THOUGH the future of the administration of cash-strapped and debt-burdened Thurrock Council remains a moot point as everyone awaits with bated breath to see what government ministers are going to do about its catastrophic financial dealings – work is set to start on a plan suggesting a devolved regional authority including neighbours Essex County Council and Southend.

A decision next week will determine if Thurrock wants to take part in the bid for change.

Changes in the structure of Essex local government have long been mooted. As far back as 2020 Thurrock Nub News reported on one proposal to create a new wider authority run by a mayor. 

And last month we reported on growing support for a new regional structure from Southend Council.

That suggestion is on the agenda for debate by Thurrock Council's cabinet later this week. Senior councillors will be asked to decide whether to 'support a submission to Government to begin a dialogue for a Greater Essex devolution deal and understand the benefits it might bring to the residents of Thurrock' or 'to take no further part in the process at this time'.

The proposals would transfer some powers from Government to a new joint administration.

It would give the councils have greater control and access to Government funding on things like transport and health but they would remain self-governing, as they are now.

There are three levels of devolution deal on offer via the Government's new Devolution Framework.

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One is an informal joint working arrangement between the authorities.

Another is a Greater Essex combined county authority and the third is a combined authority with the addition of an elected mayor.

Southend says it will explore the first two options but has indicated it is not in favour of an elected mayor.

Thurrock Council leader Cllr Mark Coxshall has also expressed some concerns about a mayoral system.

He said: "How does a mayor deliver inward investment when he has two airports and two freeports. Which would that mayor choose? Would he choose freeport east or would he choose to promote freeport Thames?

"Would he choose Southend Airport or Stansted? That becomes the economic zone. "When you look at other zones there is a small area you can bang the drum for and how do we bang the drum for a greater Essex?"

Cllr John Kent, leader of Thurrock's Labour Group, has also raised concerns about a Greater Essex mayor. He said: "My view has always been I don't believe a greater Essex devolution deal is the right one for Thurrock.

"The differences between places like Thurrock and Uttlesford, Maldon and Braintree are so great that I struggle to overcome that.

"I also think when you are looking for a devolution deal on the edge of a major world city, you are looking at something that's different to most other deals across the country.

"The economic pull of London and the impact it has on Thurrock and south Essex is monumentally different to that it has on Clacton for instance."

He added there were also concerns about a mayoral precept on council tax to pay for "another layer of Government".