Rochford Local Strategic Partnership

In 2009, Rochford had a population of 83,1001 people (representing just under 6% of the total population of Essex), making it the 8th most populated of all the Essex districts.

Compared to the East of England, Rochford has fewer young children (0-4 years), fewer young adults (19-31) and overall more older adults so the population is amongst the older local populations in Britain with the over 65 population predicted to grow by 60% by 2029.

Rochford has the highest life expectancy in Essex at 80.3 years, although there are variances within the District.

The area is relatively affluent, ranking 316 out of 354 authorities nationally, where 1 is the most deprived and 354 the least deprived. The most deprived ward, Foulness and Great Wakering East, ranks 2,680 of 8,414.

The black and minority ethnic (BME) population is relatively evenly dispersed amongst the urban settlements. The estimated population by broad ethnic group in 2004 was White % 97.0, Mixed % 0.9, Asian or Asian British % 0.9, Black or Black British % 0.8, Chinese or Other % 0.5.

Unemployment levels are below regional and national average at 3%, although they are now increasing as a result of the recession.

Overall satisfaction with the local area was 94.8%  and 86.5% of residents agreed that their local area was a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together in the 2008/09 Place Survey.

The Halifax survey 2008, which ranks areas for factors affecting quality of life, has placed Rochford District seventh in Great Britain as a choice of place to live. This is the 3rd annual survey conducted which details those areas deemed to be one of the thirty best locations in the country. The survey tracks where living standards are highest in Great Britain by ranking local performance across key indicators; covering the labour market, the housing market, the environment, education and health. The index examined data at local authority level, 408 local authorities were analysed in this survey. Data has been gathered from sources including DEFRA, the Met Office, the Department for Transport and the Halifax house price database and the Office for National Statistics.

Much of the District’s 65 square miles is designated as green belt and there are many miles of attractive coastline and nationally important areas of salt marsh.

Rochford District is situated in South East Essex within a peninsula between the rivers Thames and Crouch and with the North Sea to the east. The south of the District adjoins the urban areas of Southend-on-Sea and Castle Point.

The largest town, Rayleigh and the other two main settlements of Rochford and Hockley have good rail connections to London and there is access to the A127 London-Southend Arterial Road and then to the A13 and M25. London Southend Airport is primarily situated within the District and the airport and surrounding area are part of the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership regeneration area.

The District has approximately 33,700 homes and one of the highest proportions of owner-occupation in the country at 86%; social housing comprises approximately 8%; and private renting accounts for approximately 6%. House prices are higher than the average for England and Wales.

The Local Strategic Partnership is made up of an Executive Board consisting of representatives of Rochford District Council, Elected Members, Essex Police, Essex County Council, NHS South East Essex, Thames Gateway South East Essex Partnership, representatives of the third sector and local businesses along with representatives of the five thematic partnerships that support the delivery of the Sustainable Community Strategy. The Partnerships are, Rochford Crime and Disorder Partnership, Health and Wellbeing Partnership, Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, Economic Regeneration Group and Community Involvement Group. These Partnerships will deliver the priorities identified in the Sustainable Community Strategy. These are:

• Supporting the Ageing Population
• Fostering Greater Community Cohesion
• Strengthening the Third Sector
• Increasing Accessibility to Services
• Keeping Rochford Safe
• Encouraging Economic Development
• Promoting a Greener District

Area Committees meet every 6-8 weeks (Central, West and East), and cover all areas of the district. District Councillors sit on each committee and report back to Executive Board.

Neighbourhood Action Panels (NAPs) – Meet every 4-6 weeks. Members of the public and Neighbourhood Specialist Officers attend. A form is being established to report back ASB and Crime and Disorder issues from NAPs to CDRP Joint Action Group (JAG), which has a budget to conduct problem solving initiatives. Actions and outcomes will then be fed back into NAPs.

CDRP Community Initiatives have been undertaken e.g. Hullbridge, Wakering and Rayleigh, these started with a public meeting to which whole community was invited and an action plan drawn up. Outcomes were reported back to all attendees.

There has been development of the Community Involvement Group to foster engagement, consultation and communication across the partnerships e.g. PCT, Police, Police Authority, Essex County Council.

The first Rochford LSP Assembly was held on 20th April 2009, this was successful and a further Assembly is planned for Autumn/Winter 2009.

