It seems incredible that a whole year has passed since I was elected, but here we are swearing in a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

More exciting for us, however, is that the Liberal Democrat group welcomes a new councillor, Ross Carter, in the neighbouring ward of Brentwood North and we’re all delighted too that our leader, Cllr David Kendall, is back with a whopping majority of 382 in Pilgrims Hatch!  We’re disappointed, of course, that Brentwood West’s popular candidate Nigel Clarke missed out on being elected this time and so didn’t join us in the council chamber.  But don’t worry, our Nigel remains a firm fixture in the Brentwood West team and he’ll be back at the next borough council elections!  Despite still being a team of six, I’m sure we’ll not go unnoticed as we fight your corner and speak up for residents at the Town Hall.

In a mainly good natured meeting (every year starts like that….!) we presented a petition about the Sandpit Lane/Ongar Road junction that had been signed by over 200 residents.  This will be dealt with at the Highways Panel in June alongside some improvements to junctions in Brentwood West.