BRITAIN’S most deprived village is to have its own top councillor to help tackle its problems.

Tendring Council has made its housing portfolio holder Paul Honeywood also the authority’s cabinet member for Jaywick.

Council leader Neil Stock said the move would help drive forward regeneration efforts to bring new homes, jobs and infrastructure.

“It’s important we recognise the specific issue of Jaywick,” he told Friday’s council cabinet meeting.

Tendring Council has already spent £2million buying 28 hectares of land to boost job creation, improving housing and roads.

Essex County Council is also spending £5million on improving roads and drainage over the next couple of years.

Both councils are working together to boost private investment in the village. Initiatives include pushing for a supermarket for Brooklands and landlords taking greater responsibility for the quality of their properties.

“We are very serious about what we want to achieve for the residents of Jaywick and I know Paul is up for the challenge ahead,” said Mr Stock.

“Promises have been made in the past and, for whatever reason, they have not been followed through, but we are determined to deliver.”

Mr Honeywood said there was much to be done, but a good start had been made.

Working closely with the community and bringing them onside, there would be real change for the better,” he added.

“It’s not going to happen overnight. Jaywick is on the up,” he told Friday’s meeting.

The work being carried out in Jaywick has the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron and Mark Francois, Minister for State for Communities and Resilience.

Mr Stock met Mr Francois last month in London and the PM discussed Jaywick on a visit to Tendring in 2014, and has kept in touch with Mr Stock to keep up to date.

Tendring Council leads the Coastal Communities Team in Jaywick and the Jaywick Forum is also on board.