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;

(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 advised that there had been a reduction in the number of meetings he had attended over the summer period, although Members had been heavily engaged in the development of the Draft Local Plan and attending the workshops, briefings and group meetings. The Leader reiterated the importance of the Cabinet meeting on 6 October 2016, the Extraordinary Council meeting on 18 October 2016 and the launch of the consultation on 31 October 2016.

The Leader advised that he had been engaging with many district leaders on a range of issues affecting the whole of Essex. The devolution deal had stalled somewhat over the mayoral issue and the lack of clarity from the Government and although it was still being considered, the Council would not be able support the requirement for a mayor.

Furthermore he had attended a briefing by the newly elected Police Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, who advised that he was preparing a new Policing Plan for the County and highlighted the preparation he was making for a business case to bring together the governance arrangements of the Police and Fire Authorities. There would also be a police representative attending the Communities Select Committee to address the concerns of Members.

Finally the Council hosted the Locality Board, where the County Council Director of Place Services provided a presentation on the co-location of public services, which the Council had currently under review through its own Transformation Programme.  Likewise progress on the Transformation project had been continuing steadily over the summer period.

(b)        Planning Policy

Councillor J Philip advised that unfortunately the distribution of the Cabinet Agenda, which included the Consultation of the Draft Local Plan could not been handed to Members that evening but would be delivered by special delivery the following day. 

(c)        Leisure and Community Wellbeing

Councillor H Kane thanked her officers for successful securing £270,000 from the Arts Council England. The funding would provide services across Epping Forest, Broxbourne and Chelmsford Museums and they were one of only two Councils in Essex to have received the award, out of only 94 nationally.