Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock: Local government reorganisation
Documents relating to the government’s programme of local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
Timeline
5 February 2025
The invitation letter sent to councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock set out their milestones for reorganisation.
They were invited to submit final proposals for unitary local government by 26 September 2025.
19 November 2025
A written ministerial statement was made to Parliament. This set out that a statutory consultation on proposals for local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock was published.
The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness also wrote to the leaders of councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock to thank them for their proposals and inform them of the consultation.
25 March 2025
A written ministerial statement was made to Parliament, setting out the Secretary of State’s decision to implement the proposal for 5 unitary councils to be established in Essex.
Secondary legislation, which will be subject to Parliamentary approval, will now be taken forward to abolish existing councils, establish new councils and make transitional arrangements.
Accompanying this announcement, letters were sent to:
Consultations
Letters to Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock councils
Updates to this page
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Implementation letter to Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock council chief executives added.
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Decision letter to Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock council leaders added.
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Letter to council leaders on publicity code added.
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First published.