Government U-turn on Local Government Reorganisation destroys confidence in the whole process

Councillor David Worsfold, the Deputy Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, comments on the Government’s decision to postpone its top-down reorganisation of local government in Essex.

Councillor Worsfold, who represents Shenfield, noted that councils had poured considerable time and resources into plans they were told were legally watertight, only to find they were not, with the abortive costs falling to taxpayers.

He said: “This decision is shocking in its implications for the future of local government.

“The amount of money, time and effort that has been invested by councils in Essex in preparing for LGR in support of our preferred options, time that has now been wasted, is shocking.

He added: “Just saying the whole process is being deferred with no firm plans being put forward as to how long local Councils will continue to serve their residents is the worst possible outcome.”

The decision, he continued, would “destroy the confidence of local government leaders in the Labour government”, adding that both he, and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Barry Aspinell, would speak to their colleagues in Chelmsford and Maldon as a matter of urgency.

Noting correspondence from the Government Legal Service, resolving ongoing litigation, he said “We have been cut adrift with huge bills to pay and nothing to show for it, while Labour and Reform argued over legal niceties.”

He argued: "We are calling on the Government to reimburse the costs we have incurred so far and to clarify the length of this review, when the Secretary of State expects to make a final decision, and her criteria for doing so.”

“It hurls us into an unwanted world of deep uncertainty. That is the last thing any government should be doing, especially with so many other pressures already bearing down on the country and all of us and our families,” he said.

“In the meantime, our Liberal-Democrat-led council will strengthen its resolve to continue to do the best for the people of Brentwood, to keep a laser-like focus on delivering the best quality services, defending our Green Belt, improving our environment and working tirelessly to bring all our communities together, across the Borough as a whole.”