Great Bardfield Parish Council  

'ESSEX VILLAGE OF THE YEAR 2009'

This year has been a very good year for Essex County Council and particularly good for the tax payer and service users.

Financially the County is in good shape with solid reserves and strong financial control. Council tax for 2008-09 was set at 4.2% against an annual RPI increase of 4.5%.

The efficiency programme initiated some 18 months ago has realised over £69 million for reinvestment in services.

Highways have moved into the top quartile of national indicators following 3 years of significant investment by the County in highways infrastructure. In addition the number of killed or seriously injured on Essex roads has dropped by 12% as a result of combined effort and investment by Essex County Council and Essex Police.

Adults Social Care achieved a 3 star rating, which puts Essex amongst the national top performers.

We have started a 3 year investment (£2.1 million) programme on public art in Essex.

Our waste strategy has been confirmed "good" by a commission of experts who judged our places as appropriate for County waste disposal. The future disposal of waste continued to be one of our hardest challenges if we are to avoid European fines for putting waste into land fill. We have to achieve high levels of recycling and find other affordable methods of disposal for the residual waste if we are to protect our environment for the future.

I am pleased to report that following the lobbying by Members, Highways have extended the salting to rural roads, and now all villages with greater than 50 houses have the roads in and out, salted in bad weather.

I am also pleased to report that lobbying for support to the parishes has resulted in the establishment of an insurance brokerage scheme for all Essex Parishes with potential savings of 15% on premiums.

Further investment by the County in Trading Standards has resulted in one of the best services nationally, and because I have responsibility for Trading Standards I have been able to encourage a focus on rural issues, such as lorries breeching the 7.5 ton limit on rural roads.

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Last modified: 10/28/09