Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his decision letter to council leaders in Essex on local government reorganisation, dated 25 March 2026, whether the councils will be able to change the name from those currently proposed.

A statutory consultation has already been undertaken on the proposal for five new unitary councils, which will now be implemented.

It is intended that the secondary legislation establishing the new councils will name them in line with that proposal.

Once established, new councils will have the same powers as other local authorities to change their name if they choose to do so. It will be for the councils themselves to determine whether they wish to pursue a different name and whether to engage the public as part of that process.