questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department’s letter to Essex councils dated 26 March 2026, for what reason it was decided that South West Essex and South East Essex councils’ Joint Committees will automatically be chaired by a unitary council councillor, rather than allowing the Joint Committee to decide as in the rest of Essex.
answerText: Joint Committees are temporary, implementation‑focused bodies intended to support the transition to the new unitary councils. They will be replaced by shadow councils in May 2027. As such, all existing councils are to be involved in the relevant joint com...
heading: Local Government: Essex