Local Government: Essex
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2024 to Question 16934 on Devolution: Essex, whether the May 2025 local elections will take place as scheduled.
Answered by Jim McMahon
It is usual for the government to take account of requests for reorganisation, and to decide on the appropriateness of elections taking place to local authorities which are planned to be replaced, usually postponing to allow elections to the new shadow authorities soon after.
I will consider any requests I receive to postpone the May 2025 local authority elections in Devon, Essex or elsewhere only where this will help the areas to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe – either through the Devolution Priority Programme or where reorganisation is necessary to unlock devolution or open up new devolution options. As I set out in my letter of 16 December to those councils, I will need a clear commitment to these aims, including a request from the council(s) whose election is to be postponed, on or before Friday 10 January.
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