On 15 December, Essex county council was issued with a statutory direction to improve children’s services in Essex. It requires: the establishment of a new improvement board by the end of January 2010 and the appointment of an independent chair; the improvement board to approve an improvement plan drawn up by the council which must meet the targets and requirements set by the Secretary of State and agreed with the council; the chair to report, on a bi-monthly basis, to both the Secretary of State and the leader of the council; and the chair to report to the Secretary of State and leader of the council by early February 2010 on the most immediate priorities for action, and the capacity required to address them.