ESSEX County Council’s Cabinet celebrates its first 100 days in office but is clear that this is just the beginning of its work to improve the lives of Essex residents.

Plans to address climate change, increased support for Essex businesses and improved technology for those living in isolation, are just some of the key initiatives that have been rolled out during the first 100 days of Essex County Council’s (ECC) new Cabinet. 

September 1st marked the first 100 days since Cllr Kevin Bentley was elected Leader of Essex County Council and introduced his new Cabinet, which is made up of ten Essex County Councillors, to residents. 

The work done over these 100 days sets the authority’s vision and its aims of renewal, equality and ambition for residents.

Back in May, Cllr Bentley set out his plan for the first 100 days, focused around Renewal, Equality and Ambition – three key themes he said would be the ‘guiding principles’ for everything ECC does.

Since then, Cabinet Members have had a busy but productive first 100 days in post, with the environment, the Essex economy and the health and wellbeing of residents just some of the key areas already seeing positive outcomes. 

Key activity and achievements from the first 100 days of ECC’s new Cabinet, include:

• repairing over one million square metres of roads and 40,000 square metres of footpaths and cycleways
• creating over 600 new roles for unemployed young people aged 18-24 as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme
• delivering four BT broadband contracts under Superfast Essex programme for a further 12,000 premises
• starting construction of the West Mersea temporary defence barrier scheme
• launching a new £500,000 fund to support community action on climate change
• working with the Essex Climate Action Commission (ECAC) to develop and publish the “Net Zero: Making Essex Carbon Neutral report
• launching the Active Essex “Find your Active” campaign, supported by a £1.25 million fund
• launching Essex Pedal Power, a £2.7million community-based project being piloted in Clacton and Jaywick Sands
• launching the new Essex Care Technology Service to support people with care needs access and use the latest technology to help them to live as independently as possible
• announcing the Essex Education Task Force which will invest £1million in reading over the next 18 months, to support children and young people affected by the loss of learning during the Covid-19 pandemic
• piloting construction methods designed to deliver net-zero, future proof, inclusive school buildings

Cllr Bentley, said: “Myself and the new Cabinet had clear areas we wanted to focus on; we are dedicated to great outcomes for our residents and our actions speak louder than words. 

“I am proud of what we have already achieved. The work over these 100 days will be translated into ‘Everyone’s Essex: the plan for Essex’ and the guiding policy for this council over the next four years.

“We had a strong legacy to build on, but we are not complacent. While we have seen so much positive change during our first 100 days, I am very clear that there is much more to come to deliver on our promises to the people of Essex.

“We have used the past few months to demonstrate our intentions and I look forward to continuing our work together to deliver positive outcomes for residents now and in the future.”

More information about the activity that has happened during the first 100 days of ECC’s Cabinet is available in the ECC 100 Day Summary.