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Leader's Blog
Hello, my name is Louise McKinlay, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, and this is my blog. I want to use this as an opportunity for me to connect directly with residents and hopefully to hear your thoughts and views as well.
I’ve been Leader at the Council since May 2009, and am very passionate about all that Brentwood has to offer. It truly is a borough of choice and opportunity. Being involved in the Council and representing residents is something that I really enjoy. My new role as Leader allows me take that further and drive forward changes that people want to see.
Outside of my Council activities, I have an active interest in charity work, especially supporting the Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity and Brainwaves, a Children’s charity. I have experience of running a business and my time in the corporate world has set me in good stead for dealing with some of the challenges facing Local Government today.
I hope you find the blog interesting and informative, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Cllr. Louise McKinlay, Leader of the Council
Frontline services remain important
3 February 2012
What a fabulous start to 2012! I’m very proud to be Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, which has been voted the 5th best place in the UK to live! This year we’re offering our residents a deal that most other councils simply can’t match. Along with the 0% council tax rise that we'll be proposing for 2012 / 13, we’ll also be increasing front line services even further for residents, as we deliver more value for money for Brentwood. The budget setting meeting takes place on the 21st February, when all the plans will be fully shared and debated. You can witness what decisions are made as all our committee meetings are broadcast through our website at www.brentwood.gov.uk, so do tune in.
This year also sees us looking at how we can support local community groups to play a part in enhancing their areas. The Brentwood Share fund allows such groups to apply for up to £5k to fund initiatives which enhance our Borough. Some great plans have come forward so far from a planting scheme to the start up of an ongoing environmental action team and the fund is still taking bids until 10 February 2012. If you have any ideas on how you think you could contribute to a scheme in your area, please do take the time to let us know, because it’s by working together that we can achieve so much more!
Another opportunity to look out for where you can get involved will be the parking consultation, which aims to set fair parking charges across Brentwood. It will be starting later this month on 13 February for 6 weeks, and there will be lots of chances to take part, including a simple online form. I do hope you’ll support something which will not only reduce town centre charges by 30% but which will also improve the facilities across the borough, whether you live, shop, work or visit Bentwood.
Finally, I am pulling together my next round of community open surgery dates so watch this space for future details.
Cllr. Louise McKinlay, Leader of the Council
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