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 Assets and Economic Development Portfolio Holder;

(c)          Report of the Environment Portfolio Holder;

(d)          Report of the Finance Portfolio Holder;

(e)          Report of the Governance and Development Management;

(f)           Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder;

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

(h)          Report of the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder;

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

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

The Council received written reports from members of the Cabinet.

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

(a)          The Leader of the Council

The Leader advised the Council that he had attended a number of meetings in relation to the duty to  cooperate including the Sustainable Development Board which was mentioned in the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder’s report. He also highlighted an emerging issue from the Essex Leaders meetings that the Council would need to debate in the months ahead, which was the consideration of the feasibility paper for an Essex devolution proposal. He advised that this would not be a move towards a Unitary Essex but a bid to Central Government to devolve powers and resources to a new combined authority in Essex. This could provide a greater control and focus to commonly agreed priorities across the County that currently the District Council may not be involved in. Considerations about what arrangements would be required to support this from both Essex and Central Government were required and he would advise members when he had further information.

(b)          Environment

Councillor Breare-Hall advised that he had several updates to his report which included winning the ‘Love Essex’ anti-litter campaign, Keep Britain Tidy Diamond Jubilee Award, the removal of the option to apply for Rate Relief under the extended arrangements for flood damage experienced between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014, with any applications now being dealt with through the Repair and Renew grant and further details to be made available in the Council Bulletin. Finally the unauthorised encampment on the Epping Forest College land had moved onto Highways Agency land near the M11, where they had been visited by Environmental Health Officers to prevent flying tipping.

(c)          Governance and Development Management

Councillor Philip advised the Council that the funding for ‘Maximising Registration’ which provided ‘House Notification Letters’ for the Individual Elector Registration (IER) had added over 2,200 names to the register, removed over 1,700 and amended 662. Councillor Philip would also be raising the rainbow Flag outside the Civic Offices for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History month on Wednesday 18 February 2015.