Voluntary sector needed to help Essex

Essex County Council are hoping help from the voluntary sector will help ease the impact of government cuts to reduce the country's big debt.

Essex County Council leader Peter Martin told Heart he hopes more of its adult social care, care for vulnerable people and care of children will be provided by the voluntary sector in future.

The county council are also hoping people living in Essex will offer ideas on where savings could be made and so on.

A special edition of the EssexWorks magazine is being sent to around 650,00 homes here from next week containing a questionnaire to set out their priorities.

Residents will also be able to have a say on the council's website from tomorrow. We'll give you the link as soon as it goes live.

The first phase of the public engagement will run until September before comments are then discussed.