Why Essex residents are not going to poll stations
With local elections taking place across the country, Essex County Council election has been suspended due to the proposed Local Government Reform and the creation of an Essex Mayor.
The first Mayoral election for Essex is set to take place in May 2026.
Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from UK government to local authority level.
It means decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.
What we know about devolution so far
Greater Essex has been chosen by the Government to be in the first phase of devolution, or the "Priority Programme", after submitting their application.
The county was one of six areas selected onto the programme, including Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Sussex & Brighton, and Hampshire & Solent.
Each of these areas have now submitted a devolution consultation, which asked residents of the area their views on forming a Mayoral Combined County Authority.
This included:
- the proposed geography
- the effect of establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority in Greater Essex
- how the Mayoral Combined County Authority will make decisions
Currently the Secretary of State is considering all consultation responses and will decide whether to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority.
If approved, the government will confirm funding and necessary legislation would then be laid in Parliament.
If approved by Parliament, the Combined County Authority would be established in time for the first mayoral election to take place in May 2026.
What devolution would look like in Essex
A devolution deal would create a new single body, known as a Strategic Authority, for Essex.
It would initially take the form of a combined county authority, which is when councils join together and make decisions.
In Greater Essex, devolution could mean:
- improved co-ordination of transport across the whole county to make it easier for people to commute and travel
- better skills and training for adults, tailored to the jobs available locally because money is spent locally
- better job opportunities
- improved health and wellbeing
- maximising the local natural environment
- a stronger voice for Essex within UK government
- more control over planning and housing