Have your say on the councils of the future
The Government is seeking your views in a consultation on how local government in Essex could be reshaped in the next three years.
This is an important opportunity to have your say on how local services are delivered and how your voice is heard.
What is this consultation about?
The Government wants to combine local councils so that there are fewer of them across the UK. In Essex, that means Chelmsford City Council will merge with a number of other district councils into a unitary authority.
The new unitary councils will also take on services currently provided by Essex County Council, which will stop existing.
The consultation asks for views on different possible structures for these new councils. It’s time to have your say on how many there might be, what boundaries they could have, and how services like social care, waste, housing and planning could be divided up.
Councils across Essex have submitted four different proposals. Now the Government wants your views on these proposals before it makes a decision.
Chelmsford City Council supports the 5-council option
Chelmsford City Council and nine other local authorities across Essex support an option to reduce the number of councils in Essex from fifteen to five. This would see Chelmsford merge with Maldon, Brentwood and part of the county council.
In this option, the five councils created would serve populations ranging from approximately 326,000 to 510,000. Cllr Daniel Cowan, the Chair of the five councils group, says unitary councils of this size deliver strong outcomes.
“"I believe we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how local government works for our communities. We owe it to the people of Essex to provide a system that they can identify with and that is built for the future. I urge everyone to take part.
Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council and Chair of the five councils group
"The model for five councils in Greater Essex that we have supported, along with nine other councils, is locally rooted, preserving community identity and service delivery.
"We also know that bigger isn't always better. According to audited figures, the five unitary authorities proposal in Essex saves over £100m per year, compared to just £25m for three unitary authorities.
"However, we also know that whatever the outcome of the Government's re-organisation, we will work together with all the councils across Greater Essex to put the needs of our residents first."
Other proposals are for 3 and 4 future councils
There are a number of options being consulted on that have been put forward by councils in Essex. Essex County Council and two others support a proposal for three bigger councils, which would divide Greater Essex into thirds.
Thurrock and Rochford have each submitted separate proposals for four councils in Essex, with different suggested configurations.
Why does it matter?
How your local councils are organised affects how easily you can access services, how decisions are made, and how resources are allocated. It has a real impact on local life and the place you call home.
Whether you live in Essex, work in a local business, volunteer for a local charity, or use services every day, your perspective is valuable.
Chelmsford City Council's Leader, Cllr Stephen Robinson, says it's a chance to let the Government know what's important to you.
“"Streamlining Greater Essex into five unitary authorities' offers the greatest benefits on the table, since the Government says we must change. We can make savings needed to keep councils sustainable without losing our local identities and keep local representation for our communities.
Cllr Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council and Deputy Chair of the five councils group
"It's clear that people care passionately about their local services. Whatever your views, don't miss out on this opportunity to tell the Government what you think about future councils in Essex.
"We know people are concerned about the costs and disruption from reorganisation. We are working hard to make the process as smooth as possible, as we set up brand-new councils that link services together better. There are real opportunities to improve how services are delivered for residents and reduce confusion about who is responsible for what."
How to take part
Visit the Government consultation webpage and share your views: at https://consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/essex-southend-on-sea-thurrock/consultation/.
Information about all the proposals for Essex can be found on the Essex LGR Hub website: https://www.essexlgrhub.org/proposals.
The consultation is open until 11 January, 2026.
What happens next
Once the consultation closes, the Government will review all the responses it receives. A decision is expected in early 2026, and the Government says the new unitary councils will be up and running in April 2028.
You can read more information at https://www.essexlgrhub.org/your-questions-answered. We will keep you updated as things progress.
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