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 Highways 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, Safer and 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 meeting in June involving all Essex Local Authority Leaders to receive a presentation by Essex Police concerning child abuse. He urged members to attend the Safeguarding Children training on 26 October 2013.

The Leader had also been involved in discussions concerning the Cambridge/Essex corridor, future of Stansted Airport and the West Anglia Railway Line. Notes from this meeting would be put in the Bulletin.

He advised that the Local Strategic Partnership had given a presentation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its last meeting.

He encouraged members to view Visit Epping Forest.com website, which had been a recommendation from the Tourism Task and Finish Panel. He expressed concern about youth unemployment. He had recently met Eric Pickles, MP and Eleanor Laing, MP to discuss a number of issues. He had also visited the Limes Farm Centre and had been impressed on how it was operating.

(b)       Housing Portfolio Holder

Councillor D Stallan referred to the third paragraph on page 104 of his report regarding the opening of four straw bale houses at Millfield, High Ongar by E Pickles MP, and stated it would take place on 13 September and not 6 September as indicated.

(c)        Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder

Councillor Webster advised that the handover of the astro turf pitch at Waltham Abbey Sports Ground would take place on 7 August 2013.

(d)       Support Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor Ulkun advised that the date for the European Parliament Elections in May 2014 was fixed for 22 May 2014, but he was still awaiting notification from the UK Government that the District and Parish Council elections, due in May 2014, would be deferred so that all elections were held at the same time. He confirmed that he would keep members updated.