8th June 2018: Family Theatre Fun Comes To Rayleigh

You don’t need to travel all the way to the West End anymore to experience the fun and excitement of the theatre.

Why not treat your little ones to some special performances of Rochford District Council’s affordable family theatre shows at The Mill Arts & Events Centre, Rayleigh Windmill and the Windmill Garden. This year we not only have visiting theatre companies but the council will be transforming the famous Rayleigh windmill into a Christmas grotto where look a like ‘Queen Elsa’ and ‘Santa’ will making a special appearance.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff : Sunday 10th June, 12:30pm Garlic Theatre, Rayleigh Windmill Garden: Recommended age 3-6 years

This is the simple story of three hungry goats and a grumpy old troll, told with a gentry ecological message. Watch out for the dance of the goats, the flying troll and loads and loads of rubbish.

Garlic Theatre created a magical world to entrance and delight a young audience. With puppets, live music, storytelling and singing. From the company that brought you ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ and ‘Jack and the Beans Talk’ The two performances shall take place open air in the garden behind Rayleigh Windmill, as part of the Trinity Fair festivities.

Susannah and the Sunflower: Sunday 2nd September, 11am Ripstop Theatre, The Mill Arts and Events Centre

Recommended age 3+

A gardener who dreams of flowerbeds full of colourful blooms but can’t seem to make anything grow. She has spent all her money on seeds and now must sell her cow, Petal, if she is to have anything to eat. Is this the end of her dreams to become The Best Gardener Ever? Or will she be tempted one last time by some Magic Seeds?

Following in the footsteps of Jack and the Beanstalk, she enters a fantastical shadow world where garden tools, twine and gloves transform into magical objects; a singing harp from a bamboo cane and a chicken out of garden twine. Will she escape from the Giant that lives in the Cloud Castle? And will the magic still work once she gets back home? A celebration of the magic of growing things and dreaming big for everyone over three years.

Rochford District Council present Look a Like Queen Elsa and Santa’s Windmill Grotto, Rayleigh Windmill

Sunday 16th December Performances at 11 am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Running time: 40 minutes

 

Come and join our Snow Queen inside her magical grotto at Rayleigh Windmill. Where she will read Christmas tale, followed by a special meet and greet. Santa shall also be making a pit stop from making toys to visit the Windmill and give every child who visits a Christmas gift! Come and get into the Christmas Spirit at Rayleigh Windmill.

Cllr Mike Webb, Portfolio Holder for the Community says “We are thrilled that we have a new set of affordable shows for everyone to enjoy in different locations around Rayleigh. If you have not been to any of our family theatre shows before, you are in for a treat! They are very popular with the public so if you would like tickets for you and your family sign up now as they wont be around for long”

With tickets costing just £4.50 per person, excluding The Three Billy Goats Gruff, which is free of charge - there has never been a better opportunity for some family theatre fun!

 

To book tickets please ring customer services on 01702 318191.

8th June 2018: Voluntary Groups in the district receive more than £45,000 funding

Rochford District Council has provided more than £45,000 in funding to support local voluntary sector groups as part of its voluntary sector grants scheme.

The money will help 17 organisations which benefit the local community in a variety of different ways, including the provision of activities for young people, older people, carers and those with disabilities.

Rayleigh, Rochford and District Association for Voluntary Service (RRAVS) have been allocated £15,000 to support the local voluntary and community sector.

Cllr Mike Webb, Portfolio Holder for the Community at Rochford District Council says: “We are thrilled that despite budget pressures we have still managed to allocate and provide funding to assist these organisations to run their services which support our residents. The funding will assist them with key-projects which may have been difficult to get up and running if it was not for the voluntary sector grant funding. This funding will benefit all of our residents who use voluntary group services across the district as well as will improve local facilities and benefit our most vulnerable residents.”

Victoria Marzouki, Partnership & Development Manager for RRAVS says: “RRAVS are grateful for the support from Rochford District Council which enables us to support local groups and residents who need it the most.  Volunteering in the community is important to us as not only does it make a difference to people’s lives but also enables the people in the community to learn and develop new skills. If you would like more information, please contact us on 01268 772796.”

For further information please contact Andrew Lowing, Strategic Partnership Officer at Rochford District Council, on 01702 318061 or e-mail andrew.lowing@rochford.gov.uk

Friday 1 June 2018: South Essex Councils set out vision for region’s growth

Councils across South Essex have agreed a common approach to supporting the development of housing and key infrastructure over the next twenty years.

The Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) – which is made up of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Essex County, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, and Thurrock Councils - has drafted a ‘Statement of Common Ground (SCG)’. This sets out the next steps and is an important part in focusing economic growth across the region. 

This, along with preparing a Joint Strategic Plan for South Essex would assist future plans for development to ensure new transport links, health and social infrastructure, business and skill opportunities are all included and will ensure that the 90,000 homes that have been identified as being need across south Essex over the next twenty years are built. 

Cllr Louise McKinlay, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council and Chair of ASELA, says: “We are working collectively and across our district borders for our vision for South Essex’s future. This is not just about providing more housing, it’s about much more than that. It’s looking at developing new and improved transport links and roads, new health, medical and care facilities, schools and creating business and skill opportunities across South Essex to support a growing economy. All of this needs to be part of the proposals very early on. Our aim is to get the best for our residents over the next 20 years and ensure they can take advantage of the exciting opportunities and new jobs that we can expect in the future. We are committed to working together to take a coordinated and joined up approach and will make a very clear case to Government to provide funding for the major infrastructure that South Essex will need in order to grow.”

Background:

The Government is looking to local authorities to prepare Statements of Common Ground as part of a new Local Plan process, and more specifically, to provide the main evidence to demonstrate that strategic planning matters have been dealt with effectively and the legal provisions of the ‘Duty to Cooperate’ have been met.  ASELA have been a national pilot for the new process and are the first collective of local authorities to reach this stage of the new process.

Between the six local authority areas, 4,500 homes need to be built each year over the next 20 years (90,000) to meet Government housing targets.

The Statement of Commons Ground is going through the respective councils democratic process and can be viewed on https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/agendas-minutes-library - select ‘Special Council (NLP)’ pdf and scroll to appendix C.

The Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) consists of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Essex County, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, and Thurrock Councils.

All seven councils have recognised the need to work across borders on strategic issues such as infrastructure, planning and growth, skills, housing and transport connectivity. An MoU was signed on 10 January 2018.

The Statement of Common Ground looks at the next steps – including how the joint strategic plan will be put together. After this, the South Essex Spatial Strategy will be published; this will identify areas for growth, infrastructure and housing. It will go out to public engagement in 2019 and is designed to help deliver future growth and local plans. 

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JUNE 2018

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