The Government has today (7 September) announced a review of its Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme, and has withdrawn previous decisions relating to Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
The review, announced by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner MP, will consider whether the process for local government reorganisation is robust, complies with legal requirements and aligns with the Government's wider plans for devolution and public sector reform.
As part of the announcement, the Government confirmed that decisions made on 25 March relating to local government reorganisation in Essex have been withdrawn while the review is carried out, including the plan to create South West Essex Council, on the footprint of Thurrock and Basildon boroughs.
Cllr Richard Bingley, Leader of Thurrock Council said, “I’m delighted that the Government has listened to the consistent objections and common-sense points repeatedly made by our team here at Thurrock Council, as well as Essex County Council Leader, Cllr Peter Harris. I’m very grateful to Cllr Harris for opposing Local Government Reorganisation and lodging a Judicial Review on behalf of Essex County Council which we in Thurrock supported as an ‘interested party’.
“Local Government Reorganisation was costly and unnecessary and was set to diminish and destabilise the good standard of public services which unitary Thurrock has worked so hard to develop and improve since withdrawing from Essex County Council back in 1998.
“Local Government Reorganisation was set to cost Thurrock Council around £7.2m – and, although more than £800,000 has already been spent on this failed project – we can now direct our sole focus back to Thurrock’s residents and frontline public services.”