THURROCK Council, Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea City Council have agreed to work together to seek change in the way local government operates in Essex.

Following meetings of the authorties' executive committees, the three councils have today (Friday, 10 January) written to the government to confirm that they want to proceed with devolution and the reorganisation of local councils in the area.

The letter to the Minister for Local Government confirms that the councils want to be part of the Government's devolution priority programme.

Essex County Council and Thurrock Council will also request the postponement of elections scheduled for May this year in their areas.

Southend-on-Sea City Council has no planned elections for 2025.

This follows a series of formal council meetings that took place this week.

Participation in the devolution priority programme would also commit authorities to local government reorganisation.

Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr John Kent said: "This is the most significant change for local government in more than a generation. We want to make sure that we are at the forefront of that change and our residents and business see the greatest benefit.

"Plans for devolution and local government reorganisation will see powers taken from Westminster and given to local government, which can better drive change, growth and prosperity for Essex's residents, communities and businesses.

"Essex is blessed with almost unparalleled opportunity – it is home to two international airports, two freeports and a diverse businesses community – and we believe that by devolving powers to new locally based strategic councils we are far better placed to capitalise on those assets and create even greater opportunity.

"It is truly exciting, and I look forward to joining my colleagues in Essex and Southend in seizing this opportunity on behalf of the 1.8 million people that live here in Essex."

Leader of Essex County Council, Cllr Kevin Bentley said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve local government, services and outcomes in Essex.

"Devolution and reorganisation is the best chance we have to rethink our system and bring more power into the hands of local people. It also gives us the best chance of offering decent public services at a price taxpayers can afford.

 "This is a significant step in our county's future. Together with our colleagues at Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council, we are embarking on a journey that will transform Essex for the better."

Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, Cllr Daniel Cowan, said: "Devolution offers major opportunities to drive the investment and growth that is needed in Southend-on-Sea and across Greater Essex. Similarly, reorganisation gives the chance to make positive changes to local services and as a well-established unitary authority, we know the benefits of single tier local Government and are well placed to make the most of any changes.

"We know that for most people terms like reorganisation and devolution will mean little and they rightly just want to know how their services will be improved. That is how we will approach this – firmly focused on better services and outcomes for local people.

"I am pleased that collectively we have made this momentous decision and can now submit the letter to Government to be at the front of the devolution queue and shape the future with our partners across the county."

The councils will now wait to hear from the Government on whether Greater Essex has been accepted as part of the Priority Programme for Devolution. Councils have also committed to working together to develop proposals for local government reorganisation, with full proposals set to be submitted in Autumn 2025 in line with the Government's timeline.