Decision Details

Motion F

Proposer: Councillor Dundas
Seconder: Councillor Naylor

Council Notes: 

1. Elections to District and County Councils are due across England in May 2026 including nine areas which had elections postponed in May 2025 due to being part of the Devolution Priority Programme and earmarked for Local Government Reorganisation. 

2. Whilst there may have been justification for postponement in May 2025 due to the urgency of business cases proposals needing to be submitted there is no such justification in May 2026 as all the proposals were completed and submitted in September 2025. It is now the Government’s decision as to which are implemented. 

3. Whilst it is recognised that Councillors elected in May 2026 would likely only serve until April 2028 this is not without precedent. In 2015 CBC elections 20 Councillors were elected with 12-month terms and had the planned “all-outs” taken place in May 2026 under new boundaries 17 Colchester City Councillors would have been elected for just 12 months.  

4. It is usual practice that Council areas undergoing re-organisation do not have scheduled elections when a Structural Order has been passed by Parliament. Therefore, it would be normal that May 2027 elections in Essex would be to the new shadow Unitary Councils and other scheduled elections would not take place assuming the current timetable is adhered to. This will also be the case in places such as Surrey in May 2026. However, it is not normal precedent for elections prior at this stage of LGR to be cancelled.  

5. Cancellation of elections in May 2026 would see Councillors in many areas across England who were elected for four years see their terms extended to up to seven. This is without precedent outside of war times and is unacceptable. 

6. It would be unreasonable and unfair to pressure Councillors to stand down voluntarily as it is a principle that elections take place on an equal basis. 

7. There is no justification whatsoever for any difference in approach between Upper Tier, Unitary and District Councils in Essex or across different areas in England on the same LGR timetable as all face the same reorganisation schedule and challenges. 

Council therefore resolves that: 

1. It is the expressed will of Full Council that the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State of Housing, Communities and Local Government co-signed with all Group Leaders stating that it is the firm view of Colchester City Councillors that all elections scheduled for May 2026 go ahead as planned (including those due in Essex for County, Upper Tier and District Councils) in all areas of the United Kingdom unless a structural order has been laid and elections will instead take place for shadow councillors to a new shadow unitary authority.   

This motion relates to a non-executive function and will be debated and determined by Full Council.