BRENTWOOD could lose its identity if its council was to merge with others in south Essex, it’s been claimed.

The leader of Basildon Council, Phil Turner, said he was keen on merging with Brentwood and Castle Point in a bid to take away power from the County Council, something which has also been backed by those at Castle Point.

Graeme Clark, deputy leader of the Lib Dem group in Brentwood, said he was open to having these types of discussions, but that is wasn’t something he saw happening.

Mr Clark said: “It’s an interesting proposal.

“We are already sharing some services with Basildon, and I don’t see a problem in discussing these, but to go foracomplete merger? I’m not so sure.

“It would save money in the long term because it would strip a number of layers of senior management butIthink the detailed cost in the short term would be a huge amount of money.”

Brentwood and Basildon councils have already launched a pilot joint housing and council tax benefits and collection department.

The two are also already working on the Dunton Garden housing suburb of 7,000 homes that would span both boroughs’ boundaries.

Mr Turner is keen to take power away from Essex County Council. He said: “We have lobbied County Hall to turn the lights back on, but our talks with them are businesslike and frank.

“Yes,Iwould look at becoming a unitary authority and as soon as we are unitary the lights will come back on. I think I have got the backing of the majority of councillors.”

If the councils were to team up and become a unitary authority, like Southend and Thurrock, they would getabigger budget, butahuge amount more responsibility in areas including social care, education, highways, and waste disposal planning powers.

Brentwood and Basildon are also seekingarecycling contract in conjunction with Brentwood, Rochford and Uttlesford councils.

Mr Clark added: “There’s going to be more and more savings in the medium term but for us to ask Brentwood residents to lose their identity with a merger?

I’m not so sure.”

Castle Point Council has made it clear it is interested in joining forces.

Jeffrey Stanley, councillor responsible for finance, said: “We have made efficiencies, but need to make more. Are there any bigger savings we can explore by sharing services with people like Basildon? Can a small local authority like Castle Point continue on its own?”