This page is a hub for information about the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programmes.
Please do check back for information, and use the links on the side of this page for additional details too.
What is Local Government Reorganisation?
What is the expected timeline?
What is the Tendring position?
What does this mean for me as an employee of Tendring District Council?
What does this mean for me as a Member of the council?
Devolution involves setting up a new “combined authority” (CA) for Greater Essex. The CA would be led by representatives of Essex County Council and the unitary councils of Thurrock and Southend.
One option for new combined authorities is to also include a new directly elected Mayor. The CA (with the Mayor, if there is one) takes on powers and budget ‘devolved’ to it by central government, for example over skills funding.
The Combined Authority may also be referred to as a Strategic Authority.
Local Government Reorganisation - sometimes referred to as Local Government Reform (LGR) or unitarisation - means replacing the current two-tier system (county and district councils) with single-tier authorities; single councils responsible for all local government statutory duties in the area.
In Essex, this means setting up new unitary councils, which would have the responsibilities of both Essex County Council and the district councils (like Tendring) in one authority - though some duties and powers may be moved to the Combined Authority as part of Devolution (see the section on Devolution). Examples of existing unitary councils are Thurrock and Southend.
The Government has announced it will be introducing 5 new unitaries across Greater Essex. For Tendring, this will be across a footprint covering the current districts of Tendring, Colchester, and Braintree.
The government published a White Paper – a piece of policy – on English Devolution on 16 December 2024, setting out its proposals.
It sets out an ambition for all areas of England to have a Strategic Authority, and an expectation that all two tier areas (such as ours) develop proposals for LGR. Essex is in the Priority Programme for Devolution and LGR.
In March 2026 the Government announced the new configuration for Greater Essex, and set out the draft terms for implementing the change.
.jpg)
We broadly welcome Devolution as bringing powers and funding to a more local level.
On LGR our organisational position is that we want to make sure Tendring – as a district and as a council with all of the staff and services that entails – is in the strongest possible place going forward.
We have committed to working particularly closely with our partners who will help to form the new unitary for our area – in particular Colchester City Council, Braintree District Council, and Essex County Council on preparations, as well as the wider Greater Essex implementation team.
In the meantime we must continue to deliver our usual high quality services and projects. We will also need to factor in the time and capacity Devolution and LGR will take up on staff and councillors, and so some things may need to be re-prioritised.
We understand that this period of uncertainty can be unsettling for everyone, and further support is available through our Employee Assistance Programme.
While we may not have all the answers right now, please be assured that this is a long-term process.
Whatever happens there will still be a need for local government staff to provide essential services to residents; and the vast majority of staff will simply transfer across to any new authority in line with TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)) regulations.
In the meantime, please keep delivering your usual top services to our residents; and look to put yourself in the best possible position for new opportunities from any new council. Work with your manager to look at training and development opportunities.
Please find below a video version of FAQs for staff. This will be updated as we know more. Please note, these are identical to the text versions below.
Tendring District Council has no decision-making powers in this, though we can seek to influence decisions and shape future direction.
You of course have political considerations and positions to follow, and you can continue to do so as normal.
In terms of a defined council position, the recommendations made by the Chief Executive in his report on 21 January 2025 were unanimously backed (the report can be found on the quick links section).
Meanwhile, at an extraordinary meeting of Full Council on 11 March 2025, the Chief Executive provided a further update, and the recommendations (found in the report, also linked in the side panel) were again unanimously backed:
In September 2025 TDC's Cabinet set out its preference for the proposed five-unitary model, because this best meets the Council's key criteria for localism, delivering a strong sense of place, supporting existing partnerships, high-quality service delivery and financial sustainability.
Whatever position you may take, we would ask you to be considerate of staff, who may find this period unsettling – particularly in the early stages when there are a lot of unknowns.
We will continue to keep you updated; and you will also have a key role in keeping your residents, town and parish councils updated too.
A stronger Greater Essex | Essex Local Government Reorganisation Hub
Local Government Association FAQs
Local Government Association Devolution and LGR Hub
Interim Plan for LGR in Essex (March 2025)
Government feedback on the Interim Plan for LGR in Essex (May 2025)
TDC Full Council 11 March (recommendations unanimously agreed)
TDC Full Council Report 10 January 2025 (recommendations unanimously agreed)
Joint statement of Braintree, Colchester and Tendring Councils (17 January 2025)
English Devolution White Paper - GOV.UK
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - Explainer blog