2026 Local Elections: What Happened in the North Thames Region

Essex Councils

Reform UK now hold overall political control of Essex County Council. In the May 2026 local elections Reform UK won 53 seats on the authority ending the Conservatives’ 25 years reign at the local authority. Reform UK won a clear majority and form the new administration.

Following the May 2026 local elections, Rochford District Council remains under no overall control. However, Reform UK made major gains with 13 total seats won which meant they had first option to form an administration, which they have, in conjunction with some of the resident and independent groups.

Basildon Borough Council is under no overall political control. Labour and Conservatives both hold 12 seats and Reform UK made major gains in the May 2026 local election with 11 seats. The new administration is formed by Reform UK and Conservative.

Epping Forest District Council remains under majority control as the Conservatives lost their majority through defections before the local elections, and lost further to Reform during. The council currently has a Conservative led minority administration.

Colchester City Council is under no overall political control. The Conservatives are the largest group on the council with 18 seats, while the Liberal Democrats have 12. The Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats have formed a coalition administration.

Brentwood Borough Council remain under no overall political control. Reform UK gained the most seats in the May 2026 local elections. The new administration is formed by a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Labour and Independents.

Harlow District Council continues to be under a Conservative administration. The Conservatives increased their majority in the May 2026 local elections by five seats, now holding 22 of the 33 council seats.

Following the May 2026 local elections, The Liberal Democrats continue to hold overall control of Chelmsford City Council, and the Liberal Democrats continue to form the council’s administration.

Braintree District Council is controlled by the Conservative Party, who remained the largest party after the May 2026 local elections with 26 seats. The Conservative Party form the administration.

As of the May 2026 elections, Thurrock Council is controlled by Reform UK. Reform UK won a large majority of seats (45 out of 49). The previous administration, Labour, lost control and now the council is run by Reform UK administration. The council, however, still has commissioners appointed from Essex County Council.

Southend-On-Sea City Council is currently under no overall control. Labour is the largest party with 17 seats, but no single party has the majority of the 51 seats. The council is governed by a joint administration made up of Labour, Liberal Democrats and Independents.

Castle Point Borough Council did not hold local council elections in May 2026. The council is under no overall control, and the administration is formed by Independents.

Maldon District Council did not hold local council elections in May 2026, the Maldon District Council elections are due in May 2027. The council is under no overall control and is run through a cross party and Independent led working administration.

Uttlesford District Council did not hold local council elections in May 2026. Uttlesford District Council is under no overall control and the administration is led by Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) Group, supported on decisions by Independents, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.

Hertfordshire Councils

Hertfordshire County Council did not hold scheduled local council elections in May 2026. The council is controlled by the Liberal Democrats who run the council as a minority administration.

Following the May 2026 local elections, St Albans City & District Council remains in control by the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats have 44 out of the 56 seats. The council’s administration is also formed by the Liberal Democrats.

Dacorum Borough Council did not hold scheduled local council elections in May 2026. The council elects all its councillors every four years, and its next scheduled borough election is due in May 2027. The council is currently under no overall political control and is run by Liberal Democrat minority administration.

East Herts District Council did not hold local council elections in May 2026. The council is currently under no overall control and is run by a joint administration between Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Following the May 2026 elections, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council remains under no overall control. Labour and the Liberal Democrats will continue their coalition administration.

Hertsmere Borough Council did not hold local council elections in May 2026. The council is currently under no overall control, and the administration is formed by a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition after the Conservatives lost overall control.

Following the May 2026 local elections, Watford Borough Council is controlled by the Liberal Democrats. The party won all 12 seats contested in the elections and remain in control of the council and form the administration.

Following the May 2026 local elections, Three Rivers District Council has no overall control. The Liberal Democrats will continue to run the council as a minority administration.

North Herts Council did not hold local council elections in May 2026.The council has no overall control, and the administration is formed by a Labour minority.