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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that local councils remain accountable to residents under the Devolution Priority Programme.

On 5 February, the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that the Government will be taking Greater Essex (Essex County Council, Thurrock Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council) forward on the Devolution Priority Programme. The government also agreed that, for Essex County Council and Thurrock Council, postponing local elections from May 2025 to May 2026 is essential for the delivery of the Devolution Priority Programme and complementary local government reorganisation ahead of Mayoral elections.

The Government has also set out in its manifesto several commitments to increase participation in democracy, including introducing votes at 16 for all elections, improving registration, reviewing and amending the voter ID rules, and strengthening the political finance framework.

A Government consultation entitled “Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework for Local Authorities in England” is currently seeking views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards framework, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension. The proposed reforms aim to deliver greater accountability and public confidence that local authorities will uphold the highest standards of conduct.