Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion at the Tendring Council cabinet meeting. The main item for discussion was the submission of formal proposals for local government reorganisation in Greater Essex. Also on the agenda were announcements from Councillor Mark Stephenson, Leader of the Council, and other cabinet members, as well as the approval of minutes from a previous meeting.

Local Government Reorganisation

The cabinet was asked to consider a report regarding the submission of formal unitary proposals in response to an invitation from the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution. The report sought the cabinet's support for a submission making the case for establishing five new unitary councils for Greater Essex, one of which would be the North-East Essex Council, merging Tendring with Braintree and Colchester, and disaggregating Essex County Council.

The report pack stated that support for this option was based on key principles for Tendring, including:

• Keeping local government as local as possible and embedding local accountability.
• Sense of place and recognising the geographical linkages.
• The structures of existing partnerships within North-East Essex and joined up decision making.
• Ensuring on-going delivery of high quality services.
• Financial sustainability.

The report pack also stated that evidence indicated that The proposal for growth: five new Unitary Councils for Essex option met the statutory criteria and was viable financially across Greater Essex, with the unitary authorities proposed being sustainable, based on good stewardship. The 'five new Unitary Councils' option would also support devolution and ensure all areas of Greater Essex were equitably represented on the Mayoral Combined County Authority¹.