10 January 2025
Upper tier authorities were invited to submit requests to either join the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) or delay local elections due to be held in May 2025.
Essex CC, Southend On-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council as the Upper Tier authorities submitted a request to join the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), delay the local county elections to be held in May 2025 and agree to submit proposals for Local Government Reorganisation by September 2025.
5 February 2025
The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed Essex CC, Southend On-Sea City and Thurrock Council’s proposal had been accepted to create a Mayoral Strategic authority, delay elections and to provide LGR proposals
21 March 2025
Interim local government re-organisation proposals were submitted to government. You can read more on the scope and recommendations put forward in the interim proposals. The fifteen Councils across Greater Essex submitted a proposal outlining a preferred approach by 10 of the 15 authorities for a 5 unitary model.
So whilst not all district and borough authorities have expressed a clear preference at this stage of the process, of the majority that have (ten), all strongly support and recommend a five unitary model which was submitted to government.
April/May 2025
The fifteen Essex authorities are expecting initial feedback from MHCLG on the ‘Interim Proposal’ submitted on the 21 March 2025. This feedback will assist the Councils final proposals for local government re-organisation in Greater Essex to be submitted to government by the 26 September 2025.
September 2025
Final submission of Business Case supporting a unitary council authorities model for across Essex to MHCLG
December 2025 / January 2026
Decision and outcome of final submission to be announced
May 2027
Elections to shadow unitary authorities take place
May 2028
Vesting Day to new Unitary authorities
Transition of services to new unitary authorities begins