Devolution and local government reorganisation
Across most of Essex, there is currently two-tier system of local government. This means there is one county council (Essex County Council) and several district councils (including Chelmsford City Council). Each council has its own responsibilities, they are also known as local authorities. Some areas also have a parish-tier council.
There are also two unitary councils in Essex, in Southend-On-Sea and Thurrock.
You can find out more about the current structure in Chelmsford and what your local councils do.
In December 2024, the government published a white paper. They announced they want to both simplify local government, and transfer some powers and funding from national government to a more local level.
To achieve this in Essex, we must deliver devolution and local government organisation. These are separate programmes that will run alongside one another.
We do not have the final say on how these programmes will work. However, we will engage with the process and advocate for what we feel is best for our residents and communities.
The government have included Greater Essex in the Devolution Priority Programme. This follows a joint request from Essex County Council, Southend-On-Sea and Thurrock Councils.
The term devolution refers to the transfer of some powers and funding from national government to a local authority level. This means that decisions are made closer to the communities that they affect.
In Essex, this government would need to create a new body to cover Essex County Council's area, as well as those of Southend-On-Sea and Thurrock Councils. The new body would be responsible for a wide range of functions, including transport, economic growth and infrastructure.
This new body, known as a Mayoral Combined County Authority, would be lead by an elected Mayor. Elections for the Mayor would be held in May 2026.
The Mayor would also take on the responsibilities of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Devolution has already happened in other parts of England, the most well known case being Greater Manchester.
The government is carrying out a public consultation on devolution in Greater Essex.
The devolution consultation closes on Sunday 13 April 2025.
As devolution relates to the upper tier of local government in Essex, Chelmsford City Council is not engaged in the discussions.
Essex County Council are sharing their updates on devolution.
Local government reorganisation is where the structure and responsibilities of our existing local authorities are reconfigured.
The government wants to move away from the two-tier system of district and county councils. This would mean that all 15 existing councils in Essex at this level would be abolished.
Parish tier councils would be unaffected.
In their place, the government would create new unitary authorities. The new authorities would deliver most of the key services that residents are used to, such as education and social care, waste and recycling, benefits and parks and green spaces.
To create these new councils, existing district council areas would be merged. These new authorities could have a suggested population of up to 500,000, although the size will depend on each area. This means that Greater Essex would likely have between three and five new councils.
These new councils would replace the existing system on 1 April 2028.
The government has asked all Essex councils to work together to submit their views on how we can all deliver local government reorganisation.
We have worked with the other authorities to prepare an interim response by 21 March 2025. Chelmsford Councillors agreed that the Leader would endorse this response at a meeting of the Cabinet on 11 March 2025.
We will now do a more detailed analysis and submit our final views by 26 September 2025. However, it is the national government who will decide how to reorganise how Greater Essex.
Once the government has decided on the new structure, the existing councils will work together to prepare for the creation of the new councils. We will do all we can to ensure that your services and support are unaffected.
You can vote for the new authority's councillors in 2027. These councillors will serve as shadow councillors for one year. The shadow council will not yet exist or have any functions and responsibilities. However, they can make all the arrangements to ensure everything is ready for the abolition of the existing councils, so the new authorities can take over in April 2028.
Devolution
- 5 February 2025: Government confirmed Greater Essex Devolution plans
- 13 April 2025: End of public consultation
- 1 May 2026: Mayoral elections
Local government reorganisation
- 21 March 2025: Local authority interim plans submitted
- 26 September 2025: Local authority final plans submitted
- September 2025 onwards: Consultation on local authority plans and government decision confirmed
- Early 2026: Great Essex reorganisation order made
- 6 May 2027: Shadow authority elections for new authorities
- 1 April 2028: Existing authorities abolished and functions handed over to new authorities