The LSP Executive meets quarterly (at a minimum). The Thematic Partnerships (and their sub-groups) meet as regularly as necessary and each Thematic Partnerships provides an update and exception report to the LSP Executive.

There is full CDRP membership including Business Sector i.e. Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Chambers of Commerce, Voluntary Sector i.e. RRAVS, Rochford Community Projects, Public Sector including Parish Council and District Council member representation, as well as statutory agencies.

The development of the JSNA was good, and consultation was taken to District level, improving the degree of engagement.

The PCT produces a monthly Rochford LSP performance dash board which highlights performance against each LAA target that falls within the remit of NHS South East Essex. In view of the nature of the LAA indicators although the dashboard is produced monthly, it is mainly on a quarterly basis that any shift in performance, up or down, can be assessed. The origin of the data that populates the dashboard will come from either the system maintained within NHS South East Essex (commissioning arm), NHS South East Essex (provider side) or a cross section of partners such as Essex County Council, Police and Southend Hospital. Where required, any contextual / descriptive data is extracted via the JSNA and annual geographic Public Health reports. A gap in the effective reporting of performance that NHS South East Essex are working to address, is the need to split some areas of performance data between the Rochford and Castle Point LSP areas. This is in hand and will enhance the ability of Rochford LSP to hold partners to account for delivering against LAA targets. It is envisaged the data split between Rochford and Castle Point Areas, will be achieved for all performance data by end of 2009.

A CDRP Strategic Assessment is completed every 12 months taking into account community concerns/priorities identified through above forums, when identifying CDRP priorities, to ensure needs of community accurately reflected.

District Profile - these have been commissioned for each of the Essex Districts to inform the Integrated County Strategy and are an independent assessment of local conditions.

Since June 2007 the Council has operated a structure with an Executive Board and three Area Committees. The chairmanship of the Review Committee has also passed to the main opposition party. Further refinement has taken place in that we have now moved to a ‘strong leader’ model of government, with the Leader appointing eight members to the Executive and allocating portfolios to those members. This was implemented in May 2008.

The Executive and Portfolio Holders of Rochford District Council are represented on the Thematic Partnerships of the LSP.

The LSP and its Thematic Partners are to be reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Rochford District Council.

The LSP and its Thematic Partners are to carry out a self-evaluation, to be completed by March 2010.

There is active District Councillor participation in both the CDRP Full Partnership and Steering Group meetings as well as Area Committees. Parish Councillors represent their constituents on Full CDRP.

Rochford is one of the Districts with the highest life expectancy in Essex, over 80 years (England average 78.3 years).  It also has above average proportion of older residents and will see a projected 25-30% increase from 2005-2015.  The district also had above the national average for female suicide in 2007.

Improving life expectancy in the District this has been helped by hitting LAA targets on smoking quitters after 4 weeks and developing educational promotions which include getting the smoking cessation service and Southend Hospital to better align.  The need for this came out of the Rochford and Castle Point LSP Health and Well Being Partnership Group meeting.

LSP funding has also been provided to the Rochford Star Partnership, allowing it to continue to deliver health & lifestyle programmes; the funding will also be used to ‘upskill’ project workers.

LSP funding has also been granted to Disability Essex and the ‘Healthy Chance’ initiative focusing on promoting healthy living and awareness of factors leading to heart disease, stroke, and cancer regardless of age.  There is a mobile unit that visits areas providing blood pressure checks etc.

Partnership funding has also been provided to Lymphoma Support Group to support and enhance the quality of life for persons suffering from Lymphoma and also again to Rayleigh Age Concern to support the transportation of persons to luncheon and Activity Clubs on a regular basis to encourage interaction and engagement.

In terms of obesity 7.7% of reception age children and 12.9% (lowest in Essex) year 6 children are obese.  These are amongst the lowest rates in Essex.

The Rochford STAR Partnership, including Star Jumps, Star Tots, Street Dance, Star Mums, is attracting families to take part in physical exercise and providing opportunities for those not able to access/travel/afford LA or Private Fitness Centres.  Thirty eight adult participants took part in fitness programmes.  Nutritional and dietary advice is also given by qualified local instructor each week, alongside exercise to music.

The STAR Partnership also includes a Farmers Market Providing local fresh fruit and vegetables for sale in Rochford each month.  Local produce is available on first Saturday of the month, which has now operated for nine years.  Committed support exists from small groups of volunteers. 

