Devolution

Why is devolution and LGR being proposed?

The Government believes that devolution over a large area, at the same time as LGR, can boost the economy and deliver better public services.

They think that simpler local government structures will:

• make it easier for residents to know who delivers their services
• make it easier for residents to know who deals with local issues
• result in better services for the local community

How is devolution different from LGR?

Devolution is about transferring powers and funding from government to local areas.

This gives them powers and funding that they don't currently have.

LGR aims to simplify and reduce the number of councils across the country. It will create fewer, larger unitary councils, which means:

• a more streamlined and effective system
• better value for money

Unitary councils are responsible for all council services in an area. We are an example of a small unitary council.

What is Greater Essex?

Greater Essex refers to the combined area represented by:

• Essex County Council
• Southend-on-Sea City Council, and
• Thurrock Council

What new powers will Southend receive from devolution?

The English Devolution White Paper explains what jobs and responsibilities local elected leaders, especially mayors, will have. This is in relation to how they will help their areas grow and improve services. The main areas they will focus on are:

1. Transport and local infrastructure

Making plans for local transport, managing buses, working with railways and taking care of key strategic roads and projects.

2. Skills and employment support

Creating local job and skills programs, working on plans to improve skills

• helping design job support programs

3. Housing and strategic planning

Making plans for:

• where new houses and buildings should go
• meeting housing needs
• having more control over strategic planning applications and strategic housing projects

4. Economic development and regeneration

• boosting the local economy attracting international investment
• supporting local businesses
• creating lively places

5. Environment and climate change

• protecting the environment
• addressing climate change

6. Health, wellbeing, and public service reform

Improving:

• health services
• other public services

7. Public safety

• ensuring the safety of the public

These areas might be expanded in the future.

What is a Strategic Authority?

Mayoral Combined County Authorities are strategic authorities. This is what is being created for Greater Essex.

A Strategic Authority is a legal body set up using national legislation, with its own board and governance arrangements. This will enable a group of two or more councils to collaborate and make collective decisions across council boundaries.

Depending on the form of devolution in an area, there are three levels of Strategic Authority available:

• Foundation Strategic Authority: Available to those areas without an elected Mayor. It will have limited devolution. For example, the current Lancashire devolution deal will establish a Foundation Strategic Authority.
• Mayoral Combined County Authority: For those with an elected Mayor, a range of powers will be devolved. For example, the West of England is a Mayoral Combined County Authority.
• Established Mayoral Strategic Authority: For those Mayoral Strategic Authorities, who are able to satisfy a number of additional governance requirements. They will have access to the most devolution. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are already at this stage.

Working with the UK government, we are working to create a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Greater Essex by May 2026.

What would devolution mean for Southend?

A new Mayoral Strategic Authority for the whole of Greater Essex would be created to receive greater powers and funding from central government. This strategic authority would be responsible for issues such as:

• economic growth
• improving infrastructure, and
• reducing inequalities

What's our timeline for devolution?

• 5 February 2025 - Government announcement that Greater Essex has been accepted on the Devolution Priority Programme
• 18 July 2025 - The Government confirmed Greater Essex could proceed with its devolution work. It confirmed that Greater Essex had ‘passed the legal tests’ and work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) can continue. The decision follows the eight-week consultation held between February and April.
• by November 2025 – the law to create a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Greater Essex will be laid in Parliament
• by May 2026 - Southend-on-Sea City Council, along with Essex County Council and Thurrock Council, are committed to establishing a Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority - Mayoral elections would take place in that month

What stage are we at with Devolution?

The Government asked councils in two-tier council areas to respond with views and expressions of interest by 10 January 2025. We did this in partnership with Thurrock Council and Essex County Council. We received confirmation that we had been accepted onto the Devolution Priority Programme on 5 February 2025.

In July 2025, the Government confirmed Greater Essex could proceed with its devolution work. It confirmed that Greater Essex had ‘passed the legal tests’ and work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) can continue. The decision follows the eight-week consultation held between February and April. We have been working with the Government and our colleagues and partners across Greater Essex ever since to draft the law that will enable a Greater Essex Combined Mayoral County Authority to be created in 2026.

Who has agreed that devolution will happen in Southend?

The Leaders of Southend-on-Sea City Council, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council wrote to the former Deputy Prime Minister in October 2024. This stated that we were keen to work with them on a devolution agreement for the Greater Essex area.

Following a decision by our Cabinet members on 9 January 2025, a letter from these same group of council leaders was sent to Jim McMahon OBE MP, former Minister for Local Government and English Devolution. The letter was to request that we all be included in the Devolution Priority Programme. This followed an extraordinary meeting on 8 January 2025, when the idea to write the letter was considered and supported by our Full Council.

The Government announced on 5 February 2025 that Greater Essex had been accepted onto the Devolution Priority Programme, and confirmed in July 2025 that Greater Essex had passed the “statutory tests” in order to proceed with devolution.

Do residents have a say in this?

The Greater Essex devolution consultation, led by UK government closed in April. The consultation ran from Monday 17 February 2025 to Sunday 13 April 2025.

The consultation asked the public for their views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas of Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

The consultation invited 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 and how the Mayoral Combined County Authority will make decisions.

The Government has confirmed that Greater Essex has ‘passed the legal tests’ and that devolution and work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority can proceed. This decision followed the eight-week consultation held between February and April.

Will Southend-on-Sea get a directly elected mayor?

Yes. We are working to create a mayoral combined county authority for Greater Essex, covering the areas of Essex County Council, Thurrock Council, and Southend-on-Sea City Council.

It would be set up in February 2026, and we would hold a mayoral election in May 2026.

The mayor that is elected will have a unique role. It will allow them and the new mayoral combined county authority to focus on using the powers and funding given to it by the Government.

Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Council's leaders will be expected to continue to focus on leading their place, and delivering vital council services.

What is the role of a directly elected mayor for Greater Essex?

To work alongside local leaders to create a long-term vision for Greater Essex, secure more money for its priorities and needs, and be a strong voice and champion for the area.

A directly elected mayor is not a serving councillor and will not replace the leaders of Greater Essex’s existing councils.

Once elected, mayors serve a four-year term. Following this, they can choose to stand for re-election. There is no limit on how many terms a mayor can serve.

What will happen to Southend-on-Sea's ceremonial Mayor?

They will continue to carry out their role as normal. Throughout the processes of LGR and devolution and afterwards, there are legal measures available that will allow us to preserve both our city status and the role of our ceremonial mayor.

How does the introduction of a Combined County Authority affect local councils?

After devolution is agreed, but before LGR takes place, we will continue to work as we currently do.

After LGR has taken place, the new unitary councils will work with the new mayoral combined county authority to use the powers and funding they received from devolution to make public services better.

Read more about Combined Authorities in the LGA's publication.

The Essex LGR Hub website has been created through collaboration between different councils in Essex. It contains further information about local government reorganisation and will also showcase the different proposals for reorganisation which are put forward by various councils.

How will the council's services be delivered in the future?

Devolution and LGR create opportunities to:

• transform, and
• improve services

We will prioritise the delivery of high-quality public services to the local community.

Who can I contact if I have more questions or comments?

If you have any more questions or comments you can send us an email.