Proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Essex are ‘ill thought out’ and ‘expensive’, says the leader of Reform-controlled Essex County Council.
Cllr Peter Harris has published a letter criticising LGR following a meeting with State Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
He reiterates the authority’s call for the Government to withdraw its proposals for the creation of five unitary councils covering the county.
The pace of delivery is ‘unrealistic and unsustainable’ and the costs – estimated at over £100m – are ‘unacceptably high’, he said. The complexity of disaggregating social care over the envisioned timeframe also ‘poses real risks’ to vulnerable residents.
Essex County Council has begun legal proceedings against the Government over its LGR proposals.
