Southend Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce that Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has agreed a budget that delivers on our key priorities, including:
A 'game-changing' £50 million over 5 years into upgrading our roads and pavements.
£3.6 million a year for the most vulnerable in the Borough through the Adult and Children's Social Care budgets.
An extra £53 million planned investment in new and upgraded council housing in Southend.
Investment in our town centre, including through the purchase of the Victoria Centre.
Investment in our Pier - with new British-built, environmentally friendly electric trains coming for this summer.
My Group would like to state that we have not wasted valuable officer time in submitting an alternative budget or indeed tinkering with amendments. Should our status change in May we would look to work within this budget - until we've set our own.
We would also state that we agree with keeping Council Tax to the recommended 0% increase. At the current time, this is the very least we can do
for our residents, especially those who have faced unexpected financial challenges through no fault of their own. We request a separate vote relating
to that part of the Agenda.
Extra funds for climate action in Essex, pavements, mental health + young people were proposed today by Essex Liberal Democrats. The proposals were tabled at the Essex County Council budget meeting on 23 February.
The Lib Dem proposals:-
Climate Change action
Promote a sustainable approach to growth, development and a low carbon future.
Implement measures to improve the green infrastructure of Essex and increase biodiversity.
Improve the environmental quality, attractiveness and recreational potential of public spaces in ECC ownership.
Implement measures to reduce waste, lower energy consumption and improve air quality in identified hot spots and introduce Clean Air Zones.
During a visit to "The Elms" development at the Mountnessing roundabout prior to the start of the covid pandemic, Darryl Sankeyand the Lib Dem team had discussions with many local residents about the serious environmental issues facing the local community and the excessive fees charged by the appointed management companies. We also spoke about the lack of support residents have had from Brentwood Borough Council and Weston Homes
who built the development.
Extra funds for climate action in Essex, pavements, mental health + young people were proposed today by Essex Liberal Democrats. The proposals were tabled at the Essex County Council budget meeting on 23 February.
The Lib Dem proposals:-
Climate Change action
Promote a sustainable approach to growth, development and a low carbon future.
Implement measures to improve the green infrastructure of Essex and increase biodiversity.
Improve the environmental quality, attractiveness and recreational potential of public spaces in ECC ownership.
Implement measures to reduce waste, lower energy consumption and improve air quality in identified hot spots and introduce Clean Air Zones.
Update on Just how does public money end up in the pockets of Cummings' friends?
"This agency is the one who are Dom Cummings / Lee Cain's mates, and hence getting all our work with no contract BUT are also spending much money on doing all our ridiculous groups".
These are the words of the Head of Insight and Evaluation for the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Office, describing a Government contract handed to friends of Dominic Cummings. It's just one of several explosive emails revealed in yesterday's hearing of our judicial review of the decision to award the contract without tender.
Dedicated and experienced councillor Karen Chilvers is to stand in her beloved Brentwood West ward on 6 May 2021, having first won it in 2007. Karen has worked tirelessley with residents since then and has a strong record of action and achievement.
Karen, 49, a marketing manager turned children's author, said
Halcyon Place is the new name for the road off London Road, Brentwood, that formerly contained Brentwood Police Station.
Cllr Karen Chilvers came up with the name when on holiday with her dog on a farm in the Essex countryside. She explains:
"So many road names have links to the military or people long forgotten in the midsts of time. Perhaps I felt partiularly relaxed the day officers asked ward councillors to approve a road name but I decided to resist some spurious suggestions that had been made about medievel custom and look forwards to, hopefully, a better future.
Chelmsford City Council projected a shortfall of £7.55 million for 2021-22, having also lost £16.5m from normal income in 2020-21. The Government promised last April 'full support', but instead left the Council £5m short. All other councils are in a similar position.
So Chelmsford Council must cut costs and find income to legally balance the books. One of these tough choices to bring in new income is parking charges at Hylands Park. Which is a better choice than cutting key services (such as closing down the museum or the theatre, or not running holiday events for children) or charging for collecting brown bins or collecting extra bins or clinical waste (as some other councils have). All of these would have had a negative impact on residents.
Extra funds for climate action in Essex, pavements, mental health + young people were proposed today by Essex Liberal Democrats. The proposals were tabled at the Essex County Council budget meeting on 23 February.
