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; (attached)

(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 Planning Policy Portfolio Holder; (attached) 

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

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

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 of the Council advised that he had attended a number of forums since the last meeting on 28 July 2015. He updated the Council on work of the Greater Essex group that had undertaken to explore the potential benefits and risks of the devolution deal for Essex. A high-level submission had been made to Central Government on the 4 September 2015, confirming in principle that the Great Essex Partnership would like to continue their interest. The Leader confirmed that a report would be presented to Cabinet on the 8 October 2015, which would provide much more detail on the devolution with any final decisions being taken by this Council.

The Leader also advised that he had attended the South East Local Economic Partnership (SELEP) Board on 25 September 2015. It had been considered that an Enterprise Partnership solely for Essex would be more effective in delivering better economic benefits and crucial infrastructure; although the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark had announced that he would not be approving any changes to boundaries and therefore SELEP would be moving forward in its current composition.

(b)        Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder

The Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder, Councillor J Philip advised that outstanding households required to register for electoral registration had reduced to just over 9,000 households and was significantly better position than other authorities.