Improvement

Devolution

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Notice: The Government's consultation on Greater Essex devolution went live on Monday 17 February and will run until Sunday 13 April. Find out more and have your say 

On Wednesday 5 February 2025, the Government informed us that Greater Essex has been accepted into the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme.

We are delighted that our request, submitted in partnership with Southend-on-Sea City Council and Essex County Council, has been successful. This is a significant milestone on our devolution journey.

Being on the Priority Programme means we are trailblazers, delivering the devolution of power from central government to our area as set out in the recent government White Paper. Our three councils will work together to set up a Strategic Mayoral Authority that will give us:

  • more powers over transport and the economy in Essex
  • a greater say over where funding goes and how investment can be best channelled to meet local needs
  • a better economy, better infrastructure, the skills we need and proper strategic planning

As you will know, Thurrock’s Cabinet took the decision in January 2025, after engaging with other councillors at our General Services Committee, that we would pursue this opportunity. Now that we have been given the green light, we are determined to seek the views of members, staff and residents as we help shape the plans alongside other councils in Greater Essex.

Updated information – December 2025

The Government had originally confirmed that, as part of the Devolution Priority Programme, we would establish a mayoral combined authority in April 2026 with a mayoral election taking place in May 2026.

However, on 4 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Communities, Steve Reed MP, announced that the Government is now minded to delay the introduction of mayoral combined county authorities — including Greater Essex — until May 2028.

This is to allow more time for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) across Essex to progress, ensuring that future governance arrangements and any required unitary structures are properly in place before devolution powers are transferred.

As a result:

  • the 2026 mayoral election will no longer take place
  • the earliest proposed date for the first Greater Essex mayoral election is now May 2028, subject to final Government confirmation
  • current local governance arrangements remain unchanged until new legislation is brought forward

Elections previously scheduled for May 2025

The Government has also confirmed that the elections scheduled for May this year for Essex County Council and Thurrock Council will be suspended.

We are now looking in more detail at timings, next steps and what this means for us. We are clear that residents have to be at the heart of our plans, and that we must seize every opportunity to build a positive future for the people who live in Thurrock.

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