Rochford is below the England average for participation in 30 minutes moderate activity at least 3 times a week in 2005/06.

To increase participation in Sport ‘Fit for Life’ aims to improve the health and physical activity levels of adults aged 55 and over. It also provides participants with the information and knowledge they require in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is run in conjunction with Southend United Community & Educational Trust, funded by Rochford LSP. 

The ‘Get Into’ scheme, run in conjunction with local sports clubs is part of the activerochford action plan for 2008-09. Taster sessions exist for adults to try new sports. The action plan includes women’s cricket, archery, golf, tennis, sailing, badminton and bowls.

The STAR Partnership also engages young people using the appeal of football outside of school hours; embedding nutrition, healthy eating and sexual health and addressing Anti-Social Behaviour incidence.

In Rochford there are 20.65 smoking quitters per 100,000 which is 2003/05 data (the latest information available).  Work is required to keep people off smoking beyond 4 week period with projects to be initiated and co-ordinated by the HWBP.

The LSP has funded various initiatives to support the mental well being within the community notably, Home Start which provides support to the maternal mental health for up to 15 families and, South Essex Partnership University Open Arts which is providing arts courses for people with mental health problems to gain skills and confidence and coping mechanisms helping them into further education or employment.

Rates of teenage conceptions in Rochford are below national and regional average.

In reducing sexually transmitted diseases 15-24 year olds are screened.  Breakdown of screens for Rochford Q1 = 204, Q2 = 201.  NHS South East Essex does have a Chlamydia action plan but it covers SE Essex and not just Rochford.  The plan is designed to reduce the prevalence of Chlamydia.

The ongoing challenge is to encourage and support 15 -24 year olds to proactively come forward for screening in dignified and discreet manner.  The STAR Partnership is delivering this message and support across Rochford District.

Rochford has amongst the lowest Infant Mortality Rates in the county (3^rd lowest 2.6%).  Rochford also has the lowest percentage of birth weight babies below 1500 grams, but does have above the Essex average for low birth weight babies below 2500 grams.

Breastfeeding initiation rates (the mother is defined as having initiated breastfeeding if, within the first 48 hours of birth, either she puts the baby to the breast or the baby is given any of the mothers breast milk), for  Castle Point and Rochford combined information has a target of 72% and are currently achieving 74% with an improving trend to support this figure (these figures do not include SS3 postcode which is currently impossible to split out from Southend).

Rochford has amongst lowest rates of social care users in Essex and the lowest rate (2.0 per 1,000 pop.) on ECC learning disabilities register as well as for of service users with physical impairment (1.7 per 1,000).

RRAVS laptop scheme is a computer taster courses for over 60’s which adds value to independent living strategies as training is provided at local public venues i.e. libraries and in individuals homes for those that are housebound, providing important links to the outside and social networks of families and friends.  90 older people are supported per year and the scheme is now in its 5^th year.

The District has an above average rate (4.8 per 1,000) for all sensory impairments, including severe (0.7 per 1,000) in the county. 

LSP funded projects to support independent living include the expansion of telecare service provided by Careline, with an upgrade of existing monitoring only provision to include an emergency response service.  Rayleigh Age Concern provides information and support to over 65s at a midday luncheon club.  They increase and improve the scope of information provided to attendees through partnerships within Rochford District.  There is also Southend Carers funding and HWBP around Independent Living.  Finally Southend Carers has been commissioned to initiate and implement a programme to identify carers, by providing them with advice and information to support and empower their role as carers.

An Adult Carers Scheme is provided by RRAVS in partnership with local church in Rayleigh launched in April 2009.

A young carers scheme provided by RRAVS was extended to Rochford town in May 2009.  The scheme covers Rayleigh and Rochford with over 90 young carers engaged. This intervention will add value to other work with at risk young people i.e. Fire break.  Rochford no longer has a Youth Offending Team Early Intervention Worker.  The local YOT is based in Basildon and this makes it difficult for young people to access the service.

The District has the lowest level of homelessness in Essex at 1.06 per 1,000.  It also had the lowest level of demand for social housing in 2006 when the council still had a housing stock, below the regional average for unfit dwellings in 2005, and the lowest percentage of housing benefit recipients.

