Rochford District Council agrees its 2019/20 budget    (13/2/19)

Rochford District Council has set a budget for 2019/2020 which aims to deliver high quality services and value for money for residents.

The authority is seeking to build on its strong history of financial prudence and has identified savings of £400,000 for the next financial year through measures including the introduction of new income streams such as animal licensing and weddings at the ‘Old House’ in Rochford.

The residual funding gap of £300,000 has necessitated a small increase in Rochford District’s council tax for the 2019/20 financial year, which equates to 13 pence per week on a Band D property.

This means that there will be a 2.98% rise in the Council Tax element which goes to Rochford District Council, an increase from £223.65 in 2018/2019 to £230.31 in 2019/2020 for the average band D property.

Rochford District Council has also developed an innovative Asset Strategy which anticipates a reduction of future costs in excess of £300,000 a year over the medium term, through the rationalisation and regeneration of six of its strategic sites.

This will help ensure Rochford District remains in a sound financial position for the future, despite financial pressures including the removal of the Revenue Support Grant, population growth, inflation and increasing demand for its services.

In a recent Budget Survey, which ran for six weeks until January 13 2019, residents highlighted that they felt the Council should pursue income generation and act commercially where possible, whilst reducing costs and pursuing different ways of working. These responses were fed into the budget-setting process and the Council would like to thank all the respondents who took part.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Terry Cutmore, said: “We have a long history at Rochford District Council of being prudent with tax payers’ money, and have no current borrowing at all. This common sense approach continues with the setting of the budget for the 2019/2020 financial year.

“At the same time, we are always horizon-scanning, looking for new opportunities for economic growth that will benefit local residents and businesses alike, as well as supporting the finances of the Council. With this in mind, the authority has developed an innovative Asset Strategy for its six strategic sites, with the Outline Business Case for this programme set go to before Full Council later this month.”

Portfolio Holder for Finance, Cllr Simon Smith, said: “I would like to thank the Councillors from all parties and the council officers who have worked so hard to balance the budget for the 2019/2020 financial year. We have had to introduce a small increase to our element of the Council Tax this year however we do seek to keep costs as low as possible for residents while also providing the best service we possibly can.”

“Although we are the authority that collects Council Tax, the total bill residents pay funds not only the district council’s expenditure but also the police and fire services, as well as county, parish and town councils, who all set their own Council Tax rates.”

£4.5m awarded to south Essex for gigabit connectivity  (11/2/19)

Schools, GP surgeries, care homes and village halls across South Essex are set to enjoy from some of the fastest broadband connections in the UK thanks to a £4.5m boost secured by South Essex councils. Homes and local businesses are also expected to benefit from the programme. The broadband boost is the result of a successful bid to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) by South Essex councils working under the banner of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA). The funding will deliver improved connectivity to 214 sites in the South Essex corridor, including locations in Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford and Thurrock.  The money will help take gigabit speed broadband to rural and hard-to-reach areas of South Essex, with the expectation that this leads to broadband providers (ISPs) creating additional connections to local homes and businesses.

The funding will see the extension of gigabit fibre connectivity to a number of rural public sector sites within the corridor and in doing so will allow the private sector to build from this connectivity and supply homes and businesses in the vicinity.  

Cllr Louise McKinlay, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council and Chair of ASELA, said: “It is fantastic news that collectively we have secured funding that will have a huge impact on the whole of south Essex and start to improve local and regional infrastructure across the area. The power of connectivity is continuing to shape the way we work, live and play, and so it is very important that we continue to lead and innovate in the future. Whilst ASELA has only been formed for a short time now, the work that has already taken place shows the very positive impact that collaborative working and talking across district and borough boundaries can have across our region.”

Minister for Digital, Margot James, said: "We're building a Britain that's fit for the future, and our plans for a national full fibre broadband network underpin our modern Industrial Strategy. This £4.5 boost for gigabit speeds in South Essex will build on the tremendous work already being done by Superfast Essex and I congratulate ASELA on their successful bid."

Council devises programme for future of its key assets

11 January 2019

An innovative programme which seeks to re-develop Rochford District Council’s key assets will be discussed by Councillors this month. The proposals, to be considered by the Council’s Investment Board on January 16, anticipate a reduction of future costs in excess of £300,000 a year through the regeneration of six of its strategic sites.  The authority has worked with technical experts to draw up an ‘Outline Business Case’ which seeks to regenerate the Rochford District by improving the local area and facilities for residents and businesses, reduce future costs and generate revenue income streams.   This work revealed the scenario which would meet these objectives most closely would be to refurbish and extend the Freight House, in Rochford, to give this location a new lease of life in providing modern, more efficient offices for Council staff and partners, as well as a Chamber for Council meetings and a community space.

