Cllrs Ault and Staines

14/09/2026

With LGR on hold is now the time to go for Unitary?
In the 90's Braintree District couldn't be like Southend, Thurrock (and most of Greater Manchester).

Some AI history support included

12/09/2026

What will replace LOCAL HIGHWAY PANELS?

We have asked our County Cllr Carl to let us know how, in future, Communities will be able to submit schemes for local road improvements i.e. signs, green lanes, speed / weight restrictions, Tourist Routes, crossings, parking mgt, cycle routes etc...[Capital Expense]

💩Having been to Local Highway Panels - I found them deeply dissatisfactory. Lots of hard work by communities to address local concerns was first tested by officers against an ever reducing budget* and RAG'd - then sometimes - put to a vote of the limited number of Cllrs that attended to A) proceed (to the next stage) or B) go in the bin 🗑️. Meetings of under 1 hr at roughly erratic 3-6 month intervals.

NO ranked standby list of projects per area was maintained that would allow "strong" schemes to be revisited if the budget situation improved (🏘️e.g. A NEW DEVELOPMENT COULD FUND IT FROM S106 developer contributions🏘️ ) - they just got taken off the list and put in the bin 🗑️ (a frightful waste as the underlying local issue still persisted and BDC planners were given nothing to work with from ECC).

What got approved and what was binned 🗑️was very political.

*To make things worst - the last administration established a "Chair's Panel" - this UPPER Panel 🍒cherry picked bigger budget projects (and kept the bulk of the overall budget for itself taking funds from Braintree and other LHP budgets) - further reducing the effectiveness of Local Highways Panels to communities - resulting in even more hard work and hope of local improvement just ending up in the 🗑️

I hope that County Cllr Mark Webster will 👂🏻CONSULT 👂🏻with communities and their local representatives to reimagine how they can engage effectively with Essex Highways for 🛣️NEW Capital Schemes and 🚧 MAINTENENANCE [REVENUE Expense] works in Track It - improving effectiveness and efficiency of ECC Highways overall. 🚧We have lots of constructive ideas!

ECC highways is budgeted to spend >£100m on annual maintenance alone - UK Govt grants currently heavily fund Essex road maintenance >£170m thru 2030.

In contrast ALL ECC LHPs had a COMBINED BUDGET OF just £6m in a 2 year rolling program.

In 2024 / 25 Braintree's Local Highways Panel spent just £177K from a bigger budget of £203K.

Guess the unallocated LHP's money has helped fund ECC's £7.5m Pothole Emergency fund?

What will replace LOCAL HIGHWAY PANELS to better enable communities to positively shape their areas?

11/09/2026

How could UK Govt boost tourism investment in Essex?

👀Not a Mayor in sight or a new Tax needed
👀Suggest using a fraction of the LOCAL VAT already taken
👀UK VAT takings would be boosted with local success

11/09/2026

🏘️Have other Essex Planning Authorities pushed-back on UK Govt housing targets?

🏘️YES - CASTLE POINT has - they are slightly ahead of Braintree District in the process.

Their initial 2 day hearing finished this week (9 Sept).

🎯The hearing focused on the overall housing allocation for the Borough and how many homes should be built in the area between now and 2043.

🔽UK Govt wants Castle Point to take 11,662 homes in the period. [Braintree's target is 19,000] but Castle Point argued for a much lower figure of 6,196.

Details
🎯Castle Point demonstrated its evidence base for a LOWER Target based on LOCAL NEED [BDC has not calculated its own LOCAL NEED figure to-date]

What's next?
🤔The Inspector will assess whether the Castle Point Plan is sound - using new UK Govt Rules re Planning Policy plus considering whether the Plan has been positively prepared, is justified by the available evidence, and is capable of being delivered.

🤔Following the hearing the Inspectors will decide the RIGHT number of homes to be built in Castle Point and then go onto consider other aspects of the Plan.

👨🏼‍⚖️Once concluded, the Inspectors will rule whether they believe the Plan to be sound.
✔️If found to be "sound" (with a lower than UK Govt target) then it will be adopted by the Council.
❓Alternatively, the Inspectors could require the Plan to be modified including including imposing a higher housing figure.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1390591256587440&set=a.246122754367635&locale=en_GB

The strongest possible defence of the Castle Point Plan has been made during the initial two-day Hearing.

Read our full statement: https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/w/first-stage-of-castle-point-plan-examination-concludes

09/09/2026

Can't let this go unchallenged

08/09/2026

🏘️With Essex reorganisation paused and inter-council diaries freed-up we're suggesting NOW could be the IDEAL time to 🏘️CONVENE planning authorities across 🏘️ESSEX and push back on MHCLG's Top-down Housing Targets (that won't be met / may not be legal?) together 🏘️AND to try and secure a lower TARGET based on LOCAL NEED - BEFORE revised 🏘️LOCAL PLANs are required to be submitted?

🎯The inter council diary looks pretty free now - go for it!
🎯Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Govt [MHCLG] are on the ropes...
🎯Essex doesn't need a Mayor - it needs its councils to work together for residents - not Newsnight polls...

07/09/2026

Who dragged Essex into this 💩 without a plan or Vote? 🔵
Who decided Mayors are the answer? 🔴
When will 2m Essex residents decide how they should be represented not just be playthings / cash machine of the big parties plans? 🗳️

You could not make it up 👇

UK Govt
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-of-local-government-reorganisation-launched

Local Govt Association
https://www.local.gov.uk/about/news/local-government-reorganisation-review-lga-statement

Essex County Council
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1c89TEXMK7/
Finance or local representation - ECC's Leader is very clear - its not about better local representation - "its about lowest possible costs"

Review launched into plans to streamline local government, to ensure it is robust and aligns with new government priorities.

04/09/2026

Finchingfield 3 Legged Race SUN 13 Sept - 🏃‍♀️Times & Running Order🏃‍➡️

❤️3 Fields

🏃‍♀️ Registration: 3-Legged Race 🏃‍♂️

Registration for all race categories will open from 12 noon on the day of the race.

🏆 Race categories:
- Kids Race
-Adults 18+
-Fun Dog Show

👯‍♂️ Adult race costume ideas:
-Dynamic duos: Batman & Robin, Shrek & Donkey, Salt & Pepper
-Historical figures: Kings & Queens, Vikings or medieval characters
-Superheroes: Choose your power couple
-Animals: Zebras, giraffes or your own mythical creature
-Movie characters: Show off your favourite film pairs

This year, we also have a prize for the best costume, so it’s time to get creative!

📍 Location: Finchingfield Village Green
⏰ Time: 1pm–5pm
📅 Date: Sunday 13 September 2026

Tag a friend you’d race with!

04/09/2026

Roll-up roll-up - lash yourself to a friend and take on the WORLD FAMOUS Finchingfield 3 Legged Race - register today!

❤️3 Fields