4. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for Thurrock and Greater Essex
The Government is reviewing how local councils are organised across Greater Essex, including Thurrock. This process is known as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
These new councils will replace all existing county, district and unitary councils and will take on responsibility for delivering all local services from April 2028.
This means there will no longer be separate county and district councils in Essex. Instead, each new council will provide all services for its area.
What this means for Thurrock
Under the Government’s decision, Thurrock will form part of a new unitary council with Basildon.
This new council will:
- replace Thurrock Council and Basildon Borough Council
- deliver all local services to residents and businesses
- be responsible for services currently provided by Essex County Council in this area
Thurrock Council will work with partners, including Basildon Borough Council and Essex County Council, to plan and deliver a smooth transition to the new arrangements.
The five new councils for Greater Essex
The Government has confirmed that Greater Essex will be reorganised into the following five unitary councils (names as set out in the proposal document): :
- West Essex Council – Uttlesford, Harlow and Epping Forest
- North East Essex Council – Braintree, Colchester and Tendring
- Mid Essex Council – Brentwood, Chelmsford and Maldon
- South West Essex Council – Thurrock and Basildon
- South East Essex Council – Castlepoint, Rochford and Southend on Sea
Each of these councils will be a unitary authority, delivering all local government services in its area.
What is a unitary council?
A unitary council is a single council responsible for all local services in an area.
This includes services currently provided by:
- district and borough councils (such as waste collection, housing and planning), and
- county councils (such as social care, highways and education)
Under the new arrangements, residents will deal with one council instead of multiple councils.
Why local government is changing
The Government is reorganising local government in Greater Essex to:
- simplify how councils are structured
- improve efficiency and value for money
- strengthen local leadership and accountability
- support long-term financial sustainability
The aim is to create councils that are better able to deliver high-quality services for residents and businesses.
What happens next
Work is now underway across Greater Essex to prepare for the new councils.
This includes:
- developing detailed plans for how services will transfer
- agreeing governance and decision-making arrangements
- working with staff and partners to ensure continuity of services
- engaging with residents, businesses and stakeholders
The new councils are expected to become fully operational in April 2028.
What this means for Thurrock and residents
For now, there are no immediate changes to how you access council services. existing councils will continue delivering services and supporting residents and businesses as normal.
- You should continue to use Thurrock Council services as normal
- Services will continue to be delivered without interruption, supporting residents and businesses as normal.
- The changes put forward will be introduced over time. Existing councils will continue operating during any transition period to ensure services continue without disruption
- We will provide updates as plans progress
Thurrock’s focus is on ensuring that any future arrangements work in the best interests of local residents, communities and businesses, and that services remain accessible, effective and responsive to local needs.
As we move towards 2028, we will share more information about what changes to expect and how services will be delivered in the future.
Background
Before the Government’s decision, a number of options were considered for reorganising local government in Greater Essex, including proposals for three, four or five councils.
The Government consulted on these options and on Wednesday 25 March 2026 it made an announcement on it's decision.
Keeping residents informed
We understand that changes to local government can raise questions. We will update this page as further information becomes available and when any decisions are confirmed.
Visit the Essex LGR Hub website for more information.
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Latest news
| 25 March 2026 |
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The Government has today announced its decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Essex, confirming the county will move to five new unitary councils, subject to parliamentary approval. |
| 27 February 2026 |
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Changes to local councils in Greater Essex: What Happens Next Plans to reorganise local councils across Greater Essex as part of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) are moving into the next phase. This update explains what will happen next and what residents can expect. Last year, councils were invited to submit proposals for new council structures. Four proposals were put forward, including one from Thurrock. The Government is expected to decide in March which proposal will move ahead. Once a decision is announced, councils will move into a formal implementation and transition phase. This is a structured process with clear legal steps and timelines. What happens after the decision Shortly after the Government confirms its decision:
Reorganisation timetable Summer 2026
May 2027
May 2027 to March 2028
31 March 2028
1 April 2028
What residents can expect Maintaining service continuity and public confidence is a top priority. All council services will continue during the transition, with minimal immediate change for residents. Bin collections, libraries, schools and school transport will continue as usual. If you receive benefits from the council, responsibility will transfer smoothly to the new authority. Emergency and health services are not affected. Elections will take place in May 2027, and you will be notified of your polling station and ward arrangements as usual. Council tax will continue to be set by Thurrock Council until April 2028, when it will be set by the new council. This is a major change, and some details are still being finalised. Updates will be shared as more information becomes available. You can stay informed by signing up for the weekly Thurrock Residents newsletter. |
| 16 February 2026 |
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On 16 February 2026, the Secretary of State wrote to council leaders in areas where the postponement of the May 2026 local elections had been under consideration, to confirm that elections will go ahead as originally planned in May 2026. You can read the Secretary of State’s letter here: Postponement of local elections in England in May 2026. |
| 15 January 2026 |
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On Tuesday 13 January, Thurrock council's Cabinet members met to discuss a Ministerial request for views on the postponement of local elections, received on 18 December 2025. This was then discussed among all 49 Councillors at an Extraordinary Council meeting on Wednesday 14 January. This was at the request of the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, who had asked those councils who have submitted Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) proposals, like us in Thurrock, to consider and discuss what impact going ahead with local elections in 2026 might have on the council’s capacity to deliver LGR. The paper attached lays out some of the issues that Cabinet members considered and discussed. Following discussion at Cabinet and Full Council, Cllr Lynn Worrall, Leader of Thurrock Council, wrote to the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness to set out all of the views expressed at the meetings of Cabinet and Full Council, and to conclude on behalf of herself and her Cabinet that there are substantial risks to achieving LGR that can be effectively addressed by postponing the May 2026 elections. |
| 11 January 2026 |
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LGR consultation closure The Government-led consultation on Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex closed at 23:59 on 11 January 2026. We would like to thank all residents, businesses and community groups across Thurrock who took the time to respond and share their views. These responses will help inform the Secretary of State’s decisions about the future structure of local government in the Greater Essex area. For more information, please visit: Proposals for local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock - GOV.UK Our response to the LGR consultation Thurrock Council’s official response to the Government’s consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock was approved by Cabinet and submitted on 9 January 2026. Read our full response to see the Council’s detailed submission: Next steps The Government will now consider all submissions received as part of the consultation on Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex. Following this review, the Government is expected to set out the next steps in March 2026. |
| September 2025 |
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On Friday 26th September, Thurrock Council, alongside Southend-on-Sea City Council, Rochford District and Essex County Council, submitted four proposals to Government. It is anticipated that Government will run a public consultation on these proposals over the winter, before deciding which option should be implemented. Thurrock Council developed a proposal which supports four new unitary authorities in Greater Essex. If implemented, this would see a new authority created from Thurrock, Brentwood, Epping, and Harlow. You can read more about why we think this is the best option here: You can read all the proposals submitted to Government via the link below. This includes options for both a 3 Unitary model and a 5 Unitary Model: A stronger Greater Essex | Essex Local Government Reorganisation Hub |