Issue - meetings

To note the update report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive providing an update on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) activity in Greater Essex.

The report set out the four proposals for LGR from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. At its meeting on 25 September 2025 Maldon District Council had agreed to support the Five Unitary Authorities (5UA) proposal. The Government Consultation was currently live and would run until 11 January 2026. The report set out the work being undertaken by Officers including areas where business as usual resources were likely to be impacted as a result of LGR.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and provided detail including how the statutory instruments to establish the combined authority would be implemented by the Government in the new year. It was noted that the Greater Authority had appointed an interim Chief Executive Officer, and the Government was providing funding to appoint lead staff in the strategy areas. The Leader reported how at the Essex Leaders and Chief Executives meetings he had raised concern regarding the lack of balance in representation with only one district council representatives from the north being appointed to the authority.

The Head of Performance Improvement and LGR advised that since publication of the report, the Government had, on 3 December 2025, alerted the Council that it was mindful to delay the Mayoral Strategic Authority elections from May 2026 to May 2028 to complete the reorganisation process before the Mayor took office.

The Chairperson put the recommendation set out in the report. This was duly seconded by Councillor M F L Durham who advised it was his understanding that there would be a proposal coming forward for two district council representatives.

In response to concern raised that the LGR Working Group and particularly its Chairperson had not received an update regarding the recent changes, the Leader of the Council apologised and commented that this was very recent information and he had had a busy diary earlier in the week which had not allowed any time to share this but committed to update the Chairperson of the LGR Working Group at the earliest opportunity in the future. In response to a further question, the Leader explained to Members the timeline in respect of receiving information from the ministry regarding the proposed change to the appointment of a mayor.

The Chairperson moved the recommendation which was duly agreed.

RESOVLED that the current update of Devolution and LGR, and possible resource implications as the activity to progress LGR develops be noted.