BASILDON Council leader Cllr Andrew Baggott will be holding open meetings for residents in each of the borough's five towns over the next few months.

The 90 minute sessions are described as an opportunity for residents to meet the new council leader and ask any questions they may have, as well as an opportunity for residents to find out about the work that has been done in recent months. The sessions will feature an introduction from Cllr Baggot before an open question and answers session with the audience.

The first of these 'Meet the Leader' sessions will be for Laindon residents and will take place between 6.30pm - 8pm on Thursday, 12 August at the Bluehouse Farm Community Centre. No booking is needed as all the sessions are walk in.

Cllr Baggott said: "Having been elected a few months ago now I thought this would be a good time and opportunity for residents to meet me and hear about all the good work going on in their local area and across the borough.

"Last time in administration I set up these events in recognition of how important it is to engage with residents on a personal level and I want to continue that now that we are back in administration.

"I encourage any resident to come along - it's an opportunity to ask questions on any subject, in a hopefully informal and convivial manner."

Full details of areas/dates/times are as follows:

Thursday, 12 August, 6.30pm - 8pm

Bluehouse Farm Community Centre, Laindon Link, Basildon SS15 5UH

Tuesday, 24 August, 11.30am - 1pm

Wat Tyler Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea SS16 4UH

Wednesday, 8 September, 6.30pm - 8pm

Basildon Library, St Martin's Square, Basildon SS14 1EE

Thursday, 23 September, 6.30pm - 8pm

Chantry Centre, Chantry Way, Billericay CM11 2AP

There are also events planned in Wickford and Vange in October.

For more information visit www.basildon.gov.uk/meettheleader