Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) seeking Members’ agreement of a formal response on behalf of Maldon District Council (MDC) to the statutory government consultation on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Essex.

The Head of Performance, Improvement and LGR presented the report which provided background information regarding LGR, the Council’s decision to support the Five Unitary Authorities (FUA) model and the statutory consultation launched by the Government. The consultation sought views on the proposals received by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and was due to run until 11 January 2026. A draft consultation response on behalf of MDC had been produced (attached at Appendix 1 to the report) and considered by the LGR Working Group.

The Chairperson moved the recommendation set out in the report and this was duly seconded.

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor S J N Morgan requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded, and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, V J Bell, S Dodsley, J Driver, A Fittock, L J Haywood, J C Hughes, K Jennings, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, R H Siddall, U G C Siddall-Norman, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, E L Stephens and J C Stilts.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors M F L Durham and A S Fluker.

Abstention:

Councillors D O Bown, J R Burrell-Cook, W J Laybourn, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, R G Pratt, W Stamp, M E Thompson and L L Wiffen.

The Chairperson advised that this was duly agreed.

RESOLVEDthat the draft consultation response at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.