Devolution Diaries: In focus: Greater Essex
Will Essex residents embrace a ‘Greater Essex’?
Why a Mayoral Combined County Authority will shift Essex’s political landscape regardless.
This week’s Devolution Diaries explores mostly the practical and some of this Essex residents’ personal reflections on whether Greater Essex will be embraced by residents, and why Essex’s political landscape is set to shift regardless…
As Cllr Kevin Bentley (Leader of Essex County Council) said: “This decision is a momentous point in our history and a once in a lifetime chance to improve outcomes for Essex”. From the outset, the Leaders of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea City Councils embraced this opportunity, applying jointly to the Devolution Priority Programme at the start of the year.
Fast forward to March, having been accepted into the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), these three leaders are joined by all the District and City Councils in Essex (alongside the County’s Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner). Together, they have put their names to an Interim Plan for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.
Whilst unanimous uptake of the Interim Plan is a testament to both the political leadership of our County and its ability to organise, there is a long road ahead until 26 September. Already you’ll find public comments by some Council leaders who have taken to reassuring residents that no final decisions have yet been made. Or others who state that they are moving reluctantly amidst calls to work at pace. One Essex District Councillor was quoted as describing the whole process as a ‘stitch-up’.
Had Essex not been accepted on the DPP, would the political leaders of Essex be so obliging in working together on Local Government Reorganisation?
A five unitary model in Greater Essex would see new UAs formed with populations in the region of c. 320,000 to 500,000 residents, mostly below what the government has envisaged. The Interim Plan estimates that in this scenario, each UA would have 60 – 90 members, reducing the number of councillors in Greater Essex by hundreds when compared to current structures, a point of contention which needs airing.
The 10 – 5 split on this preferred model leaves the door open to other options besides the majority-preferred ‘5 UA model’, and by the Autumn Essex will submit either one single consensus proposal or a small number of alternative options for Government to choose between.
Going forward, the Interim Plan sets out how the 15 councils will continue developing their Full Submission, but you can’t help but think that having dived into the process there is a lot of catching up to do in terms of engaging residents on what devolution means and how the benefits of a ‘Greater Essex’ will be felt locally.
The Secretary of State has set out that proposals for local government reorganisation must, beyond simply supporting devolution, strengthen community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment. Despite a short ‘just a minute’ explainer video, a hashtag and a website signposting residents to the government consultation – that message of empowerment is just not coming across.
As a local District Councillor feeling an acute sense of obligation towards the ward residents I represent, I’d like to see an honest conversation in the months ahead between political leaders and the communities we all serve . Devolution presents opportunities to improve transport coordination, to redraw public health boundaries and better tackle inequality as well as the ability to tailor policing to better serve rural and coastal communities. However, we’re set to see some radical changes – the reduction in the number of local councillors and overlooked questions about how civic identity will be retained within new unitary authorities. Similarly, the impact on planning will be vast, take for instance the matter of Local Plans or the role of planning committees.
Honesty and the public perception of our politics brings me on to some brief personal reflections on Greater Essex’s potential future. Essex is a wonderful County with a strong identity and most of all it is my home. My County has long thrived and survived thanks to a mix of its flexibility and enduring independent (dare I say rebellious) spirit.
A Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority has the potential to cement Essex’s role as one of the UK’s fastest growing economy outside London. Essex’s fascinating mix of urban, rural and coastal geographies will be better served by devolved decision making and local government reorganisation. Yet, my home County remains a foothold for divisive political movements. With populism on the rise, we cannot miss a single opportunity to communicate with residents the benefits devolution brings and how a Greater Essex stands to strengthen local decision making and improve local services.
Devolution has the potential to bolster local resilience to misinformation and combat apathy. However, the stakes are equally as high if political leaders fail to communicate honestly with residents. Regardless, Essex’s political landscape is set to shift, for better or worse.
Cratus Group’s Devolution Diaries will continue to reflect and provide insights about Local Government Reorganisation and the Devolution agenda. In the meantime, get in touch if we can help you and your business navigate the changes.
