Harlow Council’s leader Councillor Dan Swords has written to the Government calling for a pause and full review of proposals to reorganise local councils in Essex.
In a letter sent today to Stephen Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Councillor Swords urged the Government to halt its plans for local government reorganisation in Essex.
Under the current proposals, Harlow Council would be abolished and replaced with a new authority covering the whole of West Essex.
Councillor Swords said he would use “every mechanism available” to challenge the plans and seek a pause. The move follows his vow last month to block the abolition of Harlow Council.
Speaking today, he said:
“I’ve always been clear: Harlow Council will do what is right for Harlow. Right now, our focus is building Harlow’s future.
“That’s why I have written to the Government to make clear that local government reorganisation in Essex must be stopped.
“It will cost Harlow – not the Government – millions of pounds that should instead be spent on the things our residents care about. Every hour spent on reorganisation is an hour not spent on regeneration. Every pound spent on restructuring is a pound not invested in Harlow.
“It is simply not deliverable within the timescale the Government has set.
“Residents gave us a clear mandate to continue rebuilding our town. That is why we will use every mechanism available to pause these plans.
“Harlow Council’s job is simple – to deliver for Harlow – and our focus must remain on building Harlow’s future, not reorganising councils.”
The letter can be read here.