The new Chelmsford Local Plan gives the Council more powers to address the climate emergency and housing crisis, both of which the City Council prioritised after the election in 2019. It was adopted by the City Council on 27th May at a special online meeting. Watch the meeting on YouTube.

Said Lib Dem Leader Stephen Robinson, "We will demand that developers provide for jobs, shops, open space and supporting infrastructure, not just new homes - all met in a sustainable manner.

The National Lottery's new Coronavirus Community Support Fund for organisations is now open.

The fund will be aimed primarily at small to medium organisations in England.

The Fund has two key objectives:

1. To increase community support to vulnerable people affected by the COVID-19 crisis, through the work of civil society organisations.
2. To reduce temporary closures of essential charities and social enterprises, ensuring services for vulnerable people impacted by COVID-19 have the financial resources to operate, and so reduce the burden on public services.

The new Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford for 2020 - 21 are Councillor Jude Deakin and her daughter Helen. They were elected last night (Wednesday 13 May) at the first-ever virtual meeting of the Full Chelmsford City Council.

Jude lived in South Woodham Ferrers with her two daughters Heather and Helen before moving to Chelmsford in 2006. She previously worked in logistics, recruitment, office management and as a carer.

Chelmsford will commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day this Friday at 2.55pm, in a virtual ceremony hosted by the City Council. It will bring people from Chelmsford together to mark the occasion, on this unusual Bank Holiday.

The Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Bob Massey, will lead the broadcast, which will be shown on the Council's Facebook page (@ChelmsCouncil) at 2.55pm. The video will have all the usual key elements of a civic commemoration - but with people filmed at home and sharing footage of performances given before the national lockdown started.

Chelmsford City Council has created a new online survey designed to gain a greater understanding of how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting local businesses. The information gathered will help the Council and its partners to identify any specific local business support needs and ensure that resources and help are more effectively targeted in their recovery plans.

The survey is open to all businesses who operate in Chelmsford and can be found on the Council's website at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business-recovery-survey/

Leader of Chelmsford City Council, Councillor Stephen Robinson, said "We are very aware of the pressure on businesses and the uncertainty they are facing as a result of the coronavirus. We encourage all businesses to complete the survey and share with us how they have been affected and what support they need in the short, medium and long-term. By completing the survey, you will help us target our support so we can assist businesses in navigating through these difficult times and plan for the future."

He added, "I also encourage all eligible businesses that have not yet applied for a grant to submit their application via our website without delay so as not to miss out on the funding. We will continue doing all we can to support our local businesses through this crisis."

Cabinet Deputy for the Economy and Small Business, Councillor Martin Bracken, said "We are committed to supporting local businesses through this crisis. We encourage all businesses to take part in the survey which will provide us with important insights so we can determine how to best help local companies. Jobs, investment and growth are critical to the wellbeing of the city so it is important we do everything we can to protect businesses from the worst impacts of the coronavirus and help prepare them for the recovery."

So far, over 1,900 Chelmsford businesses have been sent grants by Chelmsford City Council to support them in the current crisis. More grants are being paid out every day, and the City Council wants to encourage any eligible businesses to apply if they have not done so.

Businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure sectors with a rateable value of up to £51,000 can apply for a grant. Depending on their rateable value, the grant is either £10,000 or £25,000. Small businesses in any sector with a rateable value up to £15,000, that pay little or no rates due to small business rate relief or rural rate relief, could benefit from £10,000 to help meet their ongoing costs.

The Government provided Chelmsford City Council with £31 million to deliver two grant funding schemes to support for local businesses. With over £25 million already awarded, there is still £6 million to be claimed.

Eligible businesses that have not yet applied for a grant can still apply - at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business/coronavirus-help-and-guidance-for-businesses-and-employers/application-business-support-grant. Letters reminding businesses to apply have also been sent to local businesses.

The very latest information and guidance for businesses and employers can be found on the Council's website at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business/coronavirus-guidance-for-businesses-and-employers. That includes details of which businesses are eligible and gives a link to the grants application form.

The Chelmsford Business Recovery Survey can be found at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business-recovery-survey/. Responders' contact details will not be shared and no individual businesses will be identified in any published data.

To keep up-to-date with the latest news and announcements from Chelmsford City Council, please sign up to there 'City News' mailing list at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/mailinglist.

Over 120 sports clubs and community organisations in Essex participated in three live webinars delivered by Active Essex and Sport England, to hear about what emergency financial support is available to them in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each webinar focused on the Sport England Community Emergency Fund, a £20m support package aimed to help community sport and physical activity organisations experiencing short term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

More than two hundred local people have volunteered alongside Chelmsford City Council staff to help bring food, medicine and phone conversation to vulnerable residents across Chelmsford - and they're already making a big difference.

Chelmsford City Council and Chelmsford Voluntary Service (CVS) are part of a countywide operation to bring assistance to vulnerable people who are self-isolating. Those who are staying at home and who are in need can call the Essex Welfare Service on 0300 303 9988 to request anything from advice and a chat with someone over the phone to essential supplies or help with looking after their pets. Requests are then fielded to local volunteers, and a new Chelmsford Community Response Hub, to carry out practical tasks such as collecting grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions.

To support the local economy over 1,400 Chelmsford businesses have been sent grants by Chelmsford City Council to support them in the current crisis. More grants are being paid out every day, and the City Council wants to encourage any eligible businesses to apply if they have not done so.

The grants are for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, with a rateable value under £51,000. Depending on the size of their business, they can apply for a cash grant of £10,000 or £25,000. Small businesses that pay little or no business rates could benefit from £10,000 to help meet their ongoing costs.

The Government provided Chelmsford City Council with £31 million to deliver two grant funding schemes to support for local businesses. With over £19 million already awarded, there is still £12 million to be claimed.

Eligible businesses that have not yet applied for a grant can still apply - at https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business/coronavirus-help-and-guidance-for-businesses-and-employers/application-business-support-grant/ The City Council will also be sending them reminder letters.

Councillor Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council, said: "We hope that these grants have helped businesses during a very stressful time. We recognise the importance of supporting local businesses, and council officers are working tirelessly to process the many applications as quickly as possible.

"I encourage all eligible businesses that have not yet applied to submit their application via the website without delay so as not to miss out on the funding. We will continue doing all we can to support our local businesses through this crisis."

The very latest information and guidance for businesses and employers can be found on the Council's website: https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business/coronavirus-guidance-for-businesses-and-employers. That includes details of which businesses are eligible and gives a link to the grants application form.