Essex county council looks back on four years of achievement

Everyone’s Essex was laid out by Leader of the Council Councillor Kevin Bentley in 2021 as a roadmap to 2025.

It pledged to make a real difference to the lives of residents with:

• A strong, inclusive and sustainable economy
• A high-quality environment
• Health, wellbeing and independence for all ages
• A great place for children and families to grow

Essex residents have been through extraordinary events since Everyone’s Essex was published. This includes the Covid-19 pandemic, cost-of-living crisis and conflicts around the globe.

The council is pleased to have been able to make good on every one of its 20 commitments, as outlined in its new report.

Fulfilled commitments include but are not limited to:

• £50 million Cost of Living Support Programme

• 400,000 sq m of extra road resurfacing and 2,000 drainage, vegetation and signage improvements with £25 million Priority One programme

• 17,000 Adult Community Learning opportunities delivered

• Outstanding Ofsted rating for Children’s Social Care – the only local authority to achieve Outstanding in every area

• £250 million Essex Climate Action Plan

• £218 million for the North East Bypass and Beaulieu Park Railway Station, easing congestion and boosting green travel

• £10 million for Connect to Work, supporting 7,800 unemployed residents facing barriers such as disability or health issues

• Over 80 organisations awarded grants through the Arts and Cultural Fund to allow over 400,000 residents access to funded activities

• Delivered 52 private homes, 22 affordable homes and 10 specialist units, plus a new library and commercial space

These examples show what can be achieved by working with partners across the county for the people of Essex. However, there is always more room for development, even with the ambition set out in Everyone’s Essex.

Devolution in Greater Essex opens up more of these opportunities. It means more power would be given to local people, with important decisions made locally for the benefit of communities across Greater Essex.

Councillor Bentley said: “Everyone’s Essex is all about making sure residents get what they vote for and ensuring promises are kept.

“Residents have been through unprecedented times with the Covid-19 pandemic, cost-of-living crisis and conflicts around the globe. Despite this, I am pleased to see a real difference has been made to people’s lives.

“From being the only local authority to achieve an Outstanding rating in every Children’s Social Care category to delivering 400,000 sq m of extra road resurfacing, there has been wide-ranging progress over the last four years. This is thanks to the hard work of our services and for Essex residents making clear where their priorities are.

“This is just the beginning. Devolution is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring more power to local people, with important decisions about Greater Essex made in Greater Essex. I look forward to progressing our plan so we can present it to the government.”