Seventeen of Chelmsford City Council's main parks across the city have been recognised by the Green Flag Award scheme for another year running as some of the best parks and green spaces in the UK.

The prestigious flags can be found across Chelmsford in parks including Galleywood Common, Oaklands Park, Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve and more.

Chelmsford City Council has passed a motion to be an example of good tax conduct and encourage businesses it deals with to have good tax practices.

As a result, the council has become the 26^th council in the UK to become a Fair Tax Council.

The scheme asks councils to support tax justice with a range of measures, including promoting Fair Tax Mark accreditation, which recognises businesses that pay the right amount of corporate income tax at the right time and in the right place. Fair Tax Mark businesses include listed PLCs, co-operatives, social enterprises and large private business.

A former water mill in the Chelmsford area could become a facility enjoyed throughout the year, potentially for leisure, educational or cultural uses. Lib Dem-led Chelmsford City Council is at the very earliest stages of coming up with plans to develop Chelmsford's Sandford Mill into a much more accessible asset for the community.

Marconi ponds that had become overgrown have been restored and are now the central feature of a Chelmsford nature reserve - thanks to the work of a dedicated group of enthusiasts and a grant from Chelmsford City Council.

Over the past few years, a committed team have been hacking back nettles and brambles, improving paths and shoring up the banks of the pond. The work has created a peaceful wildlife haven a stone's throw from the centre of Chelmsford. At the heart of the reserve is the pond, which gives Marconi Ponds Nature Reserve its name.

Chelmsford City Council has agreed to strongly object to current proposals for a new National Grid electricity transmission line between Norwich and Tilbury.

A response to the plans, which was approved on 14 July by Policy Board, says that the consultation for this scheme is premature and that all options for transmitting electricity across the region have not yet been fully explored.

Inflation has significantly increased Chelmsford City Council's budget gap, according to a new projection. The latest forecast of council finances estimates a shortfall of £4.2 million for 2023/24 - much higher than the deficit of £1.7 million expected as recently as last February.

The Council's Cabinet noted on Tuesday the updated forecast, and Full Council will decide on 20 July whether to allow some of the council's rainy day savings reserves to be used to bring down the gap to around £3.2 million.

A plea was made for all children in families receiving Universal Credit to receive free school meals. This was called for by Liberal Democrats on Essex County Council on 12 July but was rejected by the Conservatives.

Lib Dem councillors pointed out that, since the Free School Meals policy was introduced (seven years ago by the Liberal Democrats in Government), the Conservatives have increased funding per pupil from £2.30 to just £2.34 - an increase of 1.3% compared to inflation of 7%. As a result, children in the Essex County Council area have lost the equivalent of £1,171,603 - more than any other area in the country. Had funding increased with inflation, it would currently stand at, at least £2.46 per pupil. This funding cut has left Essex schools covering the extra cost by spending less on textbooks and teachers.

Chelmsford City Council will give a higher priority to action on climate change, affordable housing and community facilities in an upcoming review of its Local Plan. This change of priorities is driven by the Liberal Democrats, who want to address the failings of the current Local Plan, written by the previous Conservative leadership of the City Council.