Consultations

Greater Essex devolution consultation

The UK government has launched the Greater Essex devolution consultation. The consultation seeks views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

The consultation invites those who live and work across Greater Essex to share their views on:

  • the proposed geography
  • the effect of establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority in Greater Essex
  • how the Mayoral Combined County Authority will make decisions

Have your say on the UK government’s devolution consultation

The consultation opened on Monday 17 February and will run until Sunday 13 April 2025.

What is devolution?

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from UK government to local authority level.  It is important because decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.

Devolution would provide greater freedoms and flexibilities for councils to work more effectively to improve public services and outcomes for residents and businesses.

Watch our short video about Greater Essex Devolution.

What does devolution look like?

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.

These arrangements would be agreed prior to the first Mayoral election, which would take place in May 2026.

The key functions of the strategic authority would include strategic transport functions, such as support for buses, trains and concessionary fares, skills and driving economic growth.

What would devolution mean for us?

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 rather than by the UK government
  • better job opportunities
  • improved health and wellbeing
  • maximising the local natural environment and tackling climate change
  • a stronger voice for Essex with UK government – at the moment, the UK government finds it difficult to know how to talk to Essex as a place
  • more strategic control over planning and housing

You can read more about devolution in other areas

What is Greater Essex?

Greater Essex refers to the combined area represented by Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, and Thurrock Council.

What is the Devolution Priority Programme?

The Devolution Priority Programme is for areas aiming to move towards devolution quickly. It is aimed at areas wishing to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority.

The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has outlined that participants must have local agreement to progress around a sensible geographical area.

What is a Strategic Authority?

A Strategic Authority is a legal body set up using national legislation, with its own board and governance arrangements.

This would enable a group of two or more councils to collaborate and make collective decisions across council boundaries.

Depending on the form of devolution in an area, there are three levels of Strategic Authority available:

  • Foundation Strategic Authority: Available to those areas without an elected Mayor. It will have limited devolution. For example, the current Lancashire devolution deal will establish a Foundation Strategic Authority.
  • Mayoral Combined County Authority:  For those with an elected Mayor, a range of powers will be devolved. For example, the West of England is a Mayoral Combined County Authority.
  • Established Mayoral Strategic Authority: For those Mayoral Strategic Authorities, who are able to satisfy a number of additional governance requirements. They will have access to the most devolution. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are already at this stage.

The UK government is looking to create a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Greater Essex by May 2026.

What is a Mayoral Combined Authority?

A Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) is a local government body that enables two or more county councils and unitary councils to work together and make decisions on issues which affect the whole county. The MCCA would have a directly elected Mayor, who chairs the combined authority.

What would the Mayor do?

The UK government’s intention is for devolution to be accompanied by a directly elected Mayor. If this happens in Essex, we expect the Mayor would ultimately take on the current role of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.

What powers would the elected Mayor have?

The Mayor would be directly elected by the people of Essex. The elected Mayor would have the ability to speak directly to government ministers and secure funding for local projects. They would also be able to make strategic decisions, help attract investment and improve infrastructure.

What is the role of a directly elected Mayor in a Mayoral Combined County Authority compared to a local council Mayor?

The main difference lies in their scope of responsibilities and the level of governance they would oversee.

A directly elected Mayor in a Mayoral Combined County Authority has a broader role that typically covers multiple local councils within a Combined or Strategic Authority. The directly elected Mayor would have significant powers over strategic functions such as:

  • economic development
  • housing
  • infrastructure
  • transport

For example, in Essex the elected Mayor would also serve as the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner. The Mayor would make strategic decisions, help attract investment and improve infrastructure.

On the other hand, a Mayor for a local council is responsible for the governance of a single local authority. The mayor’s powers are more focused on the day-to-day administration and local services within that specific council area. They work closely with the council to implement policies and manage local services such as:

  • community services
  • local planning
  • waste collection

The key difference is that a Mayor in a Mayoral Combined County Authority has a wider, more strategic role that spans multiple councils. Local council Mayors focus on the governance and services within a single local authority.

