Essex County Council leaders have confirmed that they are to seek a judicial review of proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Essex.

The government-led proposal would see the existing 15 councils in Essex replaced with five, all-purpose, unitary authorities by 2008.

In May, ECC leader Peter Harris wrote to the Steve Reed, the Secretary of State, outlining the council’s intention to legally challenge the proposals. Now, the Reform UK-led cabinet has decided to proceed.

The council says the move follows discovery of a letter stating that advice from senior officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the financial robustness of the four competing proposals for Greater Essex was disregarded by the Secretary of State.

According to the council, the letter states that government officials recommended the three unitary proposal – ECC’s preferred option – saying: “It is the only proposal we assess to be financially viable within five years, which is particularly pertinent given unsupported debt in Thurrock. …”

Cllr Harris said: “The government’s pre-action response has only strengthened our resolve. With the unanimous backing of my cabinet, we are now moving ahead with a judicial review.

“These proposals are opposed to the localism we want for Essex. We will fight them robustly, using every tool at our disposal on behalf of our residents, and we are confident we can win.”

Suffolk County Council, also now run by Reform UK, has also threatened a judicial review over LGR