In February of this year I launched EssexWorks, our vision for delivering in Essex the best quality of life in Britain for our residents. EssexWorks outlines our promises to Essex citizens based on our strong commitment to traditional Conservative values such as choice, opportunity, independence, value for money and environmental stewardship.

This paper, The Essex Story, explains how we find ourselves where we are today. It details the pre-history of EssexWorks, explaining how this concise articulation of our aspirations for the county has continuously developed from the manifesto pledges we made to the residents of Essex back in 2001 and 2005.

I am proud to recount our progress over the last seven years. When we took control of the County Council, we focused on getting a robust grip of the finances, which were in a parlous state, and in restoring common sense and purpose to the work of the organisation. Our first term was about turning the place around, in effect. Having achieved this, we sought to consolidate and embed the improvements we introduced. If the first term was about turnaround, our second has really been about getting motoring, accelerating improvements and innovation since being returned with an increased majority in May 2005, building on the difficult decisions and increased investment we made in the years from 2001 to 2005.

It has been an exciting time. I hope that The Essex Story gives you a flavour of the journey we have embarked on and the progress we have made.

Lord Hanningfield

Leader of Essex County Council

During the 1990s, Essex County Council was in No Overall Control, a period marked by political instability and weak leadership. The Council was largely hung and governed by a Labour/Liberal Democrat alliance. The Conservatives took control in May 2000 with the formation of a Conservative and Independent coalition, and this was followed with a substantial conservative majority in the 2001 elections (49 out of 79 seats). The administration's control was enhanced further in the 2005 elections, when the Conservatives were returned with a larger majority, with 52 out of 75 seats.

The Audit Commission quickly recognised the difference that the clear political mandate in 2001 had made. In their 2002 Corporate Assessment report they noted that:

"Political leadership until June 2001 was weaker....Since June 2001 there has been clear political leadership and a new sense of direction. The council has confirmed the priorities and has a clear agenda for the term of this administration....since 2000 there has been progress in tackling some recurrent problems and making key resource decisions in line with the new priorities.''

Manifestoes were published for both the 2001 and 2005 elections, and these went on to provide clear direction for the Council. These electoral pledges were refined and honed, and the administration's priorities have been articulated in our corporate planning documents - firstly the Essex Approac, then the Corporate Plan, and most recently, the EssexWorks Corporate Plan. The 2001 manifesto focused strongly on opportunity, independence and environmental stewardship, and, following the initial period of stabilisation, the 2005 manifesto built on this with the addition of stronger themes around choice and value for money.

The Audit Commission recognised the impact of the manifesto documents, stating in their 2004 report that

"The Essex Approach is a clear political statement of the county council's vision for Essex that sets clear and challenging ambitions for the area. It continues to be based on the administration's pledges in the 2001 election but has been refined to take into account the results of the extensive consultation for the community strategy. The Essex Approach is widely owned within the county council and understood by partners. Members use the themes set out in the Essex Approach to inform their decision making on resource allocation. It provides clear direction for the county council at the strategic level".

Looking back, the Essex Approach is an exceptionally comprehensive suite of documents. Our new vision, EssexWorks, is markedly more concise; it makes clear our commitment to deliver the best quality of life in Britain for residents of Essex.

While our pledges and priorities have a clear resonance with our communities, it would be a mistake to view this focus as recent. Reviewing Essex County Council's progress since the turn of the century clearly demonstrates how a commitment to choic, opportunity, independence, value and environmental stewardship has been embedded in the way the authority delivers services.