This would enable the Civic Suite, in Rayleigh, where Council meetings are currently held, to be re-developed for residential purposes or alternative use. It is further proposed that the Mill Arts & Events Centre, Rayleigh, would be re-developed with a suitable proportion of the ground floor retained for Council and community uses.  The programme would also see the Council’s main offices in South Street, Rochford, re-developed for residential purposes or alternative use and numbers 19 and 57, South Street, re-developed for residential purposes to help meet the local housing need.

A robust analysis revealed the proposed programme would be more cost-efficient than continuing to operate the existing buildings in their current form due to their age and the need for significant investment to continue to maintain them in future. When considering disposal of assets the Council would explore, on a site by site basis as part of the market engagement process, the potential for sites to be disposed of on a non-encumbered long lease or freehold arrangement.

The proposals are at an early stage, with a report to Investment Board proposing that a recommendation is made to Full Council for the approval of the Outline Business Case, with the authority proceeding to the procurement of a development partner. Following the procurement stage, a full business case would be completed with more detailed proposals for the key sites.  It is anticipated that the project would be completed by 2023, an indicative timeline which would be kept under review. Members of the public and stakeholders would be engaged with throughout the process. All facilities within the programme remain open at this time and both the Freight House and The Mill Arts And Events Centre continue to take bookings.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Cllr George Ioannou, said: "It makes sense for Rochford District Council to review its assets, not only from a financial perspective, but also to ensure we are seeking opportunities to regenerate and revitalise the local area to the benefit of our residents and businesses. Therefore, we engaged the services of technical experts to undertake a robust analysis of our six strategic sites, working closely with Councillors and Council officers to meet our objectives. The resulting Outline Business Case offers an opportunity to reinvigorate the Rochford District by re-developing these key sites, while also saving in excess of £300,000 a year by reducing our future costs. This case will now be taken to the Investment Board for consideration on January 16."

Calling local voluntary groups, charities and businesses!

14 January 2019

Rochford District Council’s annual Wild Woods Family Fun Day at Hockley Woods is taking place this year on Saturday 20 July 2019, sponsored by Fusion Lifestyle.  The council are offering voluntary and charitable organisations, artists, designers and craftspeople and businesses, the opportunity to have a market stall at the event to support the Wild Woods Day focus of recycling, sustainability and protecting the local environment. Organisations that produce up-cycled arts and crafts, organic goods, or promote green and healthy living are just some examples of the kind of stalls the council would like to attract to the event. The cost to hire a market stall for voluntary and charitable organisations is £20, Artists, Designers and Craftspeople £25, and for businesses to £30 - this includes your own market stall and cover.

For more information or to book your stall please contact Rochford District Council’s Leisure and Cultural Services Team via leisure@rochford.gov.uk or call 01702 318120. Please note that there is a limited amount of stalls available therefore if you would like a stall it would be best to get in touch as soon as possible. Even if you don’t want to be a part of the Marketplace, be sure to put the date in your diary and come and join us for one of the most popular events in the district’s calendar.

New video shows aerial footage of Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project!

1 November 2018

Breath-taking aerial footage of Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project is now available to view, after the RSPB created a video showcasing the 670 hectare ‘wetland for the future’. This nature reserve forms the UK’s largest coastal wetland restoration – twice the size of the City of London – and viewers can now head to https://www.rochford.gov.uk/wetlands to see it in its full glory.

This habitat is designed to encourage the return of species that historically bred in the UK, such as spoonbills and Kentish plover, as well as new breeding species like black-winged stilts. The site will also connect people with the wild coast of Essex and its heritage, with 17kms of paths and trails on completion.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Cllr George Ioannou, said: “It is only when you view the RSPB’s aerial footage of Wallasea Island that you truly comprehend the magnitude of this project, which forms the largest conservation and engineering scheme of its type in Europe. The images show how a new sea wall has been created, along with landscaped islands and lagoons, with the help of three million tonnes of material excavated from beneath London. I look forward to seeing the scores of birds, including Avocets, short-eared owls and hen harriers, which are now being attracted to this unique habitat.”

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