I agree entirely with B-the-B.
Apart from Councillor Longley (whose comments will surely be seen as ridiculous) all the other Councillors quoted were supportive of the airport and this, together with the establishment of the joint Southend/Rochford committee should mean that everyone is kicking towards the same goal.
Presure is likely to fall upon Rochford to reach agreement on the use of the Green Belt land (which RAL already own) for the railway station Parkway.