Our performance
Our 2010/11 Budget and Corporate Plan retained our commitment to providing the best quality of life in Britain and identified the key priorities and pledges to help deliver our vision.
National spending cuts started to take effect on local authorities in 2010/11, making it a difficult year from a financial perspective. But our focus on value for money and our service users meant we continued to make progress and deliver improved outcomes for our residents. Key achievements against our 2010/11 pledges are set out below and further information can be found on our 2010/11 Annual Performance page.
Our pledges
Every year, as part of the EssexWorks programme, we make a series of pledges to the Essex public that we commit to deliver by the end of the year. In 2010/11 we pledged to:
Increase sponsorship of new apprenticeships in Essex to over 1,000 by 2012
By 31 March apprenticeship opportunities had been provided to 1,369 young people in roles across the public sector, in small businesses in districts, in key industry sectors vital to the county’s economic growth and in the voluntary sector.
Recruit more foster carers and improve the support we offer them
In 2010/11 our fostering service approved 109 new fostering households. These approvals gave a positive net increase of 27 fostering households. Support to carers also increased.
Promote rural access and community transport throughout the county
We introduced ten shopper services, improving access to shopping and leisure in 27 rural communities.
Expand universal broadband throughout Essex
We sponsored a Maldon District superfast broadband pilot providing residents and businesses with next-generation access to the internet. Over 700 residents in the district have signed up to the FibreWiFi service provided by Buzcom. Buzcom, County Broadband and a number of other wireless providers have installed individual and community next-generation broadband solutions to a number of other areas.
Keep next year’s council tax increase below the level of inflation
The council tax set in 2010/11 for 2011/12 was set at £1,086.75 per Band D property, which is the same as the previous year.
Promote the establishment of a new generation of community orchards and allotments in Essex
We worked in partnership with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, the Woodland Trust and the Essex Wildlife Trust to provide 26 new or re-established allotments across Essex. The Woodland Trust distributed 66 orchard packs to schools throughout Essex.
Support and promote initiatives to rehabilitate offenders and provide payback to communities
In 2010/11, 2,194 offenders successfully completed unpaid work in Essex. The pledge projects contributed to part of this by focusing on community payback initiatives that supported the rehabilitation of offenders (eg short practical training courses run by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers to help probationers build confidence) and payback to communities (eg improvements to play areas in Harwich).
The following two pledges were continued from previous years
Increase waste recycling to over 50% by March 2012
Through collaborative working between Essex County Council, district and borough councils, the three-year recycling pledge was achieved at the end of the 2010/11, one year ahead of schedule.
Make Essex the safest place by 2012/13
There has been a 34% reduction in crime since the start of our pledge in 2007/08 (equivalent to 40,325 fewer incidents). In addition, a greater proportion of residents feel safe after dark, rising to 65% in 2010/11, up from 59% in 2009/10.