"We are very pleased that Cllr Jo Beavis has decided to join us. Jo is a very experienced councillor, a previous Cabinet Member and a very community-minded representative.

Against the odds Jo retained her seat at the May elections standing as an Independent having left her previous party.

The strengthening of the Green & Independent Group is important as there are so many issues that we wish to press at the council including the need to get a good Local Plan as soon as possible, protecting the countryside, supporting local communities and ensuring that local services such as village libraries are not lost.

At the May local elections there was a community revolution in some parts of Essex, such as in Uttlesford District, where voters decided to place their trust in community–minded Independent councillors who now run the council. Voters broke away from the old two party mould. In Braintree District the Conservatives were returned with a majority but with several wards going from Conservative to Greens and Independents.

We are open to others joining us. We have a Co-operation Agreement setting out 5 key areas of policy. We do not run a party whip. How we work depends not on what party bosses tell us from on-high, but what local people tell us and through agreement on an equal basis amongst members of the group.

We look forward to the next 4 years of working as a constructive but effective and serious opposition to the Conservatives on BDC."

For further details, please contact

Cllr James Abbott 01376 584576 07951 923073

and see

Braintree & Witham Times