THURROCK Council's Labour leadership looks set to submit a paper to government saying it believes it cannot run local elections next May without reducing its capacity to prepare for local government elections.

Effectively it is set to advise the government that the pending elections be cancelled - with 16 councillors being given leave to sit for an additional year without an electoral mandate.

The key recommendation of the report, likely to be approved by the cabinet, says: "The Leader shall make representations to the Secretary of State before midnight on 15 January 2026 to highlight concerns on Thurrock Council's capacity to fully deliver local government reorganisation to the Government's timetable if the May 2026 elections were to proceed, as set out in this report. "

Last night the council issued a statement that Labour leader Cllr Lynn Worrall has called an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 13 January when the executive team will make a decision on what it plans to do.

Before Christmas five councillors had exercised their right to call for an extraordinary full council meeting to discuss the situation and potentially all members could vote on what they want the council to do. Constitutionally the council had to grant permission for that meeting - and it has now scheduled it for Wednesday, 14 January - 24 hours after the cabinet meeting.

The move has been slammed as an insult to democracy and arrogant and a contemptuous act by one of the councillors who called for the full meeting.

Last night the council issued this statement:

Two extraordinary meetings have been arranged to discuss Thurrock Council's response to the Government, which has asked for views on the merits of postponing the planned May 2026 local elections in areas where local government reorganisation (LGR) is underway.

On Thursday 18 December, the Minister for Local Government Alison McGovern wrote to the Leaders of councils across the country with planned elections in May 2026 where proposals for reorganisation have been submitted and decisions not yet taken. She asked councils, by midnight on Thursday 15 January, to set out its views on the postponement of their local election, particularly in relation to any implications on their capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.

On Tuesday 13 January, Thurrock's Cabinet will meet to consider a report, written by officers, which sets out the implications of the planned elections on Thurrock's ability to deliver its best value requirements under intervention alongside local government reorganisation and devolution. The considerations set out in the report include the impact on the democratic process; the political capacity to deliver best value and local government reorganisation; the impact on partnership working across Greater Essex to deliver LGR; and the value for money of holding elections for a time-limited council.

It recommends that Cabinet agrees that the issues and implications set out in the report are shared with the Government, to help inform their decision about whether local elections should take place in Thurrock in 2026.

Cllr Lynn Worrall, Leader of Thurrock Council, will be writing to all councillors, inviting them to attend Cabinet and share their views on this important issue, recognising that this is not a party political issue, but something that affects each and every one of them, and the residents they represent.

Cllr Worrall said: "No-one wants to postpone elections – they are fundamental to how we work, and every councillor feels great pride in having been chosen by the people that they serve to work on their behalf. I want these elections to go ahead, but these are not normal times, and if doing so risks the biggest opportunity we have had in decades to shake up local government and make sure it works for local people, then it is something we need to carefully consider together.

"Ultimately, whether the elections go ahead in Thurrock is a decision for Government, but it is important that we help to inform that decision with clear and factual information. I'm grateful to officers for laying out the considerations so clearly, and I look forward to hearing from all councillors, before the Cabinet confirms what we will be sending to the Secretary of State.

A meeting of Full Council will also be held next week, on Wednesday 14 January, at the request of some councillors, to further debate the issue."

The full report put before cabinet can be read here.

Cllr George Coxshall, Conservative group leader, said: "In January 2025, I was clear that I was not comfortable with the decision to request a postponement for last year's Local Elections, and I chose to abstain on the request.

"I also warned that the Labour Government's programme could lead to further delays to our elections.

"The Electoral Commission has been clear that it does not consider capacity constraints a legitimate reason to delay elections; however, from the tone of the report being presented to Cabinet next week to vote on, I am disappointed that my fear is proving correct."

Independent councillor Neil Speight, who represents Stanford West and was one of the five signatories calling for an extraordinary full meeting (the others being Cllrs Alex Anderson, Alan Benson and Russell Cherry of Reform and independent Cllr John Allen), has issued the following statement: "Thurrock's Labour leadership has shown complete and utter contempt for the democratic process and the rights of residents and elected councillors.

"To effectively ignore a legitimate request for debate, discussion and a vote and hold an extraordinary full council meeting after, rather than before, the cabinet shows the arrogance of Thurrock's council leader and her colleagues. Councillors may well be invited to attend the cabinet and speak, but they will not get a vote nor the opportunity to debate options - of which at least two will be set out as motions.

"I have long held the belief Thurrock Council is broken but I had hoped there was still a shred of decency among its leadership. 

"But clearly the Labour administration believes it is above the democratic process and cares not one jot about the views of elected members.

"It would have been quite easy to hold the full council meeting I and others have called next Tuesday, then had the cabinet meeting on Wednesday but Cllr Worrall chose not to do that and deliberately and arrogantly sticks two fingers up to the electorate of Thurrock. 

"Shame on councillor Lynn Worrall and her cabinet."

Cllr Alex Anderson, leader of Thurrock Reform, has also been invited to comment.

The scheduled planning meeting, due to be held in the Chamber next Tuesday, has now been cancelled and moved to 20 January.