Basildon Borough Council

Warning posters have been put up in Essex after a report of a snake being spotted in woodland.

They advise dog walkers near Norsey Woods, Billericay to keep pets on a lead after the apparent sighting of a boa constrictor.

BBC

The posters from Basildon Council say the "escaped or illegally released" snake is not a danger to humans but "it would probably be a good idea to keep small dogs on a lead".

Anyone who sees it is advised to call animal control at the council.

BBC

Basildon Borough Council will go on trial next month over injuries caused to a six-year-old when a wall fell on her in 2016 in Vange, Essex.

The girl had a severe head injury after the 6ft wall, which backed on to a public footpath, collapsed in August 2016.

The council is charged with breaches of health and safety law.

A trial date has been set for 2 August at Southend Magistrates' Court.

BBC

The former Labour leader of Basildon Council says the party isn’t getting its message across to the people who should be supporting it.

After seeing the Conservatives take control of the council, Gavin Callaghan said: "We have a long way to go to convince the public that Labour’s top team can trusted.

"There is a perception in the Labour party that the manifesto we stood on last year is the answer to all our problems. It clearly isn't."

Mr Callaghan said the Tories had taken control of Basildon by winning one of the most deprived wards in the country. "They should have put their trust in Labour, instead they went for the Tories," he said.

A second declaration in Swindon has witnessed nearly a 5% increase in turnout, again suggesting that the voter ID pilot in the borough may not have significantly impacted on turnout. Meanwhile, in this ward too there is virtually no swing from Conservative to Labour or vice-versa.

It looks as though it could be the case that the Tories' hope of winning Basildon will not be fulfilled. The wards that were held by UKIP seem to be reverting to whichever of Conservative or Labour won the ward before 2014, but in one instance a previously Conservative ward has instead been captured by an independent. If this pattern persists, the Tories are likely to be short of the four gains that they require to win overall control.

In the first four wards counted, the turn-out in Basildon has been 20%, with the postal vote down by 40%.

The Conservatives and Labour have each gained a seat from UKIP in Basildon. The Tories are hoping to take control of the council, where no party at present is in overall control.