A consultation has started asking for your views on proposals to change the structure of local government in our area.
Currently, excluding parish councils, there is a two-tier local authority structure in Essex. There are 15 councils in total: a county council and two unitary authorities, with a mix of district, borough and city councils making up the remaining 12.
In February the government announced they wish to simplify the structure of local authorities. They want to make councils more efficient at delivering services and less expensive to run.
Councils in Essex have been asked to submit their proposals to the government by this September.
Five new councils?
Two-tier councils in Essex need to come forward with their preferences for how they should be merged into larger unitary authorities.
Not all the existing councils agree on how this should be done.
One proposal sees the creation of 5 new councils to share the running of services for communities across Essex.
For our area the councils of Uttlesford, Harlow and Epping Forest could combine to make one local authority. Another proposal would see Uttlesford tied in with Braintree, Colchester and Tendering
Consultation
Uttlesford District Council has opened a consultation that ends at 5pm Sunday, July 20th so you have the chance to share your views on local government reform:
Give your views
Head to Uttlesford Council’s website to find out how you can take part in the consultation: uttlesford.gov.uk/lgr-consultation