Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative:
“I know how much pride Essex residents take in where they live, so I’m pleased to announce this additional investment for our highways. Not only will the funding mean we can carry out more priority repairs and maintenance work, but it will also allow us to bring forward some of our surfacing and patching schemes.”
He also highlighted the notable increase in pothole repairs across Essex in the last year, attributing the improvement to both the council’s additional investments and the diligent efforts of their maintenance crews. The council anticipates that this new funding will further strengthen their achievements in the upcoming financial year.
This highway funding is part of Essex County Council’s 2024/25 budget plan, which also received approval during the meeting. The plan outlines the allocation of over £2 billion across four key areas: economy, environment, children and families, and health, care, and wellbeing for individuals of all ages.
Councillor Kevin Bentley, Leader of the Council, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to serving the Essex community:
“We will never stop doing our best for the people of Essex, it’s what they deserve. We have shown this as an administration time and again by protecting essential services and through our continued investment in areas such as the county’s infrastructure, our outstanding children’s services and our work to Level Up opportunities and reduce inequalities.”
Councillor Chris Whitbread, Chancellor of Essex, praised the council’s financial management and the strategic focus on resident priorities:
“We are one of the highest performing councils in the country and continue to invest in new services where many other authorities are having to reduce their spending. I am proud that we have once again achieved a balanced budget. This hasn’t happened by chance and is testament to our strong track record in financial management and our desire to put people at the heart of our decision-making.”
He acknowledged the challenges ahead, including the need to increase Council Tax to meet the demands of significant pressures facing local government. The commitment to responsible action and decision-making on behalf of Essex residents remains paramount.
source: Essex County Council
