LEADING Labour members of Thurrock Council have backed officer advice that holding elections in the borough in May (2026) will jeopardise the quality of work put into local government reorganisation (LGR), which will see Thurrock among a county-wide scrapping of councils and a new set of unitary authorities created.

Elections for those new authorities – which have yet to be determined by government – are planned to take place in 2027, meaning anyone elected in May this year would only serve in office for 12 months. Officers and member of the council's Labour cabinet believe it will take at least half that time, if not more, for the council to be anywhere near fully operating capacity because of the potential changes in administration and training required for new councillors.

That argument was repeatedly hammered home in an officer report, a presentation by council leader Lynn Worrall and individual presentations by Labour cabinet members at an 'open' cabinet meeting last night (Tuesday, 14 January).

The meeting heard questions from opposing councillors and speeches by the Conservative and Reform group leaders, Cllrs George Coxshall and Alex Anderson respectively.

The full meeting can be watched via this link:

https://thurrock.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1052691

At the end of the meeting, the cabinet members voted to respond to an invitation to comment and write to the local government minister Alison McGivern, detailing reasons why the capacity to deliver LGR would be hampered by holding elections. They repeatedly stressed the final decision would be made by the government, and the recommendations from cabinet fell short of it asking for a cancellation.

The report to the cabinet warned of "significant risk" to the debt-ridden authority's financial recovery if it had to deliver LGR and hold all-out elections.

Cllr Worrall told the meeting: "We have to do what is right for Thurrock residents. This is a council that will not be here in two years' time."

Conservative opposition leader George Coxshall said: "LGR is a really great opportunity" but added "it doesn't work on the timescale". He did not commit to whether he or his group supported or opposed holding elections in May but concluded: "I'm still not comfortable postponing when we don't know what the end product looks like."

Reform UK local leader Cllr Anderson and his members described the move as "dictatorial" and "a farce" and called for all-out elections to take place.

Cllr Anderson said: "Elections have only ever been cancelled for world wars or a global pandemic. Local government reorganisation is not a convincing excuse to pause democracy."

Independent member Cllr Neil Speight sought answers to six questions from the leader, but was only allowed three despite her previous assertion that all councillor questions would be heard and answered. Cllr Speight later, angrily, accused her of denying democracy and not telling the truth.

LGR could see the existing 15 county, district and unitary councils reduced to one tier of three to five unitary councils providing all services in their areas.

After the meeting Reform UK's candidate for the proposed Greater Essex mayoral authority, Peter Harris, who was in the public gallery, spoke to the BBC and said: "It's an absolute farce. They are saying there is a capacity issue.

"We all know the real reason they are cancelling these elections is because they are fearful of Reform winning."

Cllr Worrall later retorted: "We are not frightened of Reform. This council has changed administration many, many times."

She said holding elections this year would mean "we stop the work of this council in March and would not resume it until late July, or even September."

Neighbouring Labour-led unitary authority Southend, which is an equivalent in terms of size and responsibility to Thurrock says it will not be writing to government and elections will go ahead there in May. Labour-run Basildon has written to government saying its capacity will be reduced if elections are held.

An extraordinary meeting of the full council, called by Reform and independent members, will be held at the Town Hall this evening (Wednesday, 14 January).

Members will debate two potential motions, one from Reform calling for all-out elections to happen in May and an amendment from Cllr Speight calling for elections by thirds in May, which were originally scheduled to happen. Whatever the outcome, the decision is not binding on the council, where executive power remains with the cabinet and leader, though Cllr Worrall has pledged comments from the meeting will be passed to government.