An extensive consultation has shown strong support from residents for creating new parish and town councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick Sands - and now they’ll get to have their say on how these councils can take shape.
Tendring District Council (TDC) is moving into the second phase of its Community Governance Review for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick Sands after feedback from households in the initial consultation indicated that they want their own local councils.
A three-month consultation, which ended in September, saw more than 3,400 responses – with 74 per cent of electors agreeing that it was not right that the areas did not have their own town councils.
The communities in those areas are currently the only ones in the district without their own parish or town council.
The preferred option of residents from the initial consultation is to establish three separate councils. This second consultation suggests options for a possible new Clacton-on-Sea Town Council, Holland-on-Sea Village Council and West Clacton and Jaywick Sands Town Council.
There will also be options for residents to consider around boundaries, council names, styles and councillor numbers, as well as what services they would like any new councils to deliver.
Councillor Mark Stephenson, Leader of Tendring District Council, said: “We said earlier this year that if there was enough support for creating town councils, we would move to a second phase to explore the details – and that time is now here.
“With the possibility of TDC being replaced by a much larger unitary authority based outside Clacton – it’s more important than ever to think about how our communities are represented.
“Households in Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick Sands would benefit from a dedicated local focus when the district council is replaced.
“This is a real opportunity for people to influence that future and ensure their neighbourhoods have a distinct voice on the issues that matter most.
“I want to stress that no decisions have been made yet, and whether you support the idea or not, your views are still vital.”
The council’s Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee debated the outcome of the initial consultation at its meeting on Monday, 17 November, following which it approved the recommendation for separate parishes for the three communities as the basis for the second consultation.
It also approved a revised timetable that would see the second phase of consultation take place from 1 December to 28 February, with a final decision expected in April or May 2026. Any new local councils could potentially come into effect from April 2027.
Graham Steady, Chairman of the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “This review is about giving residents a real say in how their communities are represented.
“The first consultation showed strong support for creating town councils, and now we’re moving to the next phase where people can help shape the details.
“Whether it’s boundaries, names or what services these councils might provide, we want to hear from as many residents as possible.”
The second consultation will mirror the successful approach used in the first phase, including online surveys, letters to households, public meetings and targeted engagement with community groups.
Town councils help take up issues local to the people living in their areas and many are responsibility for local parks, leisure services, events and facilities. They are also consulted as part of the process for planning applications in the area.
Average Band D homes in the parished areas of Tendring district pay on average just less than £76 per year (which equates to £1.46 per week) for services delivered by town and parish councils locally.
