Agenda item

To receive reports from the Leader, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and members of the Cabinet on matters falling within their area of responsibility:

(a)         Report of the Leader;

(b)         Report of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(c)         Report of Environment Portfolio Holder;

(d)     Report of Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder;

(e)         Report of Housing Portfolio Holder;

(f)          Report of Legal and Estates Portfolio Holder;

(g)        Report of Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder;

(h)        Report of Operational Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder;

(i)          Report of Performance Management Portfolio Holder; and

(j)      Report of Safer and Greener Portfolio Holder

The Council received written reports from the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Environment Portfolio Holder, the Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, the Housing Portfolio Holder, the Legal and Estates Portfolio Holder, the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, the Operational Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder, the Performance Management Portfolio Holder and the Safer and Greener Portfolio Holder.

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

(a)        Leader of the Council

The Leader advised that she had now had telephone conversations with the Managing Director of O2 UK Limited and one of his Deputies regarding the mobile phone mast in Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey.  The Managing Director’s Deputy had undertaken to investigate the matter and to speak to the Leader again before the end of the current week.

The Leader reported that the West Essex Partnership (encompassing Harlow, Uttlesford and Epping Forest Local Strategic Partnerships) had been nominated for an award in the Eastern Region for their Future Jobs Fund project which had enabled over 70 jobs to be created for unemployed young persons.  At the awards ceremony the Partnership had come second and had received a certificate.

Councillor Mrs Collins also reported on her attendance together with the Chairman of the Council at the West Essex Primary prize giving event held at Epping Forest College.

(b)       Operational Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder

Councillor Ms Stavrou reported that she was still waiting to hear from Essex County Council in relation to the outstanding Parking Reviews.

She also reported that in relation to the Ranger Service the County Council had now indicated that it would be possible for the District Council to undertake a service without using the county ‘branding’.  Officers were discussing the detail of a service with their colleagues at the County Council, and further information would be provided to members in due course.

(c)        Safer and Greener Portfolio Holder

Councillor Mrs Smith advised that the Home Office had issued a consultation paper “Policing in the 21^st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People”.  Details would appear in the Council Bulletin shortly and the matter would be discussed by the Safer Communities Partnership.  The closing date for responses was 20 September 2010.