THE Labour leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Lynn Worrall, has highlighted her party's preferences as the authority moves closer to a September deadline to submit its proposals to the government.

Speaking today (Thursday, 26 June), Cllr Worrall said: "Since the Government published their plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) last December, Thurrock has been clear: our priority is delivering the best outcome for Thurrock's residents.

"This is a once in a lifetime change for our area. That's why our decision will be based on evidence that has fully examined options on transport routes, health and housing needs, feelings about our local identity and crucially, finances.

"Any plan we agree with neighbouring boroughs must make sense for Thurrock residents, our communities, be financially viable and stand the chance of securing support from Government. 

"While other boroughs have published their views on reorganisation, with statements about five or three unitary council models for Greater Essex, I am not confident these proposals will work for the people of Thurrock.

• A five-unitary model, while appealing on the surface, is financially unworkable. With significant debt across the region, including Thurrock's, this option would likely require a government bailout of £400–600 million, something that there is currently no suggestion the Government will be able to offer.
• A three-unitary model risks creating councils too large to truly reflect the unique characteristics of the areas they would serve and would take decision-making too far away from residents.

"We've taken the time to gather and analyse the evidence thoroughly. As a result, Thurrock is now exploring a four-unitary model for Greater Essex, which we believe offers the right balance between local representation and long-term sustainability.

"We know the Government wants to see a single business case for Greater Essex. That's why we're committed to working with neighbouring councils to ensure every option is fully explored.

"We owe it to our residents to leave no stone unturned in getting this right."