Paul Collins, Liberal Democrat councillor for Westborough, gave his first report to the Residents Association of Westborough last week.
Cllr Collins won the seat in Westborough from Independent Tania Painton in this year’s local election.
Cllr Collins used his report to set out his views on Southend Airport, graffiti, council staffing methods and education.
Cllr Collins said: “Town-wide issues to bring to your attention are recently announced plans by the new Government to allow the possibility of ‘free schools’ to be opened by Charity groups, faith groups and Parents.
“In addition, the encouragement by Government of ‘Outstanding’ Schools to leave local authority control and become directly funded by Government.
“The effect that this will have on the Schools left behind, their children and the staff at the Local Authority is of great concern to me.
“The Airport remains on the radar and there is a very active group that strongly opposes the runway extension which has been in contact with all councillors about the proposed ban on night time flights.
“The decision about this point is not yet ready for review as the Council are still negotiating these terms with the Airport. From my point of view, I do remain broadly supportive of the Airport as I believe it is an important part of the town.
“However, as your representative, my decisions will be influenced by the majority of the Residents of Westborough and I will be seeking your views as this matter progresses.
“Local issues that have come to my attention are the Primary Care Trust (PCT) plans for the creation of two Health Clinics that will effect residents at the east end of the ward, namely the proposal of merging 5 GP surgeries into centres at North Road and Valkyrie Road.
“There will be residents who could lose their local surgery and be faced with accessing North Road, to where there is no public transport in place from Westborough.
“I have called for more details from Council officers and I will continue to report to Residents on this issue.
“Lastly, the local papers report of the Council employing high level agency staff to cover senior officers has raised an issue with residents. There has been a reasonable explanation expressed by the Town Clerk on how this has come about, however, I believe the culture within the Civic Centre is wrong.
“In these stringent times and tough budgets decisions to come, it beholds the Conservatives, who are in control of the Council, not to allow this situation to continue.
“Why can no other Council officer step up either with or without a lower level temporary member of staff be employed to help?
“I can also tell Residents that I also serve on the Council’s Audit Committee and I assure them that I will be pressing my colleagues to look at these sorts of issues.”
Cllr Collins needs to update his information, as to my knowledge, the plans for the new surgeries, particularly the North Road one, are on hold due to budget constraints in the NHS.
North Road is close to a number of public transport routes (as it ajoins London Road at one end and is close to Victoria Avenue at the other end.) Surgeries along West Road already are inacessible from both a public transport and vehicular perspective, so I am not convinced of his argument here. Many practices in Westcliff are located in small and unsuitable accommodation and as is the eternal problem in Westcliff, unable to provide parking.