Reform leader's legal letter over council shake-up

The incoming Reform UK leader of Essex County Council has threatened to take legal action in an attempt to stop local government reorganisation (LGR).

Peter Harris told Communities Secretary Steve Reed the "proposals are ill-thought, expensive and purely ideological in nature".

In March, the government announced it was backing a model of five all-purpose councils in Essex, replacing the current two-tier structure of 15 councils.

Reform leader Nigel Farage pledged to "fight against" LGR during the local election campaign.

Harris is set to be voted in as leader of Essex County Council later this month, after the party ended the Conservatives' 25-year control of the authority last week.

In his open letter, Harris said LGR would "create further democratic distance between" the people and elected local politicians.

"We will utilise all resources at our disposal to challenge and resist LGR," he said.

"I yesterday instructed that lawyers prepare a pre-action protocol letter to you which I already have in my possession and, subject to my group's approval, will be sending to you later this week in order to formalise our objections."

On Wednesday, the Tory leader at Harlow Council, Dan Swords, also said his authority "will fight to block LGR because it would abolish our council", arguing it was "not in Harlow's interests".

The Tories bucked the trend in Harlow last week, winning all the seats up for grabs.

Swords previously backed the five-council model for Essex but also said he had "major concerns" with LGR.

Reed said in March: "The five-unitary model creates sensible geographies that will empower each new council to deliver new housing in line with local needs."

Unitary authorities are councils that typically oversee all local government services, such as social care, road maintenance and waste collection.

The government has said LGR in England will help meet house-building targets and reform public services.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been asked to respond to Harris's letter.

Ministers will need to pass legislation later this year in Parliament to abolish and replace the councils in Essex.

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