Protest is taking place outside @Essex_CC ahead of special mtg about future of library services in the county. Mtg starts at 10am.

Protesters oppose any library closures & say they want to turn them into community hubs. The Special Meeting on the future of library services in #Essex has begun @Essex_CC.

We start with 30mins of public Qs, each person has 3mins to ask a Q.

Astonishing interview with Neil Stock, Leader of @Tendring_DC just now on @BBCEssex re: joint letter from all #Essex councils to @SadiqKhan & London Borough Council Leaders telling them to stop moving problem families from the capital into the county. Neil Stock tells @DaveMonkEssex that although many parts of #Essex are affluent, there are pockets of severe deprivation, and "we don't need London to dump their problems on us." He adds: "These families have no say - they're being expelled almost"

This afternoon I’m at @EssexPFCC mtg. PFCC Roger Hirst tells the panel @EssexPoliceUK facing “serious cost pressures” in next year. This includes £3.5m hole in pension pot due to changes made by govt to all public sector pensions Other pressures on police budget:
- increase in fuel costs for vehicles
- IT programme replacement
- “7 figure increase in cost of insuring police’s motor fleet”

RH says govt is aware of these pressures which aren’t unique to Essex, and will address it in 👮‍♀️ funding settlement

Well this is interesting. @yourcolchester Cabinet have decided not to spend an extra £100k on North Essex Garden Communities UNTIL they've received an update letter from the Planning Inspector on which parts of the plan are viable. The recommendation was to agree the spending. Opposition Cllrs are very supportive of decision to withhold the 100k. But still unhappy with North Essex Garden Communities company. Q of why NEGC is spending £130k on PR firm? @MarkAlanCory says this is for public engagement sessions about the plans-not PR.

BREAKING: @Essex_cc announces 25 libraries to close & another 18 to be run by volunteers under plans which are due to go out to public consultation on 29th Nov. Much more detail to come on @BBCEssex including @DaveMonkEssex interview at 5pm with Cabinet Member Cllr Sue Barker. Here's all the places where @Essex_cc is proposing library closures:
@BasildonCouncil: Fryerns & Vange
@BraintreeDC: Hatfield Peveral, Kelvedon, Sible Hedingham, Silver End
@Brentwood: None
@CastlePointBC: None
@ChelmsCouncil: Broomfield, Danbury, Galleywood, tock, Writtle

Tonight I'm @UKIP's "Brexit SOS" event in Chelmsford. It's standing room only as the crowd waits for a talk from former @Conservatives MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson .@oflynnmep who's hosting the event delivers his assessment of #Essex @Conservatives MPs on Brexit. He praises @JWhittingdale, @JamesDuddridge who he says "put his head above the parapet last week" & @patel4witham who he describes as "passionate about delivering Brexit".