What is the role of Mayors compared to council leaders?

The UK government believes that within Strategic Authorities, Mayors should have a unique role to focus on devolved responsibilities. Council leaders are expected to lead their areas and deliver essential services.

What is a Combined Authority?

A combined authority is a legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries. It is expected that Combined Authorities will be replaced by Strategic Authorities.

Read more about Combined Authorities in the LGA’s publication.

When can we expect this to take place?

Now we have received confirmation that we are on the Priority Programme, the UK government is looking to create a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Greater Essex by May 2026. Mayoral elections would take place in that month.

Does devolution mean the county council elections in May 2025 will be postponed?

The UK government’s consultation will run from Monday 17 February until Sunday 13 April 2025. The postponement would be for an initial period of a year, but if proposals to reorganise local authorities are agreed, it is likely that there would be no further elections to ECC until its abolition, other than by-elections.

Do residents have a say in this?

The UK government’s consultation will run from Monday 17 February until Sunday 13 April 2025. This will be supported by local activity in Essex to reinforce messages with local audiences including residents and businesses.

Where can I find out more?

Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, Events, News, Opportunities

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation: Devolution | Essex County Council

Introduction

On Wednesday 5 February, the UK government confirmed that Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council have had their request to be part of the Devolution Priority Programme accepted. This follows the councils writing to the UK government on Friday 10 January requesting inclusion on the programme and committing to Local Government Re-organisation.

We are hosting a webinar on Devolution for Voluntary Sector, Community and Faith based groups across Essex, on Tuesday 25 March at 6pm. We want to start the conversation and share what we know about devolution.

Devolution

What is devolution? Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from UK government to local authority level. It is important because decisions are made closer to local people, communities and businesses they affect. Devolution would provide greater freedoms and flexibilities for councils to work more effectively. This would improve public services and outcomes for residents and businesses.

Read more about Devolution.

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation: Devolution | Essex County Council

Details about our plans for devolution in Greater Essex

www.essex.gov.uk

Watch the short video about Greater Essex Devolution.

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Join the conversation

Essex County Council is hosting a webinar on Devolution for Voluntary Sector, Community and Faith based groups across Essex, on Tuesday 25 March at 6pm. They want to start the conversation and share what we know about devolution.

Join the webinar on Microsoft Teams.

 

Have your say on the Greater Essex devolution consultation

The UK government has launched the Greater Essex devolution consultation.

The consultation seeks your views on the proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

The consultation invites those who live and work across Greater Essex to share their views on:

  • the proposed geography
  • the effect of establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority in Greater Essex
  • how the Mayoral Combined County Authority will make decisions

Have your say on the UK government’s devolution consultation before it closes on Sunday 13 April 2025.

Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, Events, News, Opportunities

NHS Hertfordshire & West Essex ICB: West Essex Children’s Community Healthcare Services

The Hertfordshire & West Essex ICB is working with partners on the future of West Essex children’s community healthcare services. To find out what parents and carers think of existing services, they have launched an anonymous survey which closes on Friday 21 February.

They would be grateful for any support you can give to share the attached poster with your networks in the west Essex area: Survey Poster Here.

By way of background, the children’s community healthcare services include community paediatrician, special school nurses, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists. They are services children and young people use in the community rather than in hospitals or GP practices. There is more information about west Essex children’s community services and plans for its future on the Hertfordshire and West Essex integrated Care Board website.

Author: Niamh Gibson
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, News, Opportunities

Longfield Solar Farm Community Liaison Group (CLG) – Meeting Invite

Longfield Solar Farm Community Liaison Group (CLG) would like to invite you to their second meeting, which will be held at Boreham Village Hall on Wednesday 5th March 2025 at 2pm.

The aim of the Community Liaison Group (CLG) is to provide a forum for the exchange of information relating to the development of Longfield Solar Farm. The CLG will remain active throughout the construction of the project.

Agenda for the Meeting

At the meeting, there will be a an update on the project, confirmation of the date of the next meeting and answers to any questions you may have.

