THURROCK and Southend are banding together in a drive to create a south Essex “powerhouse” with new powers to invest in roads and take control of health and education budgets.

The two unitary councils plan to part company with Essex County Council, which wants powers from Whitehall transferred to County Hall to form a “Greater Essex”.

Southend Council leader, Ron Woodley, said there was a big case to be made to create a south Essex powerhouse.

He also has an idea for a south Essex city comprising Southend, Rochford, Castle Point and Thurrock.

Thurrock’s Conservative leader, Rob Gledhill, is a fan of a partnership, but only if Thurrock can benefit from it.

Mr Woodley said: “Both Southend and Thurrock believe in the future of south Essex, as the potential for growth along this corridor is quite strong.

“I want control over our transport to improve the A127 and A13 and I want control over health budgets.”

Southend and Thurrock control many services as authorities, including street lights, roads maintenance and overseeing education.

However, they still have to bid for money for major road improvements and do not control health budgets or retain business rates.

Of a south east Essex city, Mr Woodley added: “That would mean a population of 500,000 and makes it more viable in terms of an authority.”

Thurrock Conservative leader, Rob Gledhill, said: “We’ve always said we’d like to work closer with other south Essex authorities to make a powerhouse, but what we don’t want to end up with is an arrangement where Thurrock is the loser. We need to be the driving force is anything comes forward.”

He added: ”Thurrock was always the poor cousin in Essex, which is one of the reasons we went unitary. A south Essex partnership is something we all strive for, but only as long as it benefits us.”