Councillors will debate major changes to how councils operate across the country and how this affects Southend-on-Sea and the wider county.
In an extraordinary meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 8 January, Councillors will discuss Southend-on-Sea working with others across Essex to participate in the Government's devolution priority programme, including local government reorganisation.
This follows the Government's publication of its White Paper on English Devolution, on Monday 16 December. This set out plans for implementing devolution more widely across England.
The report being considered recommends submitting a joint letter to Government on Friday 10 January 2025. This letter would request that Southend-on-Sea City Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council be part of the Government's priority programme for devolution, which would see a mayoral strategic authority established in April 2026 and a mayoral election take place in May 2026. Strategic authorities are new legal entities that will have a mandate to act strategically to drive growth and support public services, including transport and infrastructure, housing and strategic planning, skills and economic growth, and climate change.
It would also set out the councils' commitment to working together to develop proposals for local government reorganisation, with full proposals set to be submitted in Autumn 2025 in line with the Government's timeline. Local government reorganisation means moving from the two-tier county-district model to new and larger unitary local authorities, responsible for populations of at least 500,000, although the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has indicated that he is prepared to be flexible about the minimum population size for new unitary councils.
Councillor Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: "The Government has been clear about its desire to make this happen, and it is therefore important for us to be proactive with our partners across Essex to shape the future.
"Devolution offers major opportunities to drive the investment and growth that is needed in Southend-on-Sea and across Greater Essex. Similarly, reorganisation gives the chance to make positive changes to local services and as a well-established unitary authority, we know the benefits of single tier local Government and are well placed to make the most of any changes.
"Most importantly though, all of this offers the opportunity to benefit the lives of local people and businesses and improve local services. This is crucial and will be at the forefront of our minds as we progress this.
"This decision is a momentous point in local Government and a once in a generation chance to improve services and achieve better outcomes for local people. I look forward to discussing this at Full Council and with Cabinet and working positively and proactively with our partners across the county."
The report for Full Council on Wednesday 8 January can be found on our democracy pages.