Latest news with #GavinCallaghan
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Registration opens for Basildon's first ever half marathon
RUNNERS in Basildon are set to hit the streets as the town holds its first half-marathon later this year. The Basildon Half Marathon will be organised by RunThroughUK and will see amateurs and athletes from across the borough test their metal on Sunday September 14. Registration is now open for the event, which promises to be a 'supportive and rewarding' challenge for runners of all abilities. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. 'This is an exciting time for our borough - the first ever Basildon Half Marathon,' said Jack Ferguson, Labour councillor for culture, sport, children and young people. 'RunThroughUK have hosted events all over the UK, and now they're coming to Basildon to get runners of all abilities involved. 'I can't wait to see everyone at the start line on September 14 - it's going to be an incredible day.' RunThroughUK organises and hosts running challenges across the country, but this year's will be the first half marathon to take place in Basildon. Excitement - Council leader, Gavin Callaghan, has welcomed Basildon's first ever half marathon (Image: Basildon Council) A spokesperson for RunThroughUK said: 'Whether you're chasing a new PB or completing your first ever half marathon, everyone is invited to be part of this fun, supportive race day. 'The course offers a mixture of urban and countryside roads with gentle undulations, making it both a rewarding challenge and a great day out. 'With a Junior Race included, it's a family-friendly event perfect for getting young runners involved too.' In addition to a child-friendly race, the half marathon is also set to feature a 'vibrant event village' complete with food, drinks and music. Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council, is keen to make the upcoming half marathon a community-wide event. 'If you want to raise money for charity, if you want to walk it, if you want to get involved in anyway, then please do,' he said. 'It's going to be a great event, if you're not going to run, make sure you've got the date in your diary so you can come out and cheer from the side-lines.' Basildon Half Marathon will take place on Sunday September 14 and you can sign up at
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Change is happening': Basildon Council leader celebrates one year in office
'MAJOR change is happening' – that is the message from the leader of Basildon Council as his administration celebrates one year in office. Gavin Callaghan took over the leadership at the start of last May and has been pursuing an 'ambitious agenda' including the return of weekly bin collections, an increase in council homes and the purchase of the Westgate shopping centre. Despite Mr Callaghan's claims of widespread success, the leader of Basildon's Conservative council group has said it's only a matter of time before difficult decisions will have to be made. 'Belief has returned to Basildon,' said Mr Callaghan. Proud - Gavin Callaghan has hailed a year of successful achievements (Image: Basildon Council) 'You can see it and you can feel it. Over the past year, we've focused on what matters most to local people – and the results are clear.' 'One year on, I'm proud to say change is happening – and it's for the better,' added Mr Callaghan. 'We're fixing the basics while building a better future. Basildon deserves no less.' We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. 'We're not finished – we're just getting started. Thank you for believing in Basildon. The progress we've made together is only the beginning.' Improvements - Mr Callaghan recently celebrated the purchase of around 100 new units of temporary accommodation (Image: Basildon Council) Last month, residents saw a return to weekly bin collections and the scrapping of unpopular reusable recycling sacks following an overhaul of the council's waste management system. Council and temporary accommodation residents have also seen additional investment in their futures with the building of more than 100 new council homes and the securing of £16million for repairs and maintenance. Upcoming - The Basildon Health Centre is expected to open in the Eastgate later this year (Image: Basildon Council)Other achievements pointed to by Mr Callaghan include the purchase of the Westgate Shopping Centre to allow for the construction of a huge live entertainment arena, the approval of 1,163 new homes and the ongoing creation of new healthcare facilities in Pitsea and Basildon. However, the leader of Basildon Council's Conservative group, Andy Barnes, has questioned Mr Callaghan's claims of success. 'Whilst the presentation is slick, what residents are really interested in is delivery,' he said. 'The administration isn't being upfront about the costs of things like changing the waste system and building a new arena. Before long, the council's debt position will force them to make the difficult choices they are avoiding now.'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Record-breaking 114.39 tonnes of bulky waste collected for free in Basildon
A record-breaking 114.39 tonnes of rubbish was collected at a waste collection event in Basildon. The Crunch, which took place across Basildon's main towns on March 29, saw more waste collected than the last two Crunch events combined. The event, held across six locations, gave residents the chance to dispose of bulky items and accumulated waste at no cost. Basildon Council's refuse crews were on hand to ensure waste was disposed of properly and responsibly. The first Crunch of the year, following three successful events in 2024, saw a total of 114.39 tonnes of waste collected. This comprised 62.03 tonnes of general waste, 21 tonnes of wood, 10.54 tonnes of metal, 5.66 tonnes of electrical waste, and 15.16 tonnes of non-recyclable materials. Basildon Council's refuse crews hard at work (Image: Gavin Callaghan) Basildon Council remains committed to providing efficient and sustainable waste and recycling services throughout the borough. Aidan McGurran, councillor responsible for environment and leisure, said: "The first Crunch service of the year was a huge success, and it was fantastic to see so many residents getting involved and taking pride in their communities. "We are especially grateful to those who helped their neighbours access the service. "During Saturday's event alone, we collected 114.39 tonnes of waste - more than we did in the last two Crunch events combined. "Residents have told us they want this valuable service to continue, and we've listened. "I am proud to say we're delivering on that promise and more. The event was held across six locations in the Basildon borough (Image: Gavin Callaghan) "This is just the beginning of our efforts to improve waste collection, and we're excited to kick off weekly waste collections starting on April 28." A special thanks was also extended to the dedicated waste team for their hard work in assisting residents and ensuring proper disposal of their waste. The Crunch service was supported by each of the council's area committees in Basildon, Billericay, Laindon and Lee Chapel North, Pitsea, Westley Heights, and Wickford. The Crunch service is part of a larger initiative to improve waste management in the borough.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Essex leaders want cut-down model of five councils
