Thurrock Council’s Cabinet will consider the interim plan for local government reorganisation in Greater Essex at its meeting on 19 March. If approved by Cabinet, and other councils in the county, the plan will be submitted to the UK government on 21 March.
The interim plan, written by the Leaders and Chief Executives of the 15 local authorities in Greater Essex, highlights the opportunities local government reorganisation presents for the county’s 1.8 million residents, and sets out criteria by which decisions will be made on how to draw the new council boundaries. It establishes the principles and a roadmap for Greater Essex councils to work together to agree on final proposals. Those final proposals will be submitted to the UK government in the autumn.
Cllr John Kent, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: “I’m pleased to be able to present the interim plan for Greater Essex to cabinet colleagues after weeks of intensive work with partners across the county’s 15 councils.
“I’ve been clear right from the start, that decisions about new council areas should be evidenced-based; made by examining all the data closely to understand what’s best for Greater Essex’s 1.8 million residents.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Thurrock to become part of something stronger, more resilient and better able to deliver the services residents deserve. Our residents deserve better than the failures of the past. This interim plan which we hope to submit to government on 21 March, commits us to use all the evidence at our disposal to agree on a future for local government that’s right for local people, and delivers excellent services for years to come.”