URL: https://democracy.southend.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1543

Decision Maker: Leader – Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Corporate Strategy

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: A petition entitled Stop Cancellation of 2026 Southend election was tabled at Council on 9 July 2025. The petition calls on Southend-on-Sea City Council (the Council) to provide assurances that it remains committed to holding the scheduled local elections in May 2026 and will not seek a deferral for these from central Government.  

Content: A petition entitled Stop Cancellation of 2026 Southend election was tabled at Council on 9 July 2025. The petition calls on Southend-on-Sea City Council (the Council) to provide assurances that it remains committed to holding the scheduled local elections in May 2026 and will not seek a deferral for these from central Government.   That the petitioner be requested to note that the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Corporate Strategy provides reassurance to the petition organiser through the publication of this decision record that no processes to seek or secure the postponement of the May 2026 Local Elections in Southend have been initiated by the Council.   The petition ‘Stop cancellation of 2026 Southend election’ ran from 3 March to 8 May 2025 and received 183 signatures.   The petition calls on the Council to provide assurances that it remains committed to holding the scheduled local elections in May 2026 and will not seek a deferral for these from central Government. It also references the decision by Essex County Council to postpone its 2025 local elections due to devolution arrangements and expresses concern that Southend could face a similar outcome.   The concerns raised by petitioners relate to the preservation of democratic rights and the importance of maintaining regular electoral cycles.   The Council is elected “by thirds” (i.e., one third of the councillors elected at a time), with every fourth year being a “fallow” year where local elections do not take place.   2025 was a fallow year for Southend, and elections in thirds are planned for 2026 as per the normal electoral cycle for Southend.   Any request to postpone Southend’s elections for 2026 would require an order from the Secretary of State before the year of any election could be changed.   In July 2025, the Council voted on the resolution to “not request any unnecessary delay, postponement or cancellation” to elections in 2026.   On 18 December 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, wrote to council leaders in local government reorganisation areas with elections in May 2026. Her letter invited councils to set out their views on the potential postponement of their local election in May 2026 and whether doing this would allow them to better deliver local government reorganisation. Representations were requested to be submitted by 15 January 2026.   On 21 December 2025, the Leader of the Council publicly confirmed that he would not be responding to the invitation to request postponement outlined in 3.8 of this report, and that 2026 elections would proceed as scheduled.   At an Extraordinary meeting on 12 January 2026, the Council confirmed it wishes for the local elections to proceed, as planned, and take place in May 2026 and therefore not make any representations to Government for the cancelation or postponement of elections.   The Leader of the Council has taken into account the requests made in the petition and can confirm that the Council remains committed to undertaking its local election in 2026 as planned, in accordance with the statutory timetable and electoral regulations. As there is a precedent for postponing local elections when devolution and local government reorganisation is in progress, the Council could decide to make representation to government asking it to consider postponing its 2026 local elections.   This would have necessitated the formal submission of a letter of representation to the Secretary of State by midnight on 15 January 2026.  

Date of Decision: January 28, 2026