THE proposed merger between Thurrock and Basildon councils looks likely to be scrapped after the government announced it is to review local government reorganisation decisions after getting updated legal advice.

Communities secretary Angela Rayner is due to make an announcement today (Monday, 7 September) in Parliament following "updated and privileged" legal advice.

Earlier this year the Labour government announced it would be continuing with its plans for reorganisation which involved a huge shake-up of councils across Essex. Essex County Council has already launched a legal challenge against how it will be broken up and its governance reshaped, while both Basildon and Thurrock councils have expressed dislike for their merger into a new South West Essex unitary authority.

Thurrock Council leader Cllr Richard Bingley spoke up against the Basildon-Thurrock merger.

Thurrock Council leader, Reform's Cllr Richard Bingley, spoke of his opposition to the new plans in June, calling for the Thurrock and Basildon merger to be scrapped.

Elections for the new council were scheduled to take place in May 2027, with the authority set to take over local government responsibilities on 1 April 2028. However, those plans may now be assigned to the unfulfilled history books.

However, it now appears decisions on Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn and the other 14 areas are being paused and reviewed.

Ms Rayner is expected to say: "As we are now more determined than ever to devolve power closer to the people we represent, it's only right that as a new secretary of state I make sure that everything we do is working towards that plan to change Britain, without delay.

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"The prime minister told the House last week, he was 'prepared to look at local government reorganisation' and he asked me as his Communities Secretary to 'do that'.

"In that context, in light of legal advice, I want to satisfy myself firstly that the right process is in place, that it is robust, and of course complies with the law. And secondly, I want to fully test whether our proposals for local government reorganisation meet the priorities of a new administration and a new prime minister and any additional considerations.

"I do not take this lightly. I recognise the huge amount of work that has already gone into progressing reorganisation in each of these areas, and I am very grateful for it."