If you are planning to attend the meeting, email clodagh.steel@edf-re.uk to let them know.

Author: Niamh Gibson
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, News, Opportunities

Essex County Council – Resource and Funding Maximisation Soft Market Test

Further to a previous market engagement event Essex County Council would like to invite prospective providers to engage in a soft market test. This test has been designed to establish the potential level of interest from organisations to deliver a Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) – Resource and Funding Maximisation service and to invite feedback on the proposed structure of this service to inform the Council’s commissioning intentions.

Please follow this link to engage in this further market testing: https://procontract.due-north.com/Login

The link to the corresponding FTS PIN is: Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) – Resource and Funding Maximisation Soft Market Test – Find a Tender

Author: Niamh Gibson
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, News, Opportunities

Armed Forces Community Experiences of Healthcare Services in West Essex

Are you a current or former member of the Armed Forces?

On behalf of Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, we are launching a project on the Armed Forces Community and their experiences of accessing and using NHS services in West Essex.

 

We want to hear from:

  • Veterans, service leavers or non-mobilised reservists
  • Serving personnel and reservists
  • Partners, parents, children and carers of those in the Armed Forces

 

We want to learn about:

Any experiences of using GP practices, dentists, pharmacies, opticians, mental health services, hospitals and community services.

  • How can the NHS better engage with the Armed Forces Community?
  • What are the key issues with existing NHS services?
  • What ideas and suggestions do you have?

Conversations will be in person or via email/telephone/video call.

Any information you provide is anonymous and strictly confidential.

 

Want to get involved?

Sign-up to the project here:  www.healthwatchessex.org.uk/2024/11/west-essex-armed-forces-community-experiences-of-healthcare-services/

More Information

For more information email: lily.boag@healthwatchessex.org.uk

Consultation closes January 31st 2025.

Author: Niamh Gibson
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, News, Opportunities

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Public Survey 2025

Who is carrying out the survey?

This survey is being carried out by Essex County Council as part of a wider partnership of organisations planning for future pharmaceutical services.

Summary

We are inviting you to take part in a survey about pharmaceutical services (provided by pharmacies, dispensing doctors, internet pharmacies and dispensing appliance contractors) in the Essex area.  The results from this survey will help us to understand how local people use the services, how they rate their experience, and what they would like in the future. These views will contribute towards the production of a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for Essex and assist in determining what services are required to meet the needs of the local population.

The current Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment covering the Essex area is available on Essex Open Data.

If you would like more information about the survey, alternative formats (such as a paper copy, translation or an easy read copy) or have questions on how to complete the questionnaire, you can contact PublicHealth2@essex.gov.uk

Why your views matter

Completion of the survey is voluntary and if you choose not to take part it will not affect the care you receive from the NHS or your pharmacy/GP in any way.

Your answers will be kept completely confidential and won’t be collated with any information that makes you identifiable. It is voluntary to disclose this information. If you choose not to answer the ‘About you’ questions, it will not affect your participation.

Your answers will only be used to tell us about your experience of pharmaceutical services, and to help us to improve these services.

Your views are important to us so please spare a few minutes to complete the survey, it should take no longer than 5-7 minutes to complete.

The results of this survey will be available on Essex Open Data where the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment will be published in October 2025.

Essex County Council fully complies with information legislation. If you would like the full details of how we use personal data, and the rights you have about its use, please go to www.essex.gov.uk/privacy-community (Research & Citizen Insight) or call 03457 43043.

Complete the survey here: https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/rci/pharmaceutical-needs-assessment-survey-2025/consultation/subpage.2024-12-11.9797289003/

Author: Niamh Gibson
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, News

2020 State of Life Under Covid-19 – Weekly Tracker

A ‘State of Life’ weekly tracker has been launched in Essex supported by Active Essex and University of Essex. The survey aims to track how the current situation under Covid-19 is affecting our experience of work, health, money, other people, and life in general.

The objective is to create an agile tool and data set to inform decision making at this crucial time.

See the results or take the Weekly Tracker Survey here.

Author: Steering Member
Posted:
Categories: Consultations, Opportunities