Agenda item

To receive reports and any announcements 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 Assets and Economic Development Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(c)        Report of the Environment Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(d)        Report of the Finance Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(e)        Report of the Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder; (attached)      

(f)        Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(g)        Report of the Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(h)        Report of the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder; (attached) 

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

(j)         Report of the Technology and Support Services Portfolio Holder (attached).

(a)        The Leader of the Council

The Leader thanked the Chairman for her wonderful Civic Carol Concert held Waltham Abbey Church on Tuesday 8 December 2015.

The Leader advised that he had attended further meetings under the duty to co-operate with Harlow and Uttlesford Councils regarding infrastructure, if ever a combined authority went ahead. He had also attended the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor meeting, where key issues for the corridor had been identified and included the growth of Stansted, Cross Rail Two and other aspects of transport infrastructure, such as a new Junction at 7a and improvements at Junction 7 and 8 of the M11. 

Other meetings attended were with the Essex Leaders regarding Devolution, where he had attended a workshop on the 3 December 2015. The Leader advised that the Council would be engaged in feasibility work, although he assured Members that before the Council committed formally to any devolution bid, it would be fully considered and debated by the Council.

Finally, he wished all Members an enjoyable festive break.

(b)        Environment Portfolio Holder

Councillor W Breare-Hall advised that at the Council meeting in June 2015, he had reported on Emergency and Urgent Expenditure, which had been incurred by employing additional resources to assist in mitigating the significant problems that had occurred as a result of the revised four Day Waste and Recycling Arrangements, implemented by the Council’s Contractor Biffa Municipal, on the 12 May 2015. 

He advised that the Contract had now stabilised and that the total level of expenditure incurred remained at £13,274, which could be contained within the current budget.

(c)        Planning Policy Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Bassett advised that on the 7 December 2015, the Government had published a consultation on the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was to be submitted by 25 January 2016. The changes included;

•           Broadening the definition of affordable housing to expand the range of low cost housing opportunities;

•           Increasing the density of development around commuter hubs, to make more efficient use of land in suitable locations;

•           Supporting sustainable new settlements, development on brownfield land and small sites and delivery of housing agreed in Local Plans;

•           Supporting delivery of starter homes; and

•           Transitional arrangements.

The initial concerns were about the affordable homes, starter homes and the effect on greenbelt policies and responses would be submitted to the Neighbourhoods Select Committee on the 19 January 2016.

He advised that there was not yet any clarity on the effect this may have on the Local Plan and he would keep Members updated.

(d)        Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder

Councillor J Philip advised that the published Electoral register on 1 December 2015 had achieved returns of 98.1% and that residents had responded positively to the new online technology registration, with 43% of households using this method. A further 2800 people had used the system to confirm personal changes which had resulted in savings on postage and processing time and the register had gained 1287 people with less than 200 non-responders being removed from last year’s canvass.

He advised that the grant received and prudent management had enable officers to repeat the process of sending a household notification letter (HNL) to residents in the New Year, to further improve the accuracy of the register because the figures were being used as a benchmark upon which the Boundary Commission would be asked to look at parliamentary constituency areas in the run up to the next General Election.