Essex Councillors' Blog
Installation and Welcome of the new Bishop of BradwellFri, 03 Feb 2012 09:23:44 +0000 Week commencing 29.01.2012 I have been office based since the start of the year and as this is my first Blog of 2012 may I wish everyone a belated Happy New Year. On Sunday I attended the Installation and Welcome at Chelmsford Cathedral of the new Bishop of Bradwell – Bishop John Wraw. He succeeds the Rt Revd Dr Laurie Green who retired in February 2011. The Bradwell Episcopal Area comprises Brentwood, Basildon, Chelmsford, Maldon and Dengie, Hadleigh, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock and Rochford. The Cathedral Service was a very moving and also very well attended occasion and afterwards over refreshments I had the chance to meet the new Bishop and to mingle with the other guests. The rest of this week is again office based with many meetings including Highways issues, preparations for the Queen’s Jubilee and Judging applications for the High Sheriff’s Awards. |
Rochford, Maldon, Epping Forest and County Hall’s Christian Fellowship Carol Services, Council Meeting and Annual Regional Chairmen’s lunchMon, 19 Dec 2011 13:33:48 +0000 Week commencing 11.12.2011 I have attended 4 Civic Carol Services this week. The first was Rochford District Council’s Service held in Rayleigh on Sunday evening. On Wednesday evening I attended Maldon District Council’s Service and also read a Lesson. On Thursday I attended the Christian Fellowship Service at County Hall and again read a Lesson and on Friday evening I was at Epping Forest District Council’s Service in Loughton. All four Services were very happy and joyful occasions. On Tuesday I chaired the meeting of the full Council and on Thursday I hosted a Christmas Buffet for my fellow Councillors and senior staff who have worked with and assisted me throughout the year. On Friday, I hosted a Lunch which is held annually for the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Regional County Councils. This event is one that we very much look forward to as we have a frank exchange of views and share ideas and plans for the future. This will be my last blog until January – may I wish you all a good Christmas and New Year. |
Opening of Roscommon Way and Celebration of joint working at Writtle LibraryFri, 09 Dec 2011 10:25:36 +0000 Week commencing 03.12.2011 On Tuesday morning, with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Tracey Chapman, I opened the Roscommon Way Extension on Canvey Island. The Roscommon Way Extension Scheme (RWE) is a vital element for the regeneration of Canvey Island, and an integral part of a more general improvement strategy for the Thames Gateway region, which includes the recently opened Basildon Enterprise Corridor and the Sadlers Farm Junction Project, which is due for completion in spring 2012. Essex County Council (ECC) has worked in partnership with Castle Point Borough Council and other key organisations in South Essex to pursue opportunities to regenerate the Borough, and in particular Canvey Island and, together with the Government, ECC has invested some £18m in the scheme. Funded via the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) and ECC, the new Roscommon Way Extension is a new highway which provides a more strategic and direct access to the Charfleets Industrial Estate and industrial sites at the lower end of Haven Road. The highway runs around the south-west and south of the island giving improved access for businesses and residents, and reducing traffic congestion on existing roads particularly heading towards the town centre. The scheme will enable further development to take place and will assist in providing up to 1,650 additional jobs. Having now completed Phase 2 of the scheme, Essex County Council will continue to work with partners to secure funding for Phase 3. On Tuesday afternoon I cut a ribbon to officially open the Post Office within Writtle Library for a celebration of the joint working between the two organisations. The Post Office is now up and running within the Library and it has proved to have benefits for both. Bringing the two services together provides convenience, extended opening hours to the Library and both parties signpost each others services. Writtle Library visits are up as they are finding that new customers who use the Post Office are also using the Library. Along with the Local Member, Councillor John Aldridge, we were able to thank everyone who has been involved in this very worthwhile project. |
Chinese delegation visit, Opening of Lawling Park Hall ExtensionMon, 05 Dec 2011 08:35:07 +0000 Week commencing 27.11.2011 On Tuesday evening I welcomed a visiting Chinese delegation of senior Party Members and Municipal Government Departmental Heads from Wuxi City. They had been attending a short course at the Essex University and at the end of their course, before returning home, they came to County Hall for a visit. I welcomed them to Chelmsford and to County Hall and then gave them a tour of our historical Council Chamber. I also joined them for dinner afterwards. On Friday lunchtime I met some of our former Members who had come to County Hall for a Christmas Lunch. It was lovely to have the opportunity to see so many old friends and the chance to catch up with them. On Saturday, with Cllr Peter Spires, Chairman of the Lawling Park Committee we jointly opened the extension to Lawling Park Hall. Mayland Parish Council had arranged an Open Day so that the local people and all of those who helped with the funding could visit. Essex County Council had given money from the CIF fund and the other funders were the Essex Environment Trust, Maldon District Council, Mayland Parish Council and Fowler Smith and Jones Charitable Trust. |
New Magistrates, Royal Visit, Rayleigh Christmas Lights, Civic Dinner and Civic ReceptionMon, 28 Nov 2011 11:33:00 +0000 Week commencing 20.11.2011 On Tuesday afternoon in the Council Chamber at County Hall I attended the Swearing In Ceremony for new Magistrates. This Ceremony is an annual high profile event organised by the Lord Chancellor’s Essex Advisory Committee and is attended by the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Mayors and Mayoresses, Crown Court Judges, Chairmen of the Benches and officials of the Courts Service, as well as the new Magistrates (usually 35-40 of them) and their guests. The dignitaries wear their ceremonial clothing and I sit on the “top table” in the Council Chamber, alongside the Lord Lieutenant. My role was to open proceedings by welcoming everyone to County Hall and to the Council Chamber. After the Ceremony there was the chance to meet everyone over a cup of tea. On Wednesday I attended a Royal Visit by HRH The Earl of Wessex. The Earl was visiting three venues in Essex – Zinc Arts in Ongar, The Brentwood School and the Grange Farm Trust, Chigwell. I was at Brentwood School where, after meeting His Royal Highness, myself and other civic guests joined the Chairman of Governors and the Headmaster for a buffet lunch with His Royal Highness before he toured the School’s new Sixth Form Centre and then formally Opened it. It was a pleasure to meet His Royal Highness again at such an enjoyable occasion. On Thursday evening at the invitation of the Chairman of Rayleigh Town Council I attended their Christmas Lights event. It was a lovely evening with stalls and entertainment all along the High Street (which was closed to traffic) and I had a very enjoyable evening, meeting many local people. On Friday I attended a lunch at the Invitation of the Refinery Manager of the Petroplus Coryton Refinery where I had the opportunity to meet key stakeholders, business contacts and members of the local community in a relaxed and informal setting. The speaker after lunch was Stephen Metcalfe MP. The lunch was a very enjoyable and informative occasion. In the evening I attended Basildon Council’s Civic Dinner at the invitation of the Mayor, Councillor Mo Larkin. The dinner was held at the Towngate Theatre and was attended by many of my civic colleagues from around the County. On Saturday evening the Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Joan Holmes, invited me to her Christmas Civic Reception in Brentwood which was another enjoyable event. |
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