In 2009 Maldon was ranked 5th out of the 12 Essex districts for secondary school children achieving 5 or more grades A*-C at GCSE8, an improvement of 10%-points from 2008, when it was ranked 9th in Essex. In 2009 68.9% of pupils achieved 5 or more grades A*-C. The 2009 Essex average was 68.2% and the national average was 70.0%. 

In March 2010, Maldon had the 4th highest rate of children NEET in Essex; 10.6%, compared to an Essex average of 6.9%.  This rate also increased compared to Maldon’s March 2009 figure; 9.2%9. The latest available figures show that Maldon’s NEET rate in May 2010 (9.8%) was also above the rate one year earlier (8.0% - May 2009). Maldon’s average rate for the year 2009-10 was 10%; 4th highest in Essex and above the county (7.3%) and national (7.2%) averages.

In terms of education and skills in the adult population an Employment and Skills sub-group will be established to deliver against this agenda especially now that the country has gone into recession and Rochford is experiencing a rise in unemployment and a decline in the skills levels of residents.

Rochford District Council will continue to work with partners to secure the delivery of a vocational training academy which will provide educational opportunities for residents to up-skill and support aviation related businesses at London Southend Airport. 

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’s decision in March 2010 to withdraw the Article 14 Direction will enable Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to approve the plans for the expansion of London Southend Airport.  The expansion of the airport will boost the area in terms of providing jobs, economic growth and regeneration.  Rochford District Council will continue to support the expansion of London Southend Airport through the Joint Area Action Plan.  It is anticipated that the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) sector will grow as the Airport expands generating a significant amount of higher value-added jobs.  The new Saxon Business Park will attract new, high tech business to the area that will also generate more high value-added jobs.  Rochford District Council will work with partners to ensure that the expansion of the airport does generate significant amounts of high value added jobs.  Rochford District Council will also work with partners to ensure that appropriate learning and education opportunities are available locally to create paths to this employment.

£25,000 of funding has been secured to commission the feasibility of establishing an eco-enterprise centre.  The feasibility study is to be commissioned by the end of 2009.  Rochford District Council believes that the establishment of an eco-friendly enterprise centre would help to achieve more consistent levels of business creation, reduce the number of business closures and help to educate new businesses about their environmental responsibilities.  The Centre, which would be a flag ship, eco-friendly build which would also act as a much needed inward investment draw attracting new businesses to the area.  It would become a central point for businesses seeking any kind of support in the District.

The District has the 3^rd lowest unemployment rate (2%) in the county.  However, there are a high number of prosecutions and sanctions are achieved in relation to benefit fraud (7.85).

The STAR Partnerships ‘Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities’ provides job-search/confidence building/using on-line application sessions, locally, for people wishing to gain employment, learning opportunities or unpaid work.  The second round of this project is currently being delivered.

The Thames Gateway South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2008) identified an affordable housing need for Rochford District of 131 net additional dwellings per year. This represents 52% of the District’s total annual housing completion requirement as set out in the East of England Plan.  The same document recommends that, having regards to economic viability considerations; the Thames Gateway South Essex authorities should adopt a policy requiring 35% of new dwellings to be affordable.  Following the transfer of the Council's housing stock to Rochford Housing Association, Rochford District Council no longer owns or manages properties. Instead, it works with Rochford Housing Association, other housing associations in the District and private landlords to provide a stock of homes that meets the needs of the community.  Rochford District Council completed the transfer of its housing stock of 1739 houses, bungalows, flats, sheltered housing schemes and garages to Rochford Housing Association on 24 September 2007.

The District had a larger ecological foot print than the England average in 2001/02.

The Sustainable Community Strategy identified the need to have regard to the adverse impact of development on the environment and its Action Plan aims to secure commitment from all LSP Executive members to include Promoting a Greener District within their strategy framework and to achieve National Indicator targets prescribed in the Essex Local Area Agreement (LAA).

The majority of issues relating to roads and transport are the responsibility of Essex County Council. Its remit includes road safety, lining and signing, road maintenance, street lighting, road adoption, school crossing controls, safety cameras, gritting etc.  Rochford is, however, in the top quartile nationally for road congestion.

Community Transport is a non-profit making scheme that provides transport to residents of the district who are unable to access Public Transport. The scheme operates 2 wheelchair accessible minibuses that have tail lifts for easy access, if required, and a number of vehicles in a Social Car Scheme. Wyvern Community Transport are members of the Community Transport Association and are committed to the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MIDAS). The scheme operates Monday Friday   8:30am 4:30pm.  There is continued support for the Community Transport Scheme.

