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 (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 Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder (attached);

(i)      Report of the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder; and

(j)      Report of the Technology and Support Services (attached).

The Council received written reports from the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, the Environment Portfolio Holder, the Finance Portfolio Holder, the Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder, the Housing Portfolio Holder, the Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder, the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder, the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder and the Technology and 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

The Leader advised that the District had hosted part of stage 3 for the Tour De France on 7 July 2014. He thanked all the officers and staff from Public Relations, North Weald Airfield, Facility Management, Parks, and Waste Management along with Peter Charman who undertook the main co-ordinating role. He also took the opportunity to thank the other partners from the County Council, Town and Parish Councils, Emergency Services, local businesses and voluntary organisations, who also played a vital part in the event’s success and advised that a proposed commemorative plaque to mark the event was being considered. 

The Leader reported that he had attended the June meeting of the Essex Leaders and Chief Executives, where the County Council presented a number of papers with the focus on Public Services Reform and their commissioning strategies.

Finally, the Leader and Councillors Bassett and Kane had attended the annual London Stansted Cambridge Consortium, Economic Development Conference, hosted by the Welcome Trust. The event focused around the Government’s support for the growth and economic development opportunities in the region, including ambitions to grow business at Stansted and how this could benefit the Council.

(b)        Safer, Greener and Transport

The Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder drew the Council's attention to new procedures for Anti-Social Behaviour that would come into force in September 2014. Councillor Waller reported that if a victim believed that their case had not be dealt with adequately by the Police, they could request a case review, which normally took place when there had been three or more cases in a six month period. This would be informally called a Community trigger and dealt with by the Council’s Community Safety Team. There would be training available for Members.

Members were also reminded about the Safe Guard Training available on Thursday 31 July 2014.

(c)        Governance and Development Management

The Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder advised that Individual Voter Registration initial matching results had increased from 81% to 96%, which meant that only 3,400 matches were outstanding. The Portfolio Holder had also responded to a petition regarding North Weald.

On behalf of the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder, he advised that there would be a meeting regarding the Local Plan with Mark Beard for Members on Thursday 31 July 2014 at 7 pm in the Council Chamber.