Agenda item

To receive reports and any announcements 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 Business Support Services Portfolio Holder (attached);

(c)        Report of the Contract and Technical Services Portfolio Holder (attached);

(d)        Report of the Commercial and Regulatory Services Portfolio Holder (attached);

(e)        Report of the Community and Partnership Services Portfolio Holder (attached);

(f)        Report of the Customer Services Portfolio Holder (attached);

(g)        Report of the Housing and Property Services Portfolio Holder (attached);

(i)         Report of the Planning Services Portfolio Holder (attached); and

(j)         Report of the Strategic Projects Portfolio Holder (attached).

The Council received written reports from Portfolio Holders. The Chairman invited the Leader of Council to provide an oral report and the opportunity for other members of the Cabinet to give updates on matters concerning their relevant portfolios.

(a)          The Leader of Council

The Leader advised that he had attended a number of external meetings representing the interests of the District which included participation on the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Board and a Public Health England briefing from the Chief Officer of West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

Furthermore, he updated members on the interest expressed by town and parish councils to fund the reinstatement of night time street lighting. There had been a number considering this option, depending on the flexibility of the days and only lighting specific areas; while others had wished to consult their community before pursuing. The County Council Portfolio Holder for Highways, Councillor K Bentley had advised that he would accommodate any reasonable requests.     

(b)          Contracts and Technical Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor N Avey advised that following the latest meeting of the Leisure Management Partnership Board, largely all the major building works and refurbishments across the leisure centres in the District had been completed and generally usage had increased.

The Board had received a feasibility study for leisure facilities at the St John’s Road site in Epping, which determined that a similar leisure centre facility such as the Waltham Abbey centre would viable, if the right financial package could be agreed. A further report on this would be considered by Cabinet on the 11 April 2019.

(c)          Commercial and Regulatory Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor A Grigg advised that correspondence had recently been received from the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government (DHCLG) concerning the preparedness of local authorities for the forthcoming exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

All councils had been asked to consider a number of questions concerning their individual areas and any contingency arrangements that may be needed to address specific issues arising from the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. These issues had been considered Leadership Team on 13 February 2019 and, in general terms, it was considered that Council was in a good position with regard to Brexit arrangements with no serious concerns locally that needed to be drawn to members’ attention.

The detailed responses to the questions raised by DHCLG would be published in theMembers Bulletin.

(d)          Planning Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor J Philip advised that the Local Plan hearing had started as planned with a significant amount of people attending the various sessions. The webcasting technology had allowed the hearing to be filmed live to the internet, transmitted live to the Council Chamber and recorded.

The Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation and proposed mitigation strategy had still not been cleared by Natural England, therefore not allowing the Council issue planning consent, although these issues did not affect the Local Plan process.

(e)          Community and Partnerships Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor S Kane advised members that the budget for 2019/20 had been discussed at the recent Police Fire & Crime Panel with the precept rising by 14.16%, which represented a cost of £192 for a band D property. The funding would support an additional 215 officers in Essex, with 168 for local policing in Epping and Brentwood and 16 officers deployed in the District. He advised that the previous years’ cohort had completed training and had been active since November 2018.