Latest developments on devolution and local government reform, the Greater Essex Business Board and a few upcoming events.
On these and any other issues, including general economic conditions and the impacts of the recent Budget, we want to truly reflect members’ views so please do not hesitate to contact Iain McNab, Head of Policy at the Chambers at or on 07929 522 951 if you wish to find out more, discuss or comment on any of this. We very much welcome your input.
Devolution for Essex
The key development is that Essex, with several other places including Norfolk and Suffolk, has been selected for inclusion in the government’s priority programme for devolution and local government reform. This means that the county, in combination with the unitary authorities in Southend and Thurrock, will become a new strategic authority, headed by a Mayor. An election for a Mayor will be held in the Spring of 2026.
At the Chambers we welcome this news as we believe it will in time bring greater cohesion and clarity to efforts to drive growth, boost Essex’s profile nationally and internationally, as well as put more powers into the hands of local people and their representatives.
More information is in the recent White Paper.
Alongside devolution, but on a slightly longer timescale, we can look forward to a major shake-up of local government. The intention is to abolish the county council and its twelve districts and for these local authorities, as well as Southend and Thurrock, to be reshaped into a number of new unitary authorities.
Southend and Thurrock are already unitaries, but they are much smaller than the suggested ideal size of around 500,000 population so they are likely to merge with existing neighbouring districts into new, larger council areas. It is this part of the process which is likely to be tricky to negotiate and agree but by 2028 we should see a new configuration of new unitary authorities – probably between three and five but this is far from settled – covering Essex.
Once established the new unitary authorities would assume membership of the mayoral strategic authority in place of the existing three upper tier authorities. We support this direction of travel too as we believe it will be easier for business to engage with fewer structures than at present and should bring efficiencies and savings to local government. The Chambers remains neutral on the geography at this stage but we look forward to proposals for a reshaped county.
Live consultation
Please do have your say on the devolution proposals via the consultation published on 17 February and which runs until 13 April.
If you prefer to respond via the Chambers, please feel free to do so and we will incorporate your comments into our own response.
Greater Essex Business Board
This new advisory board met for the second time on 7 February. It was agreed that four working groups would be formed to undertake some baselining work and identify key issues and actions necessary to address the themes identified at the first meeting, which were: skills, inward investment, infrastructure to support growth and inspiring growth (mainly through supporting SMEs). In due course these will feed into an Essex Plan for Growth. If anyone wants to find out more about this group or comment on what sort of support you think business needs please do contact Iain McNab.
Upcoming events
A reminder that there is an Driving International Trade Conference coming up on 20 March. Aimed at exporters, you can register your interest here: expression of interest form.
Look out also for a couple of webinars in early April (details to be confirmed but will appear on the Chambers website) dealing with new legislation: on public procurement and on protection of premises (building resilience against terrorism and other crime).