In terms of street and environmental cleanliness NI 195 has improved from old BVPI 199a of 21% in 2006/7 to 15% in 2007/8 and litter is now down to 11% for 2008/9. 

The percentage of waste sent for recycling and composting is up from 17% in 2006/07 to 19% in 2007/8, the Council's new Maximise Recycling Scheme was launched on 21st July 2008 and was developed as a result of the clear need for the expansion of the range of materials that can be recycled at the kerbside figures. The scheme involves three bins, a green one with a yellow lid for compostables, a grey bin for recyclables and a grey bin with a purple lid for non-recyclables. The performance for 2008/09 shows a substantial increase to 50% for this indicator (N I 192).

Rochford had below the national and regional rate for KSI’s in 2003/05.  Rochford had an overall KSI target not to exceed 34 casualties for 2008 and actually recorded 22, a 29.1% reduction from previous year (2007).  This was the second lowest in the County and therefore no longer a CDRP priority.

The male alcohol specific hospital admission rate; 136.86, this is the lowest rate in Essex.  The female rate is 89.29.   Rochford also has one of the lowest estimated prevalence of binge drinking in Essex.  Slightly above the ECC average (but below the England average) for prevalence of drug misuse in 2004/05 there is a lack of data to measure performance effectively.

Rochford achieved a re-offending conviction rate of 37 in 2008/09 against a target not to exceed 64, based on a PPO Cohort group of 6 (40% reduction).  Due to this success and lack of other adult re-offending data it is no longer a CDRP priority.  There is a lack of probation data at district level to determine overall re-offending performance.

Assault with less serious injury figures (NI20) indicates 215 offences for 2008/09, against the LAA target not to exceed 247.  This makes the district the 2^nd best performing CDRP in the County.  For Violent Crimes there were 535 offences for 2008/09 a 13% reduction on previous year, this was below the County average and Most Similar Group (IQuanta).  We are unable to compare with last year due to change in re-categorisation of crime codes.

The District has the 2^nd lowest rate in Essex for domestic violence.  Building upon improvement in sanction detection rates from 55.8% in 2005-6 to nearly 61% in 2007-08, the Safer Essex Partnership is considering the introduction of independent DV advisors and focusing support on high risk victims. This follows the success of a pilot project in Grays. LSPs in Chelmsford, Rochford and Castle Point are contributing to this improving trend by introducing domestic violence awareness training in schools, while sanctuary schemes are being developed in Colchester, Rochford, and Castle Point. However, offences continue to rise for both Incidents of DV and Repeat Victims.

There is no service provision for low to moderate risk victims. Rochford DC is therefore considering employing a DA worker to co-ordinate domestic abuse issues.  Domestic violence has again been identified as a priority area for Rochford CDRP in the 2009/10 Strategic Assessment.

For serious acquisitive crimes there were 556 offences for 2008/09, which is a 4% reduction on the previous year.  This is below both County average and Most Similar Group average (IQuanta).

For serious sexual offences there were 23 offences for 2008/09, this was a rise of 28%, averaging 2-3 offences per month.  Mostly across whole year below the County and Most Similar Group (IQuanta) averages. We continue to work in close partnership with Victim Support.

Rochford is the 2^nd lowest rates in Essex for young victims of crime, as at February 2009 238 incidents were recorded against a Police target of 253.  This is a reduction of 32 on the previous year.

The District Council permanently employed an ASB Co-ordinator as anti-social behaviour is of continued concern to our residents and has been identified as a priority, however an 18% reduction in reported ASB incidents has already been achieved on the previous year.

Rochford has the joint lowest percentage of recorded crime in the county.  It is believed that the Place Survey results once published will show some improvement in terms of perceived fear of crime.  The CDRP is developing a Communications Strategy and forming a Communications Sub-Group to tackle this issue and effectively communicate positive media messages.

Rochford is amongst the least deprived Districts in terms of access to services.   The STAR Partnerships Mini-Me’s group is a group of 11 Teenage Mums who live in St Marks Field area.  This group does not engage traditionally with Acute Staff in local Clinics.  They meet each week and this allows volunteers and Community Development staff to observe the well-being of parents and the children.  Rochford District Council delivered various health inequalities interventions using a soft approach (covering topics that have been specifically requested by Mum’s).

