Please see below a message that was shared with LSIP Board members regarding Devolution, which we are including as relevant to all in Essex.

Councils will seek to participate in Devolution Priority Programme
On Friday (10 January) Essex County Council held an extraordinary Full Council meeting to discuss devolution and local government reform, and to decide whether to participate in the government’s Priority Programme for Devolution.

This was the third and final upper tier-authority meeting in greater Essex this week, following those held by Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea City Council meetings. This means that all three upper tier authorities required to approve participation in the Priority Programme for Devolution have done so.

This development provides the opportunity for us to express our commitment to fast tracking the setup of a strategic Mayoral Combined Authority for Greater Essex (timing to be confirmed). This would advance local decision-making powers and devolve budgets from central Government to the Greater Essex region for economic development work.

Following each of these meetings, an Executive Decision was taken for Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council to write to the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution to request participation in the Priority Programme for Devolution as well as postponement of elections in the Essex County Council and Thurrock Council areas, scheduled for May this year.

We will now await to hear whether Essex has been accepted as part of the Priority Programme. We will of course keep you updated as soon as further information is received from central government.