Greater Essex devolution consultation

The UK government has launched the Greater Essex devolution consultation. The consultation seeks views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

The consultation invites those who live and work across Greater Essex to share their views on:

• the proposed geography
• the effect of establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority in Greater Essex
• how the Mayoral Combined County Authority will make decisions

The consultation opened on Monday 17 February and will run until Sunday 13 April 2025.

What is devolution?

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from UK government to local authority level. It is important because decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.

Devolution would provide greater freedoms and flexibilities for councils to work more effectively to improve public services and outcomes for residents and businesses.

What does devolution look like?

A devolution deal would create a new single body, known as a Strategic Authority, for Essex. It would initially take the form of a combined county authority.

These arrangements would be agreed prior to the first Mayoral election, which would take place in May 2026.

The key functions of the strategic authority would include strategic transport functions, such as support for buses, trains and concessionary fares, skills and driving economic growth.

What would devolution mean for us?

In Essex, devolution could mean:

• better co-ordination of transport across the whole county
• better skills because money is spent locally rather than by the UK government
• better jobs because this would be co-ordinated by a Mayor
• a stronger voice for Essex with UK government – at the moment the UK government finds it difficult to know how to talk to Essex as a place
• more strategic control over planning and housing

FIND OUT MORE

https://www.essex.gov.uk/about-council/plans-and-strategies/our-vision-essex/devolution-and-local-government-reorganisation