Author Archive: Bob Massey

Devolution (again)

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Further to last month’s post, at an extraordinary meeting of Essex County Council this morning (January 10th), the Council voted to write to the Secretary of State to request that Essex (along with Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk) be considered in the first tranche of new devolution projects.

The current (2025) map of Essex

The current (2025) map of Essex

This would involve the disbanding of the County Council, the two unitary authorities – Southend and Thurrock – and the county’s twelve borough, city and district councils.

It is expected that the result would be up to four new unitary authorities and an over-arching mayoral authority, headed by an elected ‘Mayor of Essex’.

This would be the biggest change to local government since the current system was created in the mid nineteen seventies.

If the Secretary of State agrees, then the negotiations would need to commence in March, which would normally be part of the ‘pre-election’ period for May’s County Council elections, so it may be that these will be postponed – initially for a year.

Happy New Year 2025

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This year could be a game-changer, with County Council elections scheduled for May 1st.
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However, these may be delayed if the government’s plans for Local Government reform come forward.
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That’s not undemocratic, the cost and disruption that elections would create, would delay the reform process.
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The government’s White Paper on English devolution and Local Government reform – published in December – presents an exciting opportunity for Essex. It opens the door to greater local control, streamlined services, and the ability to shape decisions that reflect the unique needs of our communities.
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It represents the biggest change to the structure of local authorities since the early nineteen seventies.
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For too long, many decisions impacting Essex have been made in Westminster. Devolution could bring more power closer to the people, giving us the tools to drive real change – whether it’s improving infrastructure, boosting local businesses, or tackling issues like housing and transport.
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Of course, change comes with challenges. It’s important we ensure that local voices remain at the heart of any new system and that our communities don’t lose the close, responsive representation they rely on.
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The various District Councils around our County have already confirmed their support for the process, and Essex County Council will debate the proposal on Friday January 10th.
Residents will be able to view the debate on the County Council’s YouTube channel.
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If the County Council agrees, then the Leader of the Council will write to HM Government to express their interest in embracing the principles of devolution, and to postpone May’s elections.
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This is a chance to strengthen Essex for the future, and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve if we get it right.

Devolution

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Last week the Government published its long-awaited white paper on devolution and local government reform.
If the plans proceed as detailed, every area of England will have a directly elected mayor who will take on the responsibilities of Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioners, which are currently standalone positions.
Furthermore, District and county councils would be disbanded to make way for new unitary councils, which is already the case in many country areas.
Local leaders have until mid-January to submit proposals to the Government; previously, Essex has explored the creation of between three and five unitary councils.

Subject to the progress and speed with which these discussions take place, the Government has also said that the county council elections timetabled for May 2025 might be postponed to aid the transition to unitary councils and ensure fresh elections to these new authorities take place as quickly as possible.

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There’s a link to the Government white paper here.

Stock By-Election (again)

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Cllr. Gillian Bonnett and Cllr. Sue Dobson - elected!

Cllr. Gillian Bonnett and Cllr. Sue Dobson – elected!

Further to our recent post regarding the by-election that was called following the sad passing of Cllr. Ian Grundy, it’s pleasing to be able to report that Sue Dobson has been elected to represent the residents of Stock Division at Essex Council.

Even if it’s only for five months!

Once again, this by-election was really unnceccessary, called by Reform UK before Ian Grundy’s funeral had taken place.

Having worked with Sue Dobson at Chelmsford City Council, we’re confident that Sue will work hard to represent the residents of Stock Division.

In other news, as they say, Gillian Bennett was elected to serve the residents of South Hanningfield, Stock and Margaretting Ward at Chelmsford City Council until the next election, scheduled for 2027.

Stock By-Election

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Sue Dobson - image from Chelmsford City Council

Sue Dobson

While not directly a South Woodham Ferrers post, residents may be aware of the recent, untimely, death of Ian Grundy, who served as City and County Councillor for Stock.

One of the vagaries of the political landscape is that the Stock ‘division’ at Essex County Council is that it encompasses Margaretting, Rettendon, Runwell, Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre.

There is an accepted tradition that by-elections are not called until after the funeral of the deceased councillor. There’s also a rule that by-elections are not called during the final six months before a major election.

The Reform Party – somewhat disrespectfully – called for by-elections on October 31st, the day before the 6 month rule would have cut in, and three weeks before Ian Grundy’s funeral. The elected County Councillor will serve for just five months before next May’s elections.

The by-election will be held on Thursday December 12th.

And of course, it is we residents who bear the cost of elections, officers to staff the polling stations and count votes.

As to the by-elections, the Conservative candidate for the County Council election is Sue Dobson who has served as a City Councillor for several years, and stepped up as Mayor after the sad passing of Cllr. John Galley. Sue has said that she accepts that she will only serve residents for five months, but that she’s standing in Ian Grundy’s Memory. The candidate for the City Council elections is Gillian Swain, a long-standing Stock Parish Councillor.

The Reform candidate has no record of serving residents on any other public body, has had his past business interests called into question by the Advertising Standards Authority and the Financial Services Authority. He is being supported in his campaign by an Epping Forest Councillor who was expelled from the Conservatives.

 

Clements Green Lane (again)

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Clements-Green-Lane
It’s taken longer than anyone would have wanted (tarmac surfaces on concrete roads require specialist equipment) but, after patching the A132 a couple of weeks ago, Essex Highways are now due to resurface Clements Green Lane in a couple of weeks.
Residents should report highways issues through the Essex County Council website here.
If the problems are severe, please notify me through my County Council email here, and I will seek to prioritise them.

ECC’s Holiday, Activity and Food programme

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ECC’s Holiday, Activity & Food programmeThis summer, Essex County Council’s international award winning Holiday, Activity and Food programme saw 9,435 children take up 78,652 places at 238 clubs across Essex!

The scheme was introduced by the last Conservative government with additional funding provided by Essex County Council. It makes a massive difference to vulnerable children and those on free school meals; providing them with engaging activities, positive role models and a healthy meal during the school holidays.
Cllr. Louise McKinley wrote to the new Chancellor on the 2nd August outlining the benefits of this vital scheme and asked her to commit the funding for the lifetime of this Parliament.
70 days on, she is still waiting for a response…
Let’s hope it doesn’t end up on the same bonfire of political choices as the Winter Fuel Allowance…

Leadership Hustings

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Conservatives Hustings - 1It was great to attend a hustings last week where three of the four candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, and Robert Jenrick, presented their visions for the party’s future.

Tom Tugenhat was represented by Jackie Doyle-Price.

Craig Rimmer facilitated, former MP Stephen Metcalfe hosted the evening, and 200 local conservatives attended. We will get to vote after Conservative MPs have whittled the four candidates down to a final two.

Conservatives Hustings - 2