To enable Council to consider the recommendations submitted by the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to proposed amendments to:-

(1)     the commencement date for the Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands; and

(2)     the initial term of office of Parish Councillors elected to the Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands.

Council considered a reference report (and its addendum) that set out the recommendations made to it by the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee in relation to:-

(1)    the commencement date for the Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands; and

(2)    the initial term of office of Parish Councillors elected to the Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands.

It was reported that the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee (“the Committee”), at its meeting held on 6 October 2026, had considered a report of the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) (A.1) which had invited the Committee to recommend a change in the implementation date of new Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands; and a subsequent change to the initial term of Councillors elected to them.

The reasoning for this item being submitted to the Committee had been that the UK Government had announced on 7 September 2026 that it was withdrawing its decision of 25 March 2026 to implement Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex, pending a review; and that the existing electoral cycle would be restored, with elections to District and existing Parish Councils on 6 May 2027.

The UK Government’s decision not to proceed with its plans for changes to principal Councils (Districts, County and Unitaries) in Essex from 1 April 2028 (with elections to Shadow Authorities in May 2027) had provided an opportunity to spend more time on developing the plans for the initial year of those Parish Councils and to engage more with residents on those plans.  Whilst delivery of the new Parishes on 1 April 2027 was still achievable and Council Officers, with the Essex Association of Local Councils, had been working to that date, it had been clear that a longer lead in time for the new Parishes and their Parish Councils would be beneficial.  It had been on this basis that the recommended revised commencement date of 1 April 2028 had been submitted for consideration by the Committee (to recommend on to Full Council)

Members recalled that, as part of its overall Community Governance Review decisions for the three Parishes (and their Parish Councils), Full Council had approved a five (5) year initial term of office for the new Parish Councillors.  This had been on the basis at the time that all Parish Councillors elected in the District in 2027 would serve for a five (5) year term.  This change had been intended through a UK Government Structural Change Order as part of Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex, which was now under review.  With that process paused, and a one year later commencement date for the three Parishes (and their Parish Councils), that initial term of office should be three (3) years.  This would then align the second and subsequent elections to the new Parish Councils with the scheduled elections for all other parish Councils in the District.

Having duly considered the Assistant Director’s report the Committee had formally resolved unanimously:-

(1)    That, based on the information set out in this report, the Committee recommends to Full Council on 13 October 2026 that the decisions of Full Council on 2 June 2026 following the Community Governance Review for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands be amended as follows:

a)      the new Parishes commence on 1 April 2028 and not 1 April 2027 (with elections to the Parish Councils consequentially moved to May 2028 rather than in May 2027); and

b)      the initial term of office for Parish Councillors elected to those Parish Councils be three (3) years and not five (5) years;

(2)    That the Chief Executive be requested to await the decision of Full Council on 13 October 2026 in respect of the recommendation above before the required Community Governance Reorganisation Order (arising from the relevant decision of Council on 2 June 2026) is formally made and sealed and that the outcome of that meeting in respect of the above recommendation be incorporated as necessary into that Order; and

(3)    To note that, on the basis recommendation (1) above is approved by Full Council, communication with residents and interested parties in the area of the new Parishes will be undertaken to update them that the implementation date for those Parishes and their Parish Councils will be 1 April 2028 and the commissioning of Essex Association of Local Councils to support the introduction of the new Parishes will be updated to reflect that timeline.

Councillors Councillor P B Honeywoodaddressed Council during the debate on this matter.

Having duly considered the recommendations of the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee in this matter:-

It was moved by Councillor Steady and:-

RESOLVED that Council formally approves –

(a)    that the decisions of Full Council made on 2 June 2026 following the Community Governance Review for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands be amended as follows:

(1)    that the new Parishes commence on 1 April 2028 and not 1 April 2027 (with elections to the Parish Councils consequentially moved to May 2028 rather than in May 2027); and

(2)    the initial term of office for Parish Councillors elected to those Parish Councils be three (3) years and not five (5) years;

(b)    that the Chief Executive be requested to now formally make and seal the required Community Governance Reorganisation Order (arising from the relevant decision of Council on 2 June 2026) and that the amendments referred to in recommendation (a) above be incorporated as necessary into that Order; and

(c)    that communication with residents and interested parties in the area of the new Parishes be undertaken to update them that the implementation date for those Parishes and their Parish Councils will be 1 April 2028 and that the commissioning of the Essex Association of Local Councils to support the introduction of the new Parishes be updated to reflect that timeline.