OUR PURPOSE 
  

The present

Rochford District Council’s Conservative administration has a straightforward public purpose: To provide better facilities and better services for all residents.

Some examples of recent new building and better services are: 

Leisure Centre, Rawreth Lane - Opened this year with badminton, squash, netball and tennis courts together with a skateboard area – enjoyment for children and residents of all ages. 

Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park - The largest park in the District – with over 20,000 trees. The Conservative Council intends to increase the size of this park even further by over 75 acres. 

Rayleigh Windmill - A unique feature of the District and generously financed by Thames Gateway. Adjoining the Windmill is a special garden for folk with poor eyesight. 

Handyman and Gardening Services - The District Council funds the gardening and handyperson services. Both schemes provide help to people over 60, those disabled and folk on low incomes. People assisted by the handyperson scheme have increased from 174 to over 300 this year. Likewise, gardening jobs have risen from less than 50 to over 350 in four years. 

Throughout the district the Council provides facilities for local people and visitors 

Anti-social behaviour - Conservative Councillors recognise that all members of society have a role to play if we are to defeat anti-social behaviour and return to the values that we all desire. One of the roles that our Council has adopted is to alter the “built environment”.

For example; one of our recent projects has been to provide a fenced enclosure to and re-site the recycling banks in Hockley Public Car Park; this together with fencing to provide a ‘buffer’ between gardens and the car park has greatly reduced the nuisance that the neighbouring residents have suffered; and in also has provided a clearer and brighter thoroughfare along the footway; this obtained the approval of our neighbourhood Police team who were concerned that pedestrians had previously not felt safe.

Where necessary we will take similar action through out the district.      

Our Environment - With our district wide kerbside recycling service and conveniently positioned recycling banks; Rochford Council is helping to secure a bright and healthy future for our children and our children’s children. 
 
 Housing - Rochford Conservative Councillors will forever be the guardians of our most precious resource; our countryside, our green and pleasant land. At the same time we recognise the needs of our growing population. We will always ensure that we make the best possible use of the land that is available to us for the benefit of our residents and their children. 
 
 
 

The future 
 

Everyone expects, quite rightly, up-to-date facilities and services through out the District. Rochford Conservative Councillors – and their officers – will continue to do their utmost to achieve these highest standards.

Nonetheless, there must be a balance between spending and the amount of Council Tax from residents. We shall demand value for money from every pound collected and spent. The money collected through local Taxation must not be used for frivolous and unnecessary projects.

We have vigorously kept a stringent financial policy for the past four years. We shall continue to do so in the future 

This is a Conservative promise 
 
 

                                          Terry Cutmore, Leader

                                          Keith Hudson, Deputy Leader