The majority of council leaders in Essex have lent their support to the idea of having five all-purpose authorities in the county, in what will be a radical shake-up of local democracy. The current two-tier system of 15 district, unitary and county councils in Essex would be dramatically changed as part of the plan. Ten out of the 15 political leaders favour the five-council proposal, which is due to be sent to government by 21 March. One of the leaders in favour - Basildon's Gavin Callaghan (Lab) - previously told the BBC it was a "real opportunity to take back control" of services. Councillors across the county are due to discuss this over the next week, but Westminster will ultimately make a decision. The interim plan on Local Government Reorganisation for Greater Essex states that this model will retain "a sense of local place and communities". The Conservative leaders of Harlow, Braintree, Epping and Essex county have not backed the five-council model - and neither has Thurrock's Labour leader John Kent. The Labour government has been encouraging areas across England to put together devolution plans, and to elect regional mayors who will be given more powers. The five new councils in Essex would be unitary authorities, meaning they take charge of all local services such as bin collections, highways and social care. Essex County Council's social care currently takes up more than half its £1bn budget. Each unitary authority would govern between 320,000 to 500,000 people and would have an estimated 60-90 elected members - which the Essex plan says will ultimately cut down the number of councillors across the county. Politically, the fewer and larger the councils are in Essex, the more likely the Conservatives would win control. This is on the basis of how people in the county have voted in recent elections. And this is partly why Labour and other parties have been calling for five and the Tories preferring fewer. Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley, who favours larger unitary authorities, said: "The worst outcome for local government reorganisation in Essex would be to recreate the mistakes of the past elsewhere in designing new councils that are too small in terms of population and income – meaning people ending up paying out more in council tax which means less money for family budgets." Elections to the new councils are expected in May 2027 and they will take over from existing councils in April 2028. This May's county council elections were cancelled to allow local authorities to focus on developing the reorganisation plans. Chelmsford City Council's Liberal Democrat leader Stephen Robinson said: "Dissembling the county and district councils: that is the difficult bit." Existing contracts will have to be split, changed and ended, and staff moved into the new councils. The Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Greens argued that the elections should still have gone ahead. Elections for the first Greater Essex mayor, representing 1.8 million people, are planned for May 2026. The report notes that the role of the police, fire and crime commissioner will end and its roles will be taken on by the new mayor. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Council shake-up sees elections delayed in nine areas Could three Essex councils become one? Essex calls to scrap elections and reform councils Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex - Interim Plan Government policy on English Devolution and reorganisation
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Essex devolution: Council leaders back five-authority model
The majority of council leaders in Essex have lent their support to the idea of having five all-purpose authorities in the county, in what will be a radical shake-up of local current two-tier system of 15 district, unitary and county councils in Essex would be dramatically changed as part of the out of the 15 political leaders favour the five-council proposal, which is due to be sent to government by 21 of the leaders in favour - Basildon's Gavin Callaghan - previously told the BBC it was a "real opportunity to take back control" of services. Councillors across the county are due to discuss this over the next week, but Westminster will ultimately make a interim plan on Local Government Reorganisation for Greater Essex states that this model will retain "a sense of local place and communities".The Conservative leaders of Harlow, Braintree, Epping and Essex county have not backed the five-council model - and neither has Thurrock's Labour leader John Kent. The Labour government has been encouraging areas across England to put together devolution plans, and to elect regional mayors who will be given more five new councils in Essex would be unitary authorities, meaning they take charge of all local services such as bin collections, highways and social County Council's social care currently takes up more than half its £1bn unitary authority would govern between 320,000 to 500,000 and would have an estimated 60-90 elected members - which the Essex plan says would ultimately cut down the number of councillors across the the fewer and larger the councils are in Essex, the more likely the Conservatives would win control. This is on the basis of how people in the county have voted in recent this is partly why Labour and other parties have been calling for five and the Tories preferring to the new councils are expected in May 2027 and the they would take over from existing councils in April May's county council elections were cancelled to allow local authorities to focus on developing the reorganisation City Council's Liberal Democrat leader Stephen Robinson said: "Dissembling the county and district councils: that is the difficult bit."Existing contracts will have to be split, changed and ended, and staff moved into the new Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Greens argued that the elections should still have gone ahead. Elections for the first Greater Essex mayor, representing 1.8 million people, are planned for May report notes that the role of the police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) will end and its roles will be taken on by the new mayor. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
