Three New Councils – One Bright Future

Posted on: September 15, 2025

Essex County Council has published its Proposal for Greater Essex, setting out a bold and evidence-based vision for the future of local government in our county.

This proposal represents the most significant change to local government in Essex in over 50 years. It outlines the creation of three new, all-purpose unitary councils, covering North, Mid, and South Essex – bringing decision-making closer to residents and ensuring services are joined-up and efficient.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, Leader of Essex County Council, said:

“Our proposal is about creating a better future for the people we serve. By bringing services under three new councils, we can deliver better outcomes, simplify governance, and make the most of every pound we spend. This is about unlocking the potential of Essex and ensuring our communities have the local government they deserve.”

The proposal will be considered at Essex County Council’s Cabinet and Full Council meetings on 18 September before being submitted to Government on 26 September. The Government will then decide which proposal(s) will go forward to public consultation later this autumn.

While there are alternative proposals from other councils, what unites all of Greater Essex is the shared ambition to create a local government system that works better for residents, businesses, and communities.

You can read the full proposal here: www.essex.gov.uk/three-councils

More information about Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and other council proposals is available at: www.essexlgrhub.org

Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

LGBTQ+ History Month: Connecting Communities Across Essex

LGBTQ+ History Month (February) is a time to recognise the contributions, resilience and lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people — past and present — and to reflect on how connection and visibility continue to matter. Across Essex, there are many organisations, support groups and community spaces doing vital work to support LGBTQ+ people and allies. The
Read more…

Read more...

Where Communities Are Built by David Barton

Where Communities Are Built Lessons from the work of community engagement across Essex My work in community engagement began with a simple realisation: many of the challenges facing our communities are not caused by a lack of services, but by a lack of connection. I have seen this repeatedly in schools, care homes and local
Read more…

Read more...