The new face of Thurrock and Essex - opinions vary as big decisions are made
THURROCK Councillors have supported plans for the borough to join a fast-track plan to transfer more power from Government to local authorities.
A significant majority of councillors from all parties have supported the council in asking the government for it to be in the forefront of changes in regional government. A decision was recommended by an extraordinary meeting of the council's general services committee (GSC), supported at a briefing meeting of councillors and the rubber-stamped by the executive Labour-run cabinet.
The three councillors out of 49, who expressed concern were Reform's Alex Anderson and independent Fraser Massey who expressed the opinion they were against the proposals when asked and the Conservatives' deputy leader George Coxshall, who chaired the GSC meeting but detailed his opposition – saying he could not see the government delivering the suggested change within the timescale suggested.
Cllr Coxshall said he was "not comfortable" with cancelling the elections, telling councillors "local government reform isn't going to be done in two years."
He abstained when it came to a vote.
Thurrock's Non Political alliance of Independent Councillors, of which Cllr Massey is a member, recorded a written summary statement to the GSC.
The Government has invited regional authorities to join a priority devolution scheme to transfer power from central government to smaller, more localized regions of power.
Councils will be invited to merge to form larger unitary authorities with populations of more than 500,000, though the Government has indicated there could be flexibility for slightly smaller populations. Essex, Southend, Thurrock and Basildon councils have all now indicated an interest in devolution.
Proposals include a new combined county-wide authority with a directly-elected mayor for 1.8 million people in Essex and a radical reorganisation of the 15 district, unitary and county councils that would abolish and merge them into fewer unitary authorities.
Essex could be left with between two and five councils, with the government to take the final decision about postponing elections initially for one year.
Elections for the first greater Essex mayor are now expected in May 2026 but for the new councils their inaugural elections might not take place until 2027 or later.
Councils have until Friday to commit to the change.
Thurrock has now declared its hand and Southend Council leader Cllr Daniel Cowan is backing the Government's plans for devolution that could see Essex County Council abolished and a series of new unitary authorities created across Essex.
Essex County Council will vote on the issue on Friday (10 January) but is widely expected to join its neighbour unitary councils in supporting change.
Its Conservative leader Cllr Kevin Bentley delivered a detailed commentary on the proposals, including saying: "Opportunity would involve agreeing becoming part of the Government's Priority Programme for devolution and local government re-organisation – leading to changes which would completely change the landscape of our local authorities.
"Devolution would mean Essex getting more money and powers from central government, and a directly elected Mayor to direct investment in areas like transport and skills and our economy.
"Local government re-organisation would mean doing away with the current two-tier council structures we have in most of Essex, in favour of a smaller number of new 'unitary' (all purpose) councils. Much clearer and simpler, and also, offering better value for money.
"The prize is clear - Devolution is the biggest chance we will get to rethink our system and bring more power into the hands of local people. It is about residents having more say on the things that are important to them locally, and new structures that work for people with politicians who are empowered to support them.
"I am looking forward to listening to the views of my fellow councillors on all of the issues associated with devolution and re-organisation, including elections. It is vital they have their say.
"But equally, it is vital that we do not lose sight of the potential prize on offer."
Cllr Bentley spoke about the controversial possibility of cancelling elections, but said: "We must not turn this debate into a political football, with the short-term political gains for the few outweighing the long-term wider games for the many – and by the many, I mean Essex's residents and businesses.
"Holding an election during the process of developing these proposals would compromise our ability to do that in a cross-party way, and to engage the public in our developing thinking.
"We want greater powers in the hands of local people, residents having more of a say on the things that are important to them locally, stronger local accountability, and politicians with the ability to make real change. We have a government ready to give this to us. We must have the vision to seize this opportunity, or risk being left behind."
Essex is due to hold its four-yearly annual election in May, while Thurrock was forced into a decision to call an 'all-out' election in May following its catastrophic financial collapse on government intervention. Southend is not due to hold all out elections until 2026.
Thurrock's general services committee met on Tuesday (7 January) prior to a cabinet meeting where a decision to write to the Government to express an interest in joining the scheme was backed by councillors.
Speaking at the general services committee meeting, Cllr Sara Muldowney, the portfolio holder for resources said: "I'm in favour of going forward for the priority programme.
"From a finance point of view this could be an opportunity for Thurrock to be joined with support from other councils in the district to get out from under the debt Thurrock residents are labouring under."
The devolved regions will have directly elected mayors to attract investment in transport, growth and infrastructure. The first of these could be elected in 2026 prompting many authorities, including Thurrock, to ask for government approval to delay forthcoming local elections.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting Cllr John Kent, leader of the council, said: "It's important we look at the two different issues that we have before us. The first is devolution, the creation of a combined authority under the leadership of a directly-elected mayor. There is a real opportunity with a directly elected mayor to increase our economy and the opportunities for people that live here.
"Alongside that is the issue of local government reorganisation. We've been struggling to balance the books and deal with the size of debt Thurrock has and we have to recognise it will be incredibly difficult to provide even a basic level of public services going forward.
"There is an opportunity in local government reorganisation to increase the size of the authority which will give us greater capacity, greater economies of scale and the opportunity to provide a good level of service to people living in Thurrock. It's an opportunity we have to take.
"If we are going to deliver this on the Government's timetable, with elections to a shadow authority by 2026, that means that it is impossible to do that and stop for a pre-election period and carry out an election in May.
"An all-out election costs in the region of £300,000. It is a sum of money we can't justify if we are going to be electing people for one year."
After the meeting he added: "The face of local government across Essex will change fundamentally.
"If we are going to meet the government's stretching timetable, which is to have elections for the new mayor of greater Essex next May and the new local authorities, then there simply isn't time to hold elections this May."
The meeting of Thurrock Council's cabinet can be viewed via this link.
The meeting of the GSC committee can be viewed via this link.
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