Recent News

This has been a tumultuous year for me – politically, professionally and personally – but also for Basildon Borough. When I look back to the end of 2017 and where we were; Basildon Conservatives were in Opposition, having previously been in minority administration since Basildon Council fell into No Overall Control in 2014. We had…

Residents will be aware that, at the Full Council meeting on 18th October,  Basildon Council published its Local Plan. This, along with supporting documents, will now be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination on behalf of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. This is called the ‘Regulation 19’ consultation –…

Thursday was an exceptionally good night for the Conservatives (much better than 2016). We held the five seats we were defending (Billericay East, Billericay West, Burstead, Crouch and Wickford North) and, in addition, won five more (Laindon Park, two seats in Pitsea South-East, Wickford Castledon and Wickford Park). UKIP, who were the second largest party…

After a tumultuous five years, I am seeking re-election again in Billericay East, the ward I love and which it has been my profound honour to represent on Basildon Borough Council since 2013. My time on the Council has certainly not always been easy. It can often be a thankless task. The meetings are long,…

BASILDON LOCAL ELECTIONS 2018 It’s that time of the year again and local elections are upon us. We have fifteen seats on Basildon Borough Council up for grabs to determine who will take charge of the Council, which has been in No Overall Control since 2014. The Council is presently led by a coalition of…

Once again, we find our community blighted by illegal encampments. On Monday 29th January a group of caravans pitched up at the car park on Hannakins Farm Community Centre in West Billericay. Billericay West councillors were immediately in touch with Basildon Council officers and the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) and kicked off the whole…

Regular readers will recall that I was vehemently opposed to the 2014 application to build a solar farm covering over 26 hectares on Green Belt land off Outwood Farm Road in Billericay. This was granted permission by the Planning Committee, despite an officer recommendation to refuse and opposition from Billericay Town Council, Chelmsford City Council…

In light of the current political and media interest in Universal Credit, I thought it would be useful to set out my thoughts on this, and why I support the roll out of University Credit, both from my perspective as a local councillor and as a former civil servant in the Department for Work &…

The Planning Committee considered an application to build seven flats at the current site of Elizabeth Cottage in Billericay High Street. Unfortunately, some of my old blogs were lost when I upgraded my website but regular readers will doubtless recall that the plight of Elizabeth Cottage is something that has been vexing me almost the…

“Since becoming a councillor in 2008, I have attended scores, if not hundreds, of council and committee meetings. Last night’s meeting of Basildon Council’s Infrastructure, Growth & Development Committee must rank as the strangest. The big news out of Basildon Council is the removal of the minority Conservative administration back in May 2017 and its…