Author Archives: jamescourtenay

I am always cautious about talking about planning matters – if you only upset 50% of people you lucky! Particularly when I say that I don’t have as strong an objection as a lot of my colleagues on the council … Continue reading →

The final result.   Ahhh! Much better!   Now I can go back to blogging about politics! 🙂 Was really pleased to meet with Education Secretary Michael Gove last week, with lots of Head Teachers from Southend Schools, including three from … Continue reading →

    .                Clean Shaven                                   Eight days growth

Having found the Southend Bike-a-thon involved using a bit too much energy, I thought my next charitable endeavour could be one that would involve saving energy and probably save me 10 pence too, through increasing the longevity of my razor blades! … Continue reading →

On Wednesday evening I was pleased to present awards at two events to some of the wonderful people of Southend. The first was a small but fabulous celebration of the efforts that a young man, Tom, has made in Southend. … Continue reading →

I was delighted to be able to make the following statement at tonight’s meeting of the full Council, where I was able to confirm we have managed to save Hamstel Children’s Centre from having to merge with Temple Sutton. We … Continue reading →

Long day today. Got to work ‘nice’ and early so I could leave to get back for a full Council meeting this evening. There is plenty on tonight’s agenda, and I suspect the odds are about even whether we will … Continue reading →

At the next full council meeting (17th October) we are due to discuss whether the council should move to ‘all-up’ elections. At the moment the council is elected by thirds – yearly a third of councillors come up for election … Continue reading →

Nigel Holdcroft and I are standing up for Southend’s primary school children’s right to have the maximum choice when it comes to that important decision of what ‘big school’ to go to. Nigel and I have put The Deanes School … Continue reading →