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;

(j)      Report of the 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 attended a meeting of the West Essex Alliance together with the Deputy Leader.  There had been a discussion regarding local proposals for consideration for Local Enterprise Partnership funding and these were to be pursued by an Executive Committee to which Councillor Whitbread had been appointed.  The first meeting of the Executive Committee was to take place later this month.

Councillor Collins advised that she had also attended the first meeting of the Essex/Kent/East Sussex Local Enterprise Partnership which had been held at Dartford.  There had been 44 delegates at the meeting which had been considered too many and agreement had been reached on setting up a smaller Executive Board of 24 members.  The Executive Board would formulate bids for consideration by the main body.

The Leader reported that Robert Halfon MP for Harlow, had met with representatives of the Youth Council on 28 January 2011.

Councillor Collins reported that Improvement East had agreed to support the Council in relation to a number of issues.

The Leader reminded members of the success of the Future Jobs Fund in West Essex which had resulted in approximately 170 young people gaining employment in councils, schools, businesses etc.  She advised that 60% of the young people whom had taken part in the first phase of the scheme had obtained full time employment or had returned to full time education.  The Leader advised that in November 2011 the scheme would be discontinued and that a new Government Scheme would follow, although details of the latter were not expected until later in the year.

Councillor Collins reported on her attendance at a meeting with other Council Leaders at which there had been a discussion about future Central Government funding.  She advised that, subject to legislation, business rates would be retained by local authorities in future and this should enable the Council to increase its assistance to local businesses.  However, this would result in less grant being received from Central Government.

The Leader reported on her attendance at an Away Day at Loughton College at which the Rt Honourable Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government had spoken about the “Big Society” proposals.

The Council noted that the recently appointed Deputy Portfolio Holders were now working with Portfolio Holders in order to gain experience.

Councillor Collins advised that she would shortly be signing the Memorandum of Understanding with other West Essex authorities which had been agreed by the Council at its last meeting.

(b)       Environment Portfolio Holder

Councillor Sartin drew attention to the visit which had been arranged to the SITA Material Recycling Facility (MRF) in Barking on 8 March 2011 and asked members wishing to attend to e-mail the Director of Environment and Street Scene by 23 February 2011.

(c)        Legal and Estates Portfolio Holder

Councillor Wagland drew attention to her written report on T11/Langston Road Depot Joint Re-development Site advised that she had been asked to clarify the statement that Loughton Town Council had declined the opportunity of a presentation.  She advised that earlier in the day she had received an e-mail from County Councillor Chris Pond who had advised that the Town Council had accepted the offer of a presentation but that subsequently a planning application had been received and in accordance with the Town Council’s Standing Orders any such presentation would have been required to have not exceeded three minutes.  Accordingly, it had been decided that such presentation would not be of benefit.

(d)       Operational Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder

Councillor Stavrou advised that a further meeting of the Shadow Board of the North Partnership for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement was to be held on 28 February 2011.

(e)       Safer and Greener Portfolio Holder

Councillor Smith advised that the next meeting of the Safer, Cleaner, Greener Scrutiny Panel on 8 March 2011 would be held at St Mary’s Church Hall, Loughton and the main item on the agenda would be presentations from Council Officers and Essex Police on the processing, monitoring and enforcement of licensing conditions and on the Police powers and their recent operations in relation to licensed establishments.  Councillor Smith encouraged members of the public to attend the meeting.