MALDON Town Council is likely to be left in place by government plans to reform local authorities while the district council may not, a meeting heard last night (Tuesday, 15 September).

A white paper expected to be presented to Parliament in the course of the next few weeks is set to detail plans for abolishing district, borough and county councils in order to create unitary authorities. It is likely three such unitary councils will be proposed for the area currently served by Essex County Council.

There has been speculation at Maldon District Council that Maldon could team up with Chelmsford, Braintree and Colchester to create a single new unitary authority - potentially with one mayor to cover the whole area.

Town and parish councils set to remain in place under the plans

But Maldon Town Council and all other town and parish councils are expected to be left much as they are in the huge national restructure.

Speaking at Maldon Town Council's meeting yesterday, Councillor Stephen Nunn said: "The main impact is at district level."

Councillor Christopher Swain added: "The status of town councils should be enhanced. Some of the resources should come down to town councils."

However, members of the meeting also expressed concern at the national proposals, referring to the financial difficulties that have been experienced by the two areas of Essex that previously split away from the county authority to form unitary councils - Thurrock and Southend.

Maldon Nub News reported in August that the Government is expected to bring out the white paper in the early autumn as part of its response to addressing the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.