Southend Is a Borough under pressure and within the Borough there are particular pressure points in terms of development, infrastructure, services, regeneration and the economy.

The Liberal Democrats are the party of community and pride themselves on working locally for local people and working with and for them to achieve their aspirations for the future and thus enhancing the wellbeing of all communities within the Borough.

I've been involved with Local Government in one way or another all my working life and have seen it from both the side of a Council employee and working for developers as a paralegal in a City law firm; and for the last 4 years as a Borough Councillor.

I'm not an extreme person. I like common sense and straightforwardness and I can't abide 'faff' and procrastination. I like a 'can do' attitude, even if in the end I find I can't. I am not afraid to stand firm and speak my mind but I have always been drawn to the principles of fairness, tolerance and community.

Now that the NHS has extended the consultation Period on the STP until 23 March more people, who have perhaps not ventured into the world of responding to consultations, have the chance to do so.

You can view all the documents and have your say about them on the Mid and South Essex Website - http://www.nhsmidandsouthessex.co.uk/

Notice of Motion

The effect of development on services in Leigh

Because of growing concern in Leigh the following motion by Carole and Peter will be considered at the next cabinet meeting at Southend

All members are aware of the rapid growth in development in Leigh, especially in flatted development. These problems are spreading in the Borough. particularly to areas close to the c2c railway stations.

Old Town pub music no fun for residents

Summer in the Old Town is enlivened by a succession of musical events at the pubs. But while visitors can listen, have an enjoyable time and then walk away, the residents of New Road and on the hill behind cannot.

They are listening to it most of the day and into the late evening, sometimes on both days of the weekends. If two or more pubs have amplified music outside they seem to compete with each other and the noise gets worse.

Traffic, and as a consequence, air pollution is increasing in Southend and particularly in Kursaal Ward.

With cars, lorries and vans pumping out noxious gases while crawling through our streets, major concerns have been expressed over the impact on the health of local residents in Sutton Road, Queensway, Southchurch Road, Southchurch Avenue and the Seafront. The Council seems only interested in meeting minimum national standards and not establishing better provisions for our community.

Still no sign of the sign

Summed up in one picture ... a government programme that has failed; a Council that is failing

We took this picture of the missing road sign at Lapwater Close on 20th June. Four months later in October the sign still has not been replaced.

In the summer edition of the Tory newsletter in West Leigh they claimed that the delay was not due to budget cuts ".but of course as road names are individual, each sign is specially made to order, which takes a little time.".

Why has Kursaal Ward become a political football?

It is being treated as a merry-go-round by all the other political parties, with two Councillors recently swapping sides in the Council chamber.

Was that really what you voted for?

The Lib Dems work consistently, as a dedicated team, across the Borough for the benefit of residents.

The Fight Goes on For Fair Catchment Areas!

• Council backtrack after protests

• New proposals still not good enough

• Academy Trust making waves

• New school still needed in Leigh

SOUTHEND COUNCIL's first thoughts on changing the catchment areas for North Street, West Leigh and chalkwell schools were met with a storm of protest from unhappy residents.

The Brexit negotiations are not going well and it is looking increasingly likely we will leave the European Union with no deal.

This is deeply worrying.

Half of Britain's trade is with Europe and the weakness of the pound compared to the euro is having a detrimental effect on businesses.

It is imperative that we stay in the "Single Market" thereby protecting trade and the millions of jobs that rely on it. Anything less and the whole country faces hard times ahead.