A round-up of this week's top stories and events in Chelmsford

Full Council approves balanced budget for year ahead

Full Council this week approved Chelmsford City Council’s budget for 2025/26, but the forthcoming financial impact of Local Government Reorganisation remains unknown. Abolishing Chelmsford City Council and merging into a bigger unitary council could cost ‘several million pounds’. Over the coming months, the council will develop a plan to protect services and leave the new unitary council in a good starting position for the future.

For the year ahead, with Government support falling, employers’ National Insurance Contributions up and council costs soaring, tough decisions were needed to balance the 2025/26 budget. Full Council approved the city council’s level of council tax for 2025/26, which will increase by 2.96%, a rise of 13p a week for an average band D household.

Despite budget pressures, the city council has been able to invest in improvements in the community for the coming year using funding from developers and other sources. Find out more about next year’s budget via the link below.

Government consultation on Greater Essex devolution plans

The UK Government has this week launched a consultation on proposals to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority in Greater Essex.The consultation follows the successful application earlier this year by Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council to join the Government's Devolution Priority Programme.

The consultation seeks views from those who live, work or study in Essex on the benefits of establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority in Greater Essex. This is your chance to have your say on plans that will affect you.

It's easy to take part. Simply follow the link below and complete the online form which will guide you through specific topics the Government is interested in hearing your views on. The consultation is open until 13 April 2025.

Space to Thrive photography competition winners

A big thank you to everyone who entered Love Your Chelmsford’s 'Birds – A Space to Thrive' photography competition 2025. The team received some wonderful images that captured the theme, showcased local birds and their habitats, and highlighted ways we can all support and live alongside our feathered friends.

There were ten goody bags up for grabs, with first and second place winners being awarded extra special prizes. Entrants could submit multiple images, and all images were anonymised prior to judging. At the beginning of the week, Councillor Rose Moore met with some of the prize winners to discuss the stories behind their photos and to personally hand them their prizes.

To see all the stunning entries, head over to the Love Your Chelmsford website.

Chelmsford’s Local Plan exhibitions continue

A third and final consultation is underway to update Chelmsford’s Local Plan, which guides development in the district up until 2041.

Local exhibitions explaining this final draft of the plan continue this coming week, with High Chelmer shopping centre hosting an exhibition from Monday 24 February until Sunday 2 March. There’ll also be drop-in sessions at the Civic Centre between Thursday 27 February and Saturday 1 March. South Woodham Ferrers Town Council's exhibition (Champions Manor Hall, CM3 5LJ) closes on Tuesday 25 February.

If you’re unable to travel to one of these locations, you can view the same exhibition summary online at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/lp-exhibitions. Don’t forget to give your feedback on the Local Plan via the council’s planning portal by 4pm on Tuesday 18 March.

Chelmsford Market gains Real Deal accreditation

Chelmsford’s Indoor Market and High Street Market have received a Real Deal accreditation, joining a national network of hundreds of markets committed to reducing the sale of counterfeit products in the UK.

Chelmsford Market was recently named among the top ten markets in Britain by the National Association of British Market Authorities and has received multiple awards in recent years. Signing the Real Deal Charter is a demonstration of the market’s commitment to maintaining excellence and providing a safe and fair shopping environment to Chelmsford’s residents, visitors and traders.

Essex Highways resurfacing works on Parkway

Following surfacing improvements on the southbound carriageway of Parkway in Chelmsford in November 2024, Essex Highways is now preparing to begin work on the northbound carriageway.

Works begin next Thursday 27 February and are anticipated to continue until mid-March 2025. To ensure minimal disruption, all activities will take place between 9pm and 5am, with temporary road closures in place overnight. No weekend work is currently planned.

Operating a phased approach to help reduce local inconvenience, works will start from Victoria Road South and continue towards Broomfield Road. Temporary restrictions, including traffic diversions, will be updated as the works progress.

Riverside ice show tickets now on sale!

This Easter, prepare to be enchanted as Riverside Leisure Centre and Chelmsford Riverside Ice-Skating Club present their amateur production of Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale on Ice!

This fun-filled show is perfect for all ages – the young and the young at heart – with a relaxed atmosphere, delightful characters, and a story that everyone knows and loves. Rapunzel and her charming friends will twirl, glide, and dazzle you on the ice in this spectacular, family-friendly performance.

Tickets are available now, so don't miss the chance to experience magic this Easter!

Support for Essex residents to take climate action

Essex County Council is making plans to support residents in reducing their impact on the planet and the effects of climate change – and they want to hear from you to ensure that support will be as beneficial as possible!

Residents are invited to take part in a survey in order to inform the development of a county-wide programme of climate action support for residents. The survey will ask about your current efforts, how you would like to learn more, and what other support you might like to help you take meaningful action.

Chelmsford residents invited to annual PFCC public meeting

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex is inviting residents from across the district to attend a public meeting to learn more about crime and community safety in the area. The meeting will take place on Monday 3 March at the Civic Centre, from 7pm to 8pm.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst will be joined by panel members from Chelmsford's Community Safety Partnership, Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Chelmsford residents, and those who work in the district, are invited to attend and take the opportunity to ask the panel questions on topics around community safety.

Essex Parking Scam alert

We have been alerted by Southend-on-Sea City Council that parking machines in their district have been subject to a parking scam. Scammers have placed QR codes on parking machines that, when scanned, direct users to a fraudulent website designed to steal their payment information and/or sign them up to a monthly payment.

Please be alert and inform family and friends to be on the lookout, too. More details of the scam and how to keep yourself safe can be found on the British Parking Association website below. If you see what you suspect is a fraudulent QR code on one of Chelmsford's parking machines, please call 01245 606662.

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