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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department’s letter to Essex councils dated 26 March 2026, for what reason it was decided that South West Essex and South East Essex councils’ Joint Committees will automatically be chaired by a unitary council councillor, rather than allowing the Joint Committee to decide as in the rest of Essex.

Joint Committees are temporary, implementation‑focused bodies intended to support the transition to the new unitary councils. They will be replaced by shadow councils in May 2027.

As such, all existing councils are to be involved in the relevant joint committee, so that implementation is a shared endeavour. In South West Essex and South East Essex, where there are existing unitary authorities, the Joint Committees is to be chaired by a councillor from those existing unitaries, reflecting their existing unitary expertise. In both areas, this operates alongside equal 50 per cent representation on the Joint Committees for councillors from the other predecessor councils.

Guidance on the role of Joint Committees was circulated to all Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock councils in the Department’s letter of 26 March.