Agenda item

To receive reports from the Leader and members of the Cabinet on matters falling within their area of responsibility:

(a)         Report of the Leader;

(b)     Report of the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder;

(c)         Report of the Environment Portfolio Holder;

(d)     Report of the Finance and Technology Portfolio Holder;

(e)         Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder;

(f)      Report of the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder;

(g)         Report of the Planning Portfolio Holder;    

(h)     Report of the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder;

(i)      Report of the Support Services Portfolio Holder.

The Council received written reports from the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, the Environment Portfolio Holder, the Finance and Technology Portfolio Holder, the Housing Portfolio Holder, the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, the Planning Portfolio Holder, the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder and the Support Services Portfolio Holder.

The Chairman invited the Leader to provide an oral report and other members of the Cabinet give an oral update of their written reports.

(a)        The Leader of the Council

Councillor Whitbread advised that he had attended a joint meeting of the Essex Leaders and Chief Executives, where the Regional Returning officer for the European Parliament Elections in May 2014 gave an update on preparations.The Leader advised that they also received a presentation on the establishment of an Employment Skills Board for the County. The intention behind the new Board was to achieve a greater level of involvement and influence from the Business Community, to ensure that young people leaving Further Education had the skills and abilities that employers were practically seeking.

Continuing with the theme of young people, he advised the Council  that nine apprentices had now started the Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme and wished them well in their future employment with the District Council.

Councillor Whitbread reported that he had attended a event hosted bythe County Council and the Phoenix Publishing and Media Group at the former Little Chef and Motel on the A414 near North Weald on the 3 October 2013. Phoenix were a major Chinese publishing company who were refurbishing the site as a centre for promoting Chinese Cultural Industries across the UK and Europe. He stated that thisinitiative should attract groups of Chinese business people and tourists to the area, supporting the local economy and also produce employment opportunities. 

The Leader advised that he toured the District with Councillor Kevin Bentley, the County Council Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, visiting a number of employment and tourism sites across the area. He stated that Councillor Bentley was greatly impressed with their potential and this was a useful exercise, to create a greater understanding and to identify opportunities to work together with the County Council.

Councillor Whitbread advised that another area of common interest with the County Council had been the new Waste Management Contract. He had recently met with the County Council Cabinet member responsible for waste disposal, with Councillor Breare-Hall, who had provided more detail about the County’s desire to renegotiate aspects of the Inter-Authority Agreement, within his Environment Portfolio Holder report.

The Leader drew attention to the training session on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults he had attended on 26 October 2013. It had been the current focus as a result of the recent high profile cases and high level of media interest.  He advised members that everyone had a duty to protect children and vulnerable adults with whom they came into contact with, in their role as elected Members and those people who use the Councils services.  The Leader felt that it was very important for all members to have an appropriate level of safeguarding training, and was in discussion with officers as to how this could be achieved.

(b)       Planning Portfolio Holder

Councillor Bassett reported that an update session for Members on the legal issues  and the weight that needed to be given to the reports for the Local Plan would be on 18 November 2013.

(c)        Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder

Councillor Webster confirmed that Stage 3 of the Tour de France would be passing through the District on 7 July 2014. The stage would start in Cambridge and go through other areas in Essex onto Willingale, Fyfield, Morton, North Weald, Epping, along the A104 through the Epping Forest, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and into London. She advised that this would be a great way to promote the District and committed to work with Town and Parish Councils.