TENDRING Council could gain control of the district’s streetlights, if ambitious devolution plans go ahead.

The move could also see responsibility for roads devolved to district, borough and city councils across the county.

Essex County Council is in talks about taking over some powers from Westminster.

In turn, County Hall bosses said they were prepared to hand some of their powers down to local authorities.

County council leader David Finch said responsibility for road maintenance and streetlights were some of the areas that could end up in local hands, if the bid gets the green light from Westminster.

He said: “Essex County Council is really open-minded to what that will mean to district, boroughs and city councils.

“It could mean localising the maintenance of roads.

“If we are going to get devolution from Government we, in turn, need to devolve down.

“If a district or borough comes forward and asks for, say, maintenance of roads, we are openminded because we believe in localism.”

Mr Finch added: “Equally, we would be open-minded if part of that devolution discussion was on part-night lighting. At the moment, the policy is what councillor Rodney Bass has set out.

“We are clear there will be conversations on those issues.

“If a local authority comes to us with a plan on how it could take responsibility, we would be open-minded to that.”

A County Hall spokesman added: “I think it’s fair to say if the ask is right, then the flexibility is there.”

At the moment, about twothirds of streetlights are switched off across the county.

Essex highways chief Rodney Bass has said Conservative policy said it was a “waste of public money” to keep lights on all night.

Tendring Council leader Neil Stock welcomed the idea. He said: “There are parts of Clacton and Harwich where people are really unhappy with streetlights being off, while in rural areas people mainly don’t want them on.

“Those kinds of decisions can be made more efficiently on the ground in Tendring than remotely from County Hall.

“They could give us the whole budget and responsibility for the operation of streetlighting.

“Mr Finch has taken that on board and said he will go away and look at that idea. I’m very optimistic about it.”

Mr Stock also welcomed plans for Tendring Council to take responsibility for potholes and grass-cutting.