The English White Paper was published on 16 December 2024 and set out the Government’s intentions for the devolution of Whitehall powers to more local institutions, followed by a letter inviting authorities to submit to be part of the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).
On 5 February 2025, the Government confirmed that Greater Essex has been accepted on to the DPP and invited Leaders of all Councilors in the Greater Essex area to work together to submit an interim plan for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) by 21 March 2025.
Councils in Greater Essex have now submitted their final proposals for local government reorganisation and four business cases have been developed:
The Five Unitary model
The Four Unitary model (Thurrock Council)
The Four Unitary Model (Rochford Council)
The Three Unitary Model (Essex County Council)
https://www.essexlgrhub.org/proposals
Basildon Borough Council has developed a business case for the proposed Five Unitary Model of LGR across Essex
Essex County Council has developed a business case for the proposed Three Unitary Model of LGR across Essex
Statutory consultation on all the submitted business cases will take place between November 2025 and January 2026.
It is very important that all residents make their views known.
More information can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-areas-invited-to-submitted-final-proposals/summary-of-the-local-government-reorganisation-process