URL: https://brentwood.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1344

Decision Maker: Council

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: To consider a report setting out the proposed response to 4 questions raised by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) required to inform development of the SCO for local government reorganisation in Greater Essex.

Content: The report sought approval for Brentwood Borough Council’s ‘council?specific’ responses to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) request for information required to draft a Structural Change Order (SCO) for the proposed Mid Essex unitary authority.   The responses would form part of a single Mid-Essex Unitary submission being coordinated with Chelmsford City Council, Maldon District Council and Essex County Council (ECC). Approval was required to enable submission to the Government by the deadline of 29 May 2026.   Cllr Kendall MOVED and Cllr Worsfold SECONDED the recommendation in the report.    During the debate, Cllr Russell MOVED to go straight to the vote and this was SECONDED by Cllr Wagland.  This was RESOLVED by a show of hands.    A request was made for a recorded vote from Cllrs Russell, Hirst, Chinnery, Barber and Gordon.   Members took a vote: That Full Council endorses the proposed responses, set out at points a - d in the report, for inclusion in the Mid Essex submission to MHCLG in response to the Secretary of State’s letter of 26 March 2026 (attached at Appendix A to the report), and delegates authority to the Chief Executive to submit these responses on behalf of the council by no later than 29 May 2026.               FOR: Cllrs: N Cuthbert, Aspinell, G Barrett, Dr Barrett, M Cuthbert, Davies, Fulcher, Gorton, Haigh, Kendall, Laplain, Mayo, Munden, Mynott, Rigby, Sankey and Worsfold (17).   AGAINST:  Cllrs: Aaron, Bakhsh, Barber, Chinnery, Gascoyne, Gelderbloem, Godfrey, Gordon, Gregory, Hirst, Nicholson, Parker, Patel, Pound, Quirk, Russell, Thomson and Wagland (18).   The recommendation was LOST.  

Date of Decision: May 20, 2026