Ed Davey, newly appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, was quick to make his mark in his new role when he confirmed his personal commitment to green growth, green jobs and the wider use of wind power technology. "I think that onshore and offshore wind power has a real place in a balanced mix of energy generation so I'm a huge supporter of renewables" he said.

100 Tory back-benchers have tabled a motion calling for a dramatic cut in subsidies for onshore wind farms but Ed is very clear where he stands. "Already we've seen through the subsidies that this government has invested in onshore wind that the price has come down to make onshore more competitive, so we've got money in all sorts of renewables because of the success of these investments.

"There may have been a change at the helm, but there'll be no change in direction or ambition. My priorities are very simple: green jobs, green growth and getting the best deal for energy bill payers."Ed and Nick Clegg were visiting the Building Research Establishment's Innovation Park near Watford, a testing site for green homes, where they met graduates considering moving into green construction jobs. Nick Clegg told them "The race is on to lead the world in clean, green energy. The savviest states understand that going for growth means going green. Low-carbon markets are the next frontier in the battle for global pre-eminence.

"We have every reason to be confident. The combination of enviable wind, wave and tidal power, a world-beating research base and a proud history of engineering give the UK a clear competitive edge. So we're already in pole position. But the reality is: we need to sharpen our elbows if we want to stay ahead." Ed Davey also announced that 155 community energy projects across the country have won a share of £5.1 million of funding from the Local Energy Assessment Fund. The winning bids include projects to demonstrate wall insulation to the public, schemes to check the energy efficiency of homes and events to promote energy efficiency in local communities.

While Ed was getting to grips with his new job, Norfolk North's Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb was taking up his new appointment as Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs in the Department of Business Innovation and Skills. Welcoming him Secretary of State Vince Cable said "Norman's professional background as an employment lawyer and experience as the Liberal Democrat's Trade and Industry Spokesman make him an ideal replacement. He pioneered our policy to privatise Royal Mail and establish employee share ownership in the business so it is fitting that he will be responsible for implementing that policy."

Norman, who was previously chief political adviser to Nick Clegg, expressed himself particularly delighted to be implementing the Post Office reforms he had pioneered in opposition. These would give employees a stake in the company.

Two other new appointments were announced in the mini-reshuffle. Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott becomes an Assistant Government Whip and Dunbartonshire East's MP Jo Swinson becomes PPS to Nick Clegg.

Chelmsford Council has given planning permission for 135 houses in fields off Patching Hall Lane (see Committee Agenda). Local Lib Dem Councillors Stephen Robinson and Alan Arnot attended to speak up for local residents. Cllr. Robinson spoke out about a number of traffic concerns - in particular, the exit from Skerry Rise onto Broomfield Road and the Hollow Lane / Patching Hall Lane / School Lane junction.

Liberal Democrat councillors have condemned the pay bonanza for top staff at Essex County Council.

The Liberal Democrats, who are the main opposition to the Council's ruling Conservatives, have uncovered shocking figures which show that the number of Council employees (excluding school staff) paid £80,000 or more has nearly doubled in a year.

Essex County Council's Statement of Accounts 2010 / 11 shows that the number of County Council staff, excluding school staff, paid £80,000 or more jumped from 59 to 104 over the 12 months to March 2011.

At a time when jobs and services are being cut because money is scarce - and pay freezes are common - such a large rise in highly paid Council staff is not acceptable. It will not find favour with most council taxpayers.

Residents in the Tile Kiln / Moulsham Lodge neighbourhood are working with their local Lib Dem Councillors to back plans for a pedestrian crossing. County Councillor Jude Deakin will be taking their concerns to Essex County Council. You can back the campaign by joining the Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/groups/341238239242015/ or signing the online petition: http://ourcampaign.org.uk/schoolcrossings

Gas supplies from Russian supplier Gazprom to Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Germany have fallen by up to 30% over the last few days. This underlines the need for energy security with green energy, according to Lib Dem MEP Sir Graham Watson.

Sir Graham is Chairman of the Climate Parliament, a global network of MPs and MEPs from all mainstream political parties working to accelerate the move from fossil fuels to renewable energy. He said that the switch to green energy has now become just as much an energy security issue as an environmental imperative.

Labour today called a parliamentary debate on bank bonuses but was accused of hypocrisy by Lib Dem Business & Skills spokesman Lorely Burt MP. She said: "The sheer hypocrisy of Labour to point the finger on bankers' bonuses is staggering. Labour presided over the biggest boom in bonuses this country has seen, from £3.1bn in 2001 to £11.5 billion in 2007. At the same time, they sat back and knighted the financial speculators who led this country to the brink of economic collapse.

"The Coalition Government inherited this economic mess from Labour and has taken decisive action to put the country back on track. We've capped cash bonuses at state owned banks to £2,000 and overall, the bonus pool is smaller than last year and considerably less than under Labour.

"In Government, Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing - implementing the Vickers' proposals to make banking safer in the future, continuing our fight to get the banks to lend more and introducing the banking levy which raises £2.5bn a year. All Labour can do is complain from the side lines.

"While Labour spent thirteen years being intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich, Liberal Democrats have made clear that our priority is lifting the lowest paid people out of paying income tax all together."

The Government has announced £15m to boost cycling, including £8m for transport charity Sustrans to enhance cycle routes and £7m to make it easier for cyclists to use the railways. The announcement (by Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker) was welcomed by Lib Dem Transport spokesman Julian Huppert MP who said: "This comes at a crucial time. Just five days ago The Times launched a cycle campaign in response to the shocking increase in fatalities among cyclists on our roads.

"It is absolutely essential people should be able to walk to work or cycle to school in a safe environment. The extra £8m for Sustrans will go a long way to achieving this.

"And the £7m for improved rail-cycle links will ensure that we continue to build a transport network which puts passengers first."

Chelmsford Council was taken to task this evening for failing to give a high enough priority to new community facilities, public open space and new jobs for residents. The Liberal Democrat group told the Council's Development Policy Committee that these issues should have been addressed in the Site Allocations Document, which was under debate.

A primary school has gone on record to welcome the extra money they have received from the "Pupil Premium". This was a Lib Dem manifesto commitment, now being delivered in Government, to support those children falling behind at school. It is £678,000 extra for Chelmsford schools.

Staff and pupils of Peterbrook Primary School welcomed Lib Dem Leader and Deputy PM Nick Clegg to the school, alongside the local MP for Solihull Lorely Burt. Here's how the school website reports the visit:

University admission figures published today show that the proportion of English school leavers applying to university this year is greater than ever before, barring the exceptional last year. Applications from people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds remain strong. The Advocate for Access to Education and Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes MP, said: "Today's figures show that on the whole young people have not been put off by the changes in the student finance system.

"This is due in no small part to the serious effort put in by the Coalition Government and many others in making sure that each young person and their parents knew all the facts about funding higher education.

"In particular, many families clearly now understand that all graduates will pay less each month towards the cost of their university education than they did before.

"There has been a larger drop in the number of older students applying to university. The Government will have to take a serious look at why this has happened, particularly as mature students for the first time also do not have to pay for their university education in advance.

"However, because mature students have more flexibility in when they apply, there are still good opportunities for people looking to start university this year to put in an application."