Council votes for major local government shake-up

Local services in Basildon would be twinned with Thurrock under the model proposed by some councillors

Plans to dramatically shake up local government in Essex have been backed by one of the councils in the county.

Basildon councillors proposed trimming back the number of local authorities in the county from 15, to five.

The Labour leader at the council, Gavin Callaghan, said it was an opportunity to take back control of highways, schools and social care.

The government is due to publish a White Paper document this week with the aim of improving local services.

Callaghan said he had spoken to ministers in Westminster who were "receptive" to the idea that "Essex is broken and that there is a better way".

"It’s a real opportunity to take back control of highways, schools, youth service, adult social care and provide services closer to communities," he said.

The preferred option by Basildon Council would see five unitary authorities in Essex covering these areas

Under Basildon's proposed model, Essex County Council and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock - along with the 12 district councils - would be replaced with five unitary authorities.

Unlike most councils, unitary authorities are usually in charge of all local services, such as social care, highways maintenance and bin collections.

At a full council meeting last month, the majority of members at Basildon voted in favour of a five-authority model:

• South West (Basildon and Thurrock)

• South East (Southend, Castle Point and Rochford)

• Mid (Chelmsford, Brentwood and Maldon)

• North West (Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford)

• North East (Braintree, Colchester and Tendring)

Callaghan said he would not accept a "pound or penny" of Thurrock Council's debt, which at its height, reached about £1.5bn.

Conservatives at Basildon voted against the model.

Tory councillor Andrew Schrader said he agreed "local government was crying out for reform" but said being "tethered" to Thurrock was "potty".

Basildon Council leader Gavin Callaghan said the local government system in Essex was "the most complicated in England"

The leaders of eight district councils in Essex - four Lib Dems and four independents - signed a joint letter to local government minister Jim Jim McMahon OBE.

They warned that the reorganisation could serve as a "a huge cost and distraction".

Kevin Bentley, the Conservative leader at Essex County Council, has been discussing with government how to transfer more decision-making powers from Westminster to Essex.

"It’s very important it is based on economic evidence and not based on lines on the map by politicians," he said.

A county council spokesperson said a "collective view" about devolution would eventually be reached.