An ‘Information Day’ event is being held at the Hullbridge Centre, in April 2010.  The event, organised by Rochford District’s Local Strategic Partnership is primarily targeted, but not exclusively so, to residents over the age of 50 and is designed, to raise awareness of a number of useful local services, organisations and facilities that are available to them.  Among those confirmed to attend are Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, Essex Police including the Rochford Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, NHS SE Essex, Energy Saving Trust, Essex Libraries and Blues Body Care.  Voluntary and Community Service Partners, RRAVS, SCAFT, CABS, Age Concern, Wyvern Community Transport, Springboard Handyman Scheme and more.  Although the event is themed towards the local services that are offered for older people anyone interested can attend.  There will be a number of other events that will take place right across the District throughout the year, giving local residents the opportunity to find out more about the services that are available to them and an opportunity to share their views on the services provided by the District.

The new Rochford library uses modern technology to free up staff from routine duties so they can spend more time with customers. It also has extended opening hours and offers a host of exciting events and activities provided in partnership with other organisations.   Cllr David Finch, who opened the library with council chairman Cllr Elizabeth Hart, said: “I am delighted this wonderful new library is finally open, offering an even better deal for local residents. Our customers have been delighted to learn its opening hours have doubled and its stocks of books increased. Yet it is much more than just a library – it is a multi-use centre where other council customer and partner services are provided in an efficient and effective way. This library is a tremendous asset for the people of Rochford and really provides something for everyone with facilities and state-of-the-art technology which are second to none.”

"The £0.5million upgrade was part of our EssexWorks commitment to invest in policies and services which enhance residents’ quality of life.  Designed to be a place to relax in and with a bright children’s area, the facility is a huge improvement on the former library in Market Square, which was too small to meet the needs and expectations of modern library users. There are new books to suit all tastes; computers with free internet access; a well-equipped meeting room suite available to local groups; self-service equipment and direct phone access to Contact Essex."

RRAVS Volunteer Centre signposts adult volunteers to placements in a variety of business, voluntary and community organisations.

STAR Partnerships ‘Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities’ provides job-search/confidence building/using on-line application sessions, locally, for people wishing to gain employment, learning opportunities or unpaid work.  Currently it is delivering the second round of this project. 

LSP funded projects include securing commitment from all executive members to include access to services within their strategy frameworks by March 2010.

Rochford LSP is investing PRG in transforming the effectiveness of their CVS and the support provided to the third sector in the district.   LSP funding of the employment of a Chief Officer for RRAVS in April 2009 to increase awareness of RRAVS role in the voluntary and community sector and to build and develop the partnership links with statutory agencies.

RRAVS core team is working to provide information advice and guidance to voluntary and community organisations to access training, funding and other support as identified.  Over £200,000 raised in 2008/9 to provide a range of service and improvements for the district. A Community Forum and Awareness Day was held in 2008/9 to promote services and support available for the sector.

Health Walks is a scheme which provides weekly half hour and hour walks in Hockley Woods and Hullbridge led by volunteer walk leaders. Volunteers have attended walk leader training and First Aid training. The work of volunteers was instrumental in the scheme being awarded the Walking the Way to Health accreditation through Natural England.

The LSP has also funded the RRAVS Chief Officer post 2009-2011 to specifically promote the development of the Third Sector.

A music project is provided in partnership between Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and RDC.  RPO facilitate music workshops in schools that culminate in a concert attended by members of the public.  Rayleigh Arts Festival:  Annual festival managed by RDC.  Activities include art exhibitions, street theatre, music and dance.  This is all provided free of charge.

The LSP Executive has funded various projects e.g. Open Arts and Rayleigh Arts Festival.

South Essex is part of the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership regeneration project, specifically Thurrock, Castle Point, Basildon, Rochford and Southend on Sea.  Projects include housing, nature reserves and town centre regeneration. The Council has secured funding to undertake Area Action Plans for each of its main “town centres”. The Hockley Area Action Plan initial consultation has just been completed and the next report is due for consultation toward the end of 2009. The Rochford Area Action Plan initial report is being finalised and is due out for consultation shortly.

Work is due to commence on Rayleigh Area Action Plan. Rochford District Council will continue to work on all Area Action Plans and associated consultation until preferred options are agreed.