Following discussions with leading councillors from both authorities, it appears to me that Maldon District Council will not just be using the services of Chelmsford Council, but the councils will merge into one.

I understand senior councillors at Maldon met at Three Rivers a short time ago and the chief executives of both Chelmsford and Maldon were there. The proposals appear to be that there will be only one chief executive and officers team.

A leading councillor from Maldon disputes the councils will merge, but if this is the case, you would have two councils sitting in Maldon and Chelmsford and one set of executives.

This seems impossible. For example, which council would set the rates? This is relevant as the Maldon member cited the lower council tax rate in Chelmsford as an advantage.

Bearing in mind a considerable amount of work will have been undertaken and the local elections were only held in May, why were the public not alerted to this major strategy? Why is all this being done in such haste?

I understand the final plans will be formulated on September 4 and a document issued for Maldon's full council meeting on September 13.

Chelmsford have organised a special council meeting for the same date and, if both councils agree, the change will take effect the NEXT DAY!

I always understood councils were obliged to hold public consultation on all major proposals.

For the Chelmsford residents, there would appear to be no disadvantages, although politically, with the addition of the heavily Conservative Maldon District Council where Labour and the Lib Dems have been wiped out, they can look forward to a long period of Conservative rule.

For the Maldon district residents, there are disadvantages in that they become a minority of 25 per cent of the total new authority, ruled by Chelmsford.

As I understand it, as Chelmsford is a borough with a mayor, Maldon and Burnham could both lose their mayors and mayor of Chelmsford would officiate over the entire enlarged borough. Do the rank and file members of Maldon District Council realise what is happening?

Roy Pipe
Langford