Closes 28 March 2023
Closes 31 March 2023
Closes 31 March 2023
Closes 31 March 2023
Closes 31 March 2023
Closed 22 March 2023
Closed 19 March 2023
Closed 16 March 2023
Closed 15 March 2023
Closed 12 March 2023
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes
Essex County Council is looking at how best to support residents with cost of living concerns. We launched a survey aimed at understanding what practical things we could do to help over the coming months, and to test out some ideas with residents.
The survey received a total of 883 responses.
Respondents suggested that more practical/immediate types of help and support were most important. This includes items to help stay warm this winter, home energy saving packs, and emergency food packages.
Of the types of support that respondents said they would use, the top responses were a home energy saving pack, items to help stay warm, and tried and tested top tips for making your money go further.
Suggestions for help and support from residents included help to make homes more energy efficient, reduced council tax/council tax breaks, and community initiatives (such as via libraries, cafes and churches to offer meals, food banks, activities, warm spaces, and welfare check schemes).
The full survey report can be downloaded here.
Essex County Council has now launched a £50m package of support, which is outlined in the Cost of Living Support for Households and Communities Plan. More information about the plan is available here.
The insights from this survey will continue to inform help and support for residents in Essex.
Essex County Council recognises the importance of supporting unpaid carers in Essex and our aim is that “We will help those carers of all ages whose caring duties are impacting most on their wellbeing by achieving a step change in the advice, guidance and support we provide to support wellbeing and independence, and by targeting it at those who need it most” [Everyone’s Essex, 2021-25].
To ensure ECC can meet this objective, research and engagement has been carried out with carers in Essex and those who support them, to understand their lived experiences and gather their views. Six commitments to carers were then co-produced, and ECC ran a consultation to seek views and feedback on these.
The consultation ran from 14th February to 13th March 2022, and was promoted via the ECC website, social media, and direct with a number of carers organisations and community groups. A number of events were also held virtually and in-person which provided opportunity to promote the consultation.
The consultation received a total of 90 responses. This included 2 paper copies and 5 Easy Read responses.
Level of agreement with each of the commitments was high:
1) Carers can easily access information and support when they need it and early into their caring role
At least 93% agreed or strongly agreed with the aims under this commitment.
2) Develop professional practice and processes to improve identification of and support to carers
At least 93% agreed or strongly agreed with the aims under this commitment.
3) Improve transitions for carers as they move through specific phases or events in their caring role
At least 91% agreed or strongly agreed with the aims under this commitment.
4) Carers will have increased opportunity to access good quality support, including short breaks
At least 89% agreed or strongly agreed with the aims under this commitment.
5) Carers’ needs and rights will be understood and recognised across Essex communities
At least 89% agreed or strongly agreed with the aims under this commitment.
6) Carers will be the experts that influence and be involved in the decisions that are intended to improve support & wellbeing
At least 91% agreed or strongly agreed with the aims under this commitment.
Free text comments indicate that while there is strong support for the proposed aims, carers would like more detail as to how they will be achieved and would like to see tangible action taken. Many commented that support is difficult to find and access, with some currently experiencing a lack of support, and there appears to be some level of scepticism around how positive changes will be made.
All feedback and comments received through the consultation process have been reviewed and analysed, and will be used to inform the final Essex Carers All-Age Strategy 2022-26, due to be launched in April 2022.
For more detail, please download a copy of the consultation report.
Essex County Council carried out a consultation from November 2021-January 2022, seeking views from Essex residents, library service users and organisations about the new draft plan for the future of library services.
The plan set out high-level aims for the service and areas of focus for the next four years:
People were asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with the sub-areas of each aim. They were also given the opportunity to provide comments on each of the three high-level aims.
2,213 responses were received to the consultation - 2,185 from individuals and 28 responses from organisations. The analysis showed good support for the proposals in the Plan, with many showing strong agreement.
Agreement with aim one: Library Service and Literacy
Agreement with aim two: Communications and Infrastructure
Agreement with aim three: Supporting Communities and Levelling Up
All feedback and comments received in response to the consultation have been reviewed and analysed by an independent organisation, and are now being used to inform an updated plan for library services.
The final plan is expected to be published in April 2022.
For more information and a full breakdown of consultation responses, please view reports below.
Scrutiny Committee meeting papers related to this consultation are available here.
UPDATE 20th April 2022
The final version of the new plan for libraries has now been launched and is available below: