What is the purpose of a District Council, or any Council for that matter?
There are services that the Council are legally required to provide and there are other services that are optional and I think that it may be expedient to step back a little and consider exactly what outcomes our Residents truly want and whether we can find the means to deliver them.

Historically Councils were first formed and permitted to raise taxes to achieve two aims:
 
Provide homes and improve the welfare of the poor.
Resolve drainage problems which was the blight of the nation’s health especially in Towns and villages.

The Wickford Castledon Newsletter is now available to download

 We have both County and District Elections taking place in our Constiuency. It is very important for the wellbeing of our District and our County that we will give full support to our Representatives standing for Election.In Rayleigh we have John Flack for Rayleigh South; and Malcolm Maddocks for Rayleigh North; with Keith Hudson in Rochford West. Robin Dray will be standing for Rochford District in Whitehouse Ward, Rayleigh.Please look at the InTouch pages for more details about the Conservative candidates.
A framed commemorative picture of Margaret Thatcher will be available to purchase will all profits going to the Association. 

 Rochford District Council has successfully defended a legal claim against its Core Strategy. The Core Strategy - the key planning document for the entire District that sets out how the area will develop over the next 15 years, addressing issues such as housing, employment, town centre enhancements, and the environment, had been subject to a legal challenge by Cogent LLP. Following a court hearing in Cardiff at the end of May a judgment has now been issued which rules in favour of Rochford District Council.  

 Rochford District Council has successfully defended a legal claim against its Core Strategy. The Core Strategy - the key planning document for the entire District that sets out how the area will develop over the next 15 years, addressing issues such as housing, employment, town centre enhancements, and the environment, had been subject to a legal challenge by Cogent LLP. Following a court hearing in Cardiff at the end of May a judgment has now been issued which rules in favour of Rochford District Council. The legal challenge brought by Cogent Land LLP sought to quash certain policies namely; H1, H2, H3 and paragraphs 4.1 to 4.31 in the Core Strategy which relate to Housing. The Leader of Rochford District Council, Councillor Terry Cutmore, said: “This is fantastic news both for the Council and for residents who have been living with the uncertainty this latest legal challenge has brought.”  Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, Councillor Keith Hudson, said: “We're delighted, but not surprised to see that the Judge has agreed, in substance, with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that our plans are "sound" and "legally compliant". Rochford District Council's Core Strategy represents five years of hard work, proper community engagement and careful planning by both officers and Elected Members; it has undergone examination and scrutiny at every stage and has been found to be a robust document clearly setting out our plans for the future of the District. The Core Strategy has protected our residents from uncontrolled and unnecessary development in inappropriate locations for past years and will now continue to do so, looking to the future. I sincerely apologise to our residents whose homes and lives have been blighted by the uncertainty that has been brought about by the delays caused by the various court actions. Unfortunately the Council had no control over these events. 

Rayleigh Town Council is pleased to announce the official opening of the re-located
'Rayleigh Market' in Rayleigh Town Centre (taxi lagoon) , on Wednesday 4th January 2012
at 10 am. The market will be opened by the Chairman of Rayleigh Town Council, Cllr Mrs
Peggy Corbett, accompanied by the Right Honourable Mark Francois MP, Rayleigh Town
Councillors and other local dignitaries.
The Town Council wishes to express its gratitude for the support it has received from Essex
County Council and Rochford District Council, in arranging the smooth transition to the new
location.
The Town Council also wishes to acknowledge the support it has received from Mr Trevor
Day, and the other market traders, and taxi drivers located in Rayleigh High Street, for the
way they have worked together to ensure the success of the market.
Last but not least the council thanks the people of Rayleigh who supported the idea of the
proposed move, and the support that they have already given to the relocated market.

On Tuesday 2nd November 2011, at the full Council Meeting of Rochford District Council at the Civic Suite in Rayleigh, Councillor Keith Hudson, Portfolio Holder for Planning & Transportation, got to his feet to make this momentous announcement.
Chairman
“It has been a long time coming” - That was the first line of my speech to this Council on 9th September 2009 and how true those words have proven to be, but Chairman I am pleased to advise that the wait is over.
To quote Ms Laura Graham of the Planning Inspectorate “I find that the core strategy has complied with the legal requirements and is sound.”

The vast majority of our Residents are law-abiding and peace loving folk who want nothing more than to enjoy their lives in the comfort of their own homes living happily alongside their friends and neighbours. Occasionally we get someone who chooses to build something or to create a nuisance by operating a business in an inappropriate location or carry on some other un-neighbourly action, and this can destroy that peace and happiness we all seek. The Law clearly identifies what is permitted development and requires planning permission be obtained from the Planning Authority for all other construction and changes of use. We have a set of rules and regulations which help to guide Householders, Business Operators and Developers when determining what is acceptable and what is not.

Last Tuesday night (June 7) there was an extraordinary meeting of Rochford District Council to discuss car parking in the District. Following the meeting, Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, Councillor Keith Hudson, said: “One of the most important decisions the Council took last night was to reduce its minimum parking fee from 60 to 40 pence. This is to help our residents and visitors in these times of austerity, especially those who just want a short stay in our car parks to pick up a prescription or buy a loaf of bread or newspaper.

David Cameron said that there was still room for negotiation over pension reforms, but he insisted that unions “need to know that we will be very firm and very resolute in our approach”.
“Of course there’s negotiation over the details and we’ve had very constructive conversations with the unions. No one wants to have a confrontation, no one wants to see strikes, I certainly don’t want to see that happen.