The key purpose of the 2013/14 annual report is to show where we spent taxpayers' money during the year; demonstrate our progress in delivering against the priorities set out in our 2012-17 Corporate Plan; and the positive impact our achievements have had for the residents and businesses of Essex. Included within the annual report is a summary of our statement of accounts.

• 33 more 'good' or 'outstanding' primary schools by the end of the 2013 summer term compared to the previous year, and nine more 'good' or 'outstanding' secondary schools
• Stimulating economic growth which has helped see 7,346 fewer 16-64 year-olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance compared to March 2013 – a reduction of 27 per cent
• 257 fewer 16-19 year-olds not in education, employment or training than the previous year
• 460 young people who have benefited from the Essex Apprenticeship Programme (phase 2) have moved into jobs, further education or a higher level apprenticeship.
• Making Essex a safer place with 2,177 fewer crimes recorded by the end of December 2013 compared to December 2012
• 112 children adopted from care - 41 more than 2012/13
• A reduction in the number of people injured on Essex roads by 132 and those killed or seriously injured by 30 compared to 2012
• 32 businesses received free specialist support through the Essex Innovation Programme – helping people with innovative business ideas as well as established small companies looking to grow and reach new markets – with 75 new businesses also signing up to the scheme
• The opening of Springfield Library, Chelmsford, as part of a partnership project with Springfield Parish Council
• The expansion of Sandon Park and Ride, Chelmsford site to 1,425 spaces making it one of the biggest publicly run park and ride schemes in the country
• Securing over £11m of pinchpoint funding from the government to tackle congestion bottlenecks across the county
• 138 new sports coaches funded across 20 sports and seven disability sports clubs created
• Becoming the first social care organisation to receive funding from the Health Foundation. The funding is supporting a two-year programme to improve the safety of residents in Essex care homes and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions

 

You can also learn about what we achieved against our priorities in 2012/13.