Essex County Council elections cancelled despite Lib Dem opposition

The government has confirmed that Essex County Council’s elections will be cancelled following a decision to force Brentwood to participate in the first wave of local government reforms.

It follows a request by the leaders of Essex County Council, Thurrock and Southend Councils to participate in proposed reforms for local government and devolution, announced in December.

Last week, Angela Rayner announced that elections will occur in May 2026 for new councils and a directly elected mayor in Essex and that Greater Essex had been accepted into the programme.

Cllr Barry Aspinell, Leader of Brentwood Liberal Democrats, said he and fellow County Councillors had previously challenged the devolution and reorganisation plans at an Essex County Council meeting in December. Still, both the Tories and Labour voted down their amendments.

The delay in elections would see millions of voters "deprived of their local democracy," according to the District Councils Network, of which Brentwood Borough Council is a member.

The new councils will bring together services currently delivered by Essex County Council and Brentwood Council.

Once the new councils are in place, the county and district councils will be abolished. Both the Conservative and Labour parties say this justifies cancelling local elections in May – but they may also fear losing seats to the Liberal Democrats and others.

Councillor David Kendall, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Brentwood South Division, said: “We oppose cancelling elections. Residents deserve their say, and new councillors should be elected who can raise their concerns.”

“Essex’s proposals will also postpone elections for up to three years, including one in Brentwood South, which has been unrepresented for many months because of incapacity, potentially leaving Brentwood South residents without a voice until 2028 when their views should matter most.”

Councillor Aspinell added: “Local government is about giving people real influence over the places they live and care about. It matters to them, and it matters to us.

“While we move forward with reluctance following the decision Essex County Council has made to proceed at such a pace, I will argue for the best possible outcome for Brentwood’s residents.”

Rayner’s deputy, Jim McMahon, later confirmed to local authorities affected by devolution proposals there are no plans for council debt to be paid off by the Labour government or written off as part of reorganisation, following concern that local authorities may have to increase council tax to manage debt from proposed mergers.

Commenting in the Guardian, Councillor Aspinell said: “It would mean higher council tax and for a longer period. I don’t think these things are paid up quickly and the result is that residents are permanently in the red.”