natasha Osben, 37, lives and grew up in Clacton. She stood there as the Green party candidate in the 2024 general election and for Labour in 2017 when Jeremy Corbyn was leader. She is an academic and mother of four children.

She said she supports every Green Party policy.

"My first priority would be to ensure that the combined county authority is accountable and transparent.

"There's the prospect for people having less opportunity to have a say on decisions that effect their daily lives. Things from housing and planning.

"My top priority would be ensuring there are the processes in place for people to be consulted, to have public forums and assemblies."

Ms Osben said a priority would be fixing public transport "which is absolutely dire in Essex".

She added "buses often run on an hourly schedule and frequently don't turn up", it is "a failing service" and she would take more public control.

Reform UK?

Nigel Farage, pictured here in Thurrock last year, said Reform's candidate would be from Essex

Reform UK has said its selection process for its Essex mayoral candidate is "ongoing and once completed we will make an announcement".

Clacton MP and party leader Nigel Farage told BBC Essex in the summer the candidate would be from Essex.