Agenda item

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

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive providing a summary of the Government’s English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024 in respect of its proposals in this policy area and the Government’s intentions for local government re-organisation; including the relevant timelines for the two separate but parallel strands of Government policy. The report also set out Essex County Council’s (ECC) response to this paper to be a devolution priority area along with the Secretary of States decision in relation to Essex being accepted as a priority area and the deferral of elections scheduled for May 2025 and 2026.

The report provided detailed background information regarding devolution and Local Government Re-organisation (LGR). The default position for the Government was that Strategic Authorities should cover areas with a population of 1.5million or above and Appendix 1 to the report set out the powers of Strategic Authorities.

It was noted that 15 Councils in Essex had commissioned Grant Thornton to carry out a piece of work explore the costs, complexities and options for LGR within Essex and the results of this document were set out in the report and Appendix 2.

The Chief Executive took the Council through the different options, the indicative timeline and the recommendations set out in the report. He emphasised the importance of continuous updates and briefings as devolution and the LGR agenda progressed.

The Leader of the Council referred to meetings of the North Essex Leaders and Essex Leaders and provided the Council with details of the meetings that had taken place. It was noted that at these meetings ten authorities had voted in favour of the five unitary model, the details of which were set out in the report. Work was therefore taking place across all authorities regarding the principle of putting forward a model for five authorities. The Leader advised there was a need to move forward and supporting the model for five authorities would not preclude the Council from changing its view at a later point.

The Chairperson advised that he had called this extraordinary meeting as it was an important subject and for Members to receive an update, debate the conditions and review the recommendations. He then moved the recommendations as set out in the report and these was duly seconded.

During the debate that following a number of Members commented on the proposals, and there was some length discussions regarding the five unitary authority model. Some Members felt that to agree in principle that this five unitaries option was the preferred model was premature. Reference was made further data due to be published within the next week which it was commented would show whether there was financial benefit to be gained from the different models.

Councillor M F L Durham updated the Council that Essex County Council had not expressed a precedence over the different models, but had decided to wait until further evidence (currently being collated) had been received. In response the Chief Executive acknowledged the point regarding the awaited evidence but highlighted the complexity of the process and the need to focus on one model (from the 16 that had been modelled) and explore the viability of that model. The report was seeking Members’ support of the preferred model.

Following further discussion Councillor A S Fluker proposed that recommendation (v) be amended to read “based on the information available agrees in principle…”.

After further debate the Chairperson moved recommendations (i) – (iv) and (vi). These were duly agreed. At the request of the Chairperson, Councillor Fluker repeated his earlier proposed amendment to recommendation (v). This was duly seconded and upon a vote being taken this was agreed.

RESOLVED that the Council:

(i)             receives the report for information;

(ii)            acknowledges that work will continue to ensure that Maldon District Council is in the best possible position as devolution progresses and/or local government re-organisation goes ahead;

(iii)           mandates that the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive seek to ensure that the voice of Maldon District (and north Essex more generally) is as strong as possible in any negotiations around devolution and local government re-organisation recognising its opportunities and challenges;

(iv)           recognises that Members and Officers will continue to deliver this Council’s best value and other statutory duties for the benefit of its residents, businesses and communities every day that it exists;

(v)            based on the information available agrees in Principle that five Unitaries for Essex is the preferred model. Whilst acknowledging other councils reserve the right to advance different models;

(vi)           welcomes the intention to provide periodically, briefings to Members (and reports to this Council, as necessary) as the agenda around devolution and local government re-organisation develops locally.