The Council of Southend-on-Sea City Council met on Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 at 6.00pm for an extraordinary meeting. The main item for discussion was the proposal to consent to the laying of the Greater Essex Combined County Authority Regulations 2026. These regulations are a key step in establishing the Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority.

Greater Essex Combined County Authority Regulations 2026

The council was asked to consider a report to Cabinet regarding the context and process for consenting to the laying, and subsequent making, of the Greater Essex Combined County Authority Regulations 2026. The report pack included a Cabinet Report on the same topic, scheduled to be heard on 15 September 2025.

The report noted that the English Devolution White Paper, published in December 2024, proposed significant changes to local government, including devolution to strategic authorities¹ and local government reorganisation. In January 2025, Southend-on-Sea City Council, along with Essex County Council and Thurrock Council, responded positively to an invitation from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to join the Devolution Priority Programme. This programme offers an accelerated path for areas ready to work together to create strategic authorities and facilitate the election of mayors by May 2026. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, introduced to Parliament in July 2025, puts into statute the proposed powers, functions, and funding to be devolved to strategic authorities. The report summarised the proposals in the White Paper and the Bill, outlining the next steps for Southend-on-Sea City Council to progress devolution to Greater Essex. Consent was requested to allow the draft Greater Essex Combined County Authority Regulations 2026 to complete their Parliamentary passage, enabling the establishment of a Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority.

The report stated that the government intends to provide both mayoral capacity funding and a long-term investment fund to the Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority, with full details expected to be confirmed in September 2025.

The report also noted that the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution confirmed on 17 July 2025 that the statutory tests for establishing the Mayoral Combined County Authority had been met. These tests include:

a) that a Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority is likely to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of some or all the people who live or work in the area;

b) that establishment of a Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority is appropriate having regard to the need:

(i) to secure effective and convenient local government;

(ii) to reflect the identities and interests of local communities;

c) that a public consultation has been carried out in its establishment and no further consultation is necessary.

The draft regulations, which could not be made public until laid before Parliament, address the mechanisms necessary to establish the GECCA and confer transport powers. Other powers will be conferred by the Bill, as outlined in the government's English Devolution White Paper.

The report included a summary of the key points in the draft Statutory Instrument, including:

• The regulations come into force the day after they are made, likely in early 2026, legally establishing the GECCA.
• Mayoral functions provisions come into force on 11 May 2026, the Monday after the mayoral election.
• Elections for the mayor are to take place every four years, beginning on 7 May 2026.
• The mayor may appoint one political advisor.
• The GECCA can exercise functions as the Local Transport Authority, initially concurrently with its constituent councils.
• Constituent councils remain as the Highways Authorities for their area.
• The mayor is empowered to exercise functions relating to local transport plans and given the power to pay grants.
• Constituent councils must ensure that GECCA's costs are aligned to the exercise of its functions.
• All mayoral costs must first be agreed by the GECCA, and the mayor cannot incur any expenditure unless agreed in advance.
• Functions relating to economic development and regeneration are exercisable by the GECCA concurrently with the constituent councils.

The membership of the GECCA will include two elected members from Southend-on-Sea City Council, two from Thurrock Council, and three from Essex County Council. The mayor will be the chair of the GECCA.

The report recommended that the Council consider and consent to the laying and subsequent making of the Greater Essex Combined County Authority Regulations 2026, and delegate authority to the Chief Executive, Colin Ansell, and Executive Director for Strategy and Change, Claire Shuter, in consultation with Councillor Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, to agree any required changes to the Regulations prior to laying before Parliament.