Foreword
Foreword
As we embark on the year ahead where we’re entering a period of change and focus on delivering high quality services, projects and initiatives that matter most to our communities, our commitment remains to create a district of opportunity, where everyone has access to the resources and support they need. This plan outlines the actions we will take to achieve this, and our vision.
The rising cost of living places unprecedented demands on our services, and the economic uncertainties and financial challenges will no doubt continue to grow but we are a well-run council which makes prudent financial decisions and we will keep adapting and innovating to meet these challenges to enable us to invest in the services you rely on.
We have some exciting projects this year including town centre improvements in Halstead and Witham, the new 3G pitch at Witham Sports Ground and the Witham community centre, providing spaces for people to come together and engage in various activities.
Ensuring that our residents have access to high-quality, affordable housing is a top priority for us. We’ll be working to enhance supported housing options that are tailored to resident’s needs as well as providing more support for those at risk of sleeping rough.
We want to make sure our communities can play a role in shaping their areas, especially when it comes to planning. We will revise the Local Plan, develop a design code to ensure future development is of the highest design standards and drive forward new neighbourhood plans for local villages – all using local insight and feedback to help inform our decisions.
We see the fantastic community projects happening locally, and we’re making sure funding pots are available to support these activities because we know they really do make a difference to people’s lives. We’ll also continue to support those impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and deliver projects to reduce health inequalities and support active lifestyles in the community.
Collaborating closely with our partner organisations is crucial to delivering better outcomes for all, to implement various initiatives that help our communities feel safe and new strategies to protect natural habitats, address climate change and improve air quality.
One of our focuses is to attract and support business growth, we’ll do this through initiatives like the Horizon 120 site development and our continued business support including access to funding. Our job fairs have been hugely popular in the past, and we’ll host more of these in the district to support people to connect with employers and explore new career opportunities.
The plan also identifies areas for protecting and enhancing our natural and built environments through initiatives such as refurbishing play areas with inclusive play equipment and doing what we can to minimise waste and increase recycling across the district.
Complementing this whole plan is our ambition to always be a high performing organisation, to do the very best that we can together for all those who live and work here, whilst being responsive to changing needs. We look forward to what’s to come over the next 12 months.
Councillor Graham Butland Leader of Braintree District Council
Dan Gascoyne Chief Executive
Councillor Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council
Dan Gascoyne, Chief Executive
Download the Annual Plan for 2025/26