100 Days of Reform: Essex County Council

Reform UK secured a majority on the council in the 7 May 2026 local elections, winning 53 of 78 seats and ending 25 years of Conservative control. Peter Harris became leader, with Russell Quirk as deputy. The new administration published a formal “Reforming Essex” 100-day plan in early July, focusing on council reform, high-quality services, protecting communities, and economic potential.

The Council claims and what the record shows

Several items on the graphic align with publicly reported actions dealt with:

• Net Zero cancelled: One of the earliest moves. Leaders described previous net-zero commitments as “net stupid zero” and ideologically driven. The council ended its organisational net-zero target (previously aiming for 2030) and related discretionary policies, estimating initial savings of around £3 million. A related climate action commission saw support withdrawn. Some aspects of the review faced a call-in process in August.

  
  

• 30% more potholes repaired: Confirmed by the council. After declaring a “Pothole Emergency” and allocating an extra £7.5 million (found within existing resources), dedicated repair crews rose from nine to 12 (one per district). More than 5,000 carriageway defects were fixed in the first quarter of the financial year — a 30% increase on the same period the previous year. Non-urgent defects are now targeted within 90 days, alongside ongoing resurfacing.

  
  

• Tory “book tax” cancelled: The £1.15 library reservation fee introduced by the previous Conservative administration was scrapped early on.

  
  

• LGR challenged: The council initiated legal proceedings against the government’s plans for Local Government Reorganisation, which would replace existing authorities (including the county council) with five unitary councils.

  
  

• Promoted patriotic flags only: The Ukrainian flag outside County Hall was replaced with a second Union Flag. Policy shifted to prioritise Union, national, county, or armed forces flags.

  
  

• Hello Essex initiative: A campaign of events celebrating Essex history, culture, heritage, businesses, and tourism was launched (particularly active in July).

  
  

• Veterans Village: Officers were tasked with identifying an “ideal site” for a gated community offering housing, rehabilitation, and support for military veterans (Essex has tens of thousands of veterans). This formed part of broader armed forces support pledges.

  
  

• Delivered new A1331 link road: The first phase of the A1331 (connecting the A133 and supporting the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community) opened in late June 2026. It includes dual carriageway, roundabouts, walking/cycling facilities, and extensive planting. Phase two remains ongoing toward the A120. The project was long-planned, with major funding from Homes England and construction underway before the election; Reform oversaw the completion of phase one.

  
  

• Travellers evicted / enforcement: The administration has pushed for action on unauthorised sites. Deputy leader Russell Quirk publicly highlighted pressure leading to a Section 60 notice requiring travellers to leave Thorndon Park South in early August. Broader enforcement against rapid unauthorised developments has been a theme, though many such cases involve district councils and planning processes that predate or run parallel to the new administration.

  
  

Other listed items track the 100-day plan’s priorities: prioritising SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) to tackle backlogs and expand fostering; protecting green spaces and challenging speculative housing/Green Belt pressure by favouring brownfield sites; investing in road infrastructure and safer school travel; a training fund; and freezing councillor allowances (basic rates sat at levels set previously, with no evidence of further uplifts under the new leadership in available records). Approval of a new Chief Constable aligns with the transition period as the incumbent prepared to retire at the end of August 2026.

And they keep Fighting!!!