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Group Statement on Local Government Reorganisation - 18th March 2025 |
Colchester council tax-payers must not be saddled with any of Thurrock Council’s huge £1billion debts as part of the Government’s local government shake-up that will see the abolition of Colchester City Council, say Colchester’s Conservative Group.
Conservative councillors vowed to save the city’s residents from the threat of Thurrock’s debt. Conservatives won cross-chamber support for their stance at a special meeting of the Colchester City Council on Monday 17 March.
Cllr Paul Dundas (Tiptree Ward), Leader of the Conservatives on Colchester council, said: “We can’t stop this Labour Government from abolishing local authorities like ours, but we’re sending a message to Westminster that local government reorganisation isn’t an excuse to dump Thurrock’s debt, or any other authority’s, on the council tax-payers of Colchester.”
Cllr William Sunnucks, Conservative Opposition finance spokesman, said: “There is no magic money tree, the Labour Government has made that clear. This is our opportunity to contribute in a small way to dealing with the financial problems and put the new unitary authority that includes Colchester on a sustainable footing from day one.”
Conservative Councillors voted unanimously to mandate the Leader of Colchester City Council to begin discussions with neighbouring authorities about merging - without accepting any debt from outside the area.
Conservatives pledge to safeguard the interests of Colchester Council-Tax payers.
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