CRESSING PARISH COUNCILBraintree District Council update
Beat the street finally launched in Braintree
This week the Beat the Street campaign has launched in our district, and it has already been a great success, with more than 5,000 participants so far!
This engaging community initiative is designed to encourage people of all ages to become more physically active.
It transforms our district into a giant, interactive game where participants earn points by walking, cycling or scooting between “Beat Boxes” strategically placed throughout the community.
Everyone is welcome to join, both as an individual or in a group. There are also lots of prizes up for grabs.
Greater Essex Devolution… what does it really mean?
You may have heard discussions locally about devolution plans for Greater Essex, and wondered what does it actually mean?
Devolution means that the UK government gives more control and money to local councils, so they can make decisions and manage services closer to residents.
Now that Greater Essex is part of the Devolution Priority Programme, a new Mayoral Combined County Authority could be formed for Greater Essex by May 2026. This is a legal body set up using national legislation, with its own board and governance arrangements. This will enable a group of two or more councils to collaborate and make collective decisions across council boundaries.
The UK government intends for Greater Essex to have a directly elected Mayor for the Combined County Authority, who would have the ability to speak directly to government ministers, ensuring local concerns are heard, and secure funding for local projects.
Find more information about the role of a Mayor online.
Devolution could bring many opportunities to Greater Essex, including improved local services, better transport links, and more tailored economic growth strategies. Decisions for Greater Essex could be made closer to home, impacting you and your community.
Find more information about what devolution could mean for you.
Play area refurbishments across Braintree district
Recently we have completed some refurbishments at play areas in Braintree and Halstead.
Play areas in Meadowside and Clare Road in Braintree, and Brook Meadow and Oxford Meadow in Halstead received a range of refurbishments, including inclusive equipment catering to all ages and abilities, improved accessibility for children with disabilities and safer surfacing.
The Clare Road playground in Braintree benefited from an £82k contribution secured through a Section 106 Agreement, funding upgraded equipment and site improvements.
Our 2025-26 budget allocates further funding to continue the playground refurbishment program, ensuring that local play areas remain vibrant, safe and accessible for all.
Braintree Spring Job Fair
Join our next job fair in Braintree at Causeway House, Bocking End, on Tuesday 11 March from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Come along to this free event to meet local employers, find out about local job opportunities and apprenticeships and further training and education opportunities to increase your qualifications.
We have over 30 employers booked in for the event, including Braintree Village, Essex Police and Royal Navy.
