What are we actually voting for on May 7th?

What this election is actually for

With the Essex County Council election coming up on 7 May 2026, I’ve spoken to a lot of people across Brightlingsea, Thorrington, Alresford, Elmstead Market and Great Bentley.

One thing that comes up again and again is a simple question:

What does this election actually decide?

Fair question.

Local government is not always easy to follow, and different councils are responsible for different things.

So rather than telling you what this election is not about, I thought it would be more useful to explain clearly what it is about.

The role of Essex County Council

Essex County Council is responsible for the large, day to day services that affect how our area works.

These are the services most people rely on regularly, whether they realise it or not.

They include:

• Roads, pavements and highways maintenance
• Bus services and transport planning
• Education, including school places and SEND provision
• Adult social care and children’s services
• Libraries and some community services
• Waste disposal and recycling centres (not rubbish collection)
• Flooding, drainage and infrastructure planning

These are not small responsibilities. They are the basics that shape everyday life.

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Why this matters locally

Because Essex County Council controls these services, this election has a direct impact on the issues people raise with me all the time.

Things like:

• Potholes not being repaired properly (or at all)
• Pavements that are unsafe or inaccessible
• Concerns about speeding and road safety
• Bus services that do not meet local needs
• Pressure on school places and SEND support
• Drainage problems and surface water flooding

These are not theoretical issues. They are practical problems that affect people’s daily lives.

And they sit at county level.

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What a County Councillor actually does

A County Councillor represents the area at Essex County Council and works to:

• Raise local issues with the officers and departments responsible
• Challenge decisions and push for better outcomes
• Help shape policies that affect the whole county
• Secure investment and improvements for their area
• Act as a link between residents and the council

It is not just about attending meetings.

It is about being active, persistent, and focused on getting things done.

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Why this election is important

This election will decide who represents this area at county level for the next 2-4 years. I say two to four years because Essex County Council is slated to be replaced by a Unitary Authority (which will also replace the District Council) in 2028. But this is not guaranteed to happen, so this council might go the full four years.

Either way, it’s a really important time, and it matters more than ever because we want Essex County Council to hand over our area to the new authority in the best possible shape.

But back to the here and now, decisions made at Essex County Council directly affect:

• How quickly problems are dealt with
• Where money is spent
• Which areas get attention and investment
• How seriously local concerns are taken

Put simply, this election determines how well our area is represented when decisions are being made.

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Keeping it simple

For me, this election comes down to something straightforward.

Fix the basics.

Make sure the core services that people rely on are working properly.

That means focusing on:

• Roads and pavements
• Transport and safety
• Support services
• Infrastructure that actually keeps up with demand

Not headlines. Not party politics. Just getting the fundamentals right.

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Final thought

Local elections can sometimes feel distant or confusing, but this one is about the services we all use every day.

If you care about how things are run locally, this is one of the most important votes you can take part in.