Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Details about our plans for devolution in Greater Essex and the government’s long-term vision for simpler council structures.

Planning elections and establishing a mayoral combined county authority

Essex County Council (ECC) was invited by the government elected in July 2024 to request postponement of elections if it felt this would enable devolution to be delivered more quickly.

Councillors voted to make this request and the government has approved our request to suspend elections for an initial period of a year.

If proposals to reorganise local authorities are agreed, it is likely that there would be no further elections to Essex County Council until its abolition, other than by-elections. 

Given the timeframe, it would be harder to achieve the government’s challenging timetable if elections were going ahead. It is worth remembering, subject to the results of the consultation, there is likely to be a Mayoral election in May 2026 and shadow elections to the new authorities in May 2027 – meaning that countywide votes will take place in those years. 

What we are working on now

We are now working through the information sent to us by the government so we understand it fully. We are invited to submit full reorganisation proposals by Autumn 2025, with interim plans required by March 2025.

We are committed to establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. Mayoral elections will take place in that month. The mayor will be elected by the people of Essex.

You can find out more about the role and powers of the elected mayor on essex.gov.uk.