At December's Full Council meeting the Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council demanded that the Government widens the public consultation across Essex on the proposed replacement Nuclear Power Station at Bradwell.

The Lib Dems Economic Development and Environment spokesman, Cllr David Kendall, put forward a motion asking for Members across the Chamber to back the call so that all Essex residents had an opportunity to make their voices heard on this very important issue.

At this week's full meeting of Essex County Council there was unanimous support for a Liberal Democrat motion requesting that all county councillors should make the safeguarding of vulnerable children the highest priority.

The Council needed to demonstrate to the people of Essex that everything is being done to ensure that vulnerable children are appropriately safeguarded.

Only Conservative-controlled Essex County Council could try and spin the escalation of a Government Direction - originally served on the County Council in March 2009, because of inadequate progress on safeguarding children - as a mark of achievement said Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Tom Smith-Hughes.

"This is political and PR manipulation at its worst. A clear rebuke - notwithstanding some progress made - is being interpreted as fulsome praise by the Council in its media announcements. I am concerned that the Essex public should not be misled on this issue. Escalation by the Government of their earlier Notice to Improve safeguarding of children is a mark of shame, not an acknowledgement of achievement.