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; and

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

(a)        The Leader of the Council

The Leader advised that he had attended a number of meetings representing the interests of the authority and highlighted the on going conversations across Greater Essex with regards to devolution. There were a number of authorities who were much keener to pursue an agreement with Central Government. Given that an elected Mayor now seemed to be a requirement for devolution, it seemed clearer that he could not recommend this to the Council or support it, without knowing the cost of bureaucracy involved.

He had been delighted to attend the re-opening of the Museum in Waltham Abbey and thanked the staff for securing the external funding and successfully managing the construction project. The museum was now open and he recommended that all Members should visit.

He had attended a duty to co-operate meeting with Councillors R Bassett and J Philip for the Local Plan and other meetings for outstanding items, so that the Council could deliver a successful Local Plan. The Leader had met with the Local MP, Eleanor Laing to discuss the Green Belt Review and the Settlement Capacity work that had been undertaken and her involvement continued.

Other issues that had been raised through the duty to co-operate meeting were the concerns about the Princess Alexandria Hospital (PAH) and it’s future. He thanked Councillor G Mohindra for being a Champion for health care in the District, who continued to work hard, so that the Districts voice was heard and made sure that PAH got the urgent funding required.

Progress continued with the Council’s Transformation Project, and the Leader had attended one of the staff briefings. He advised that it had been useful to hear staff views on what was going on and assured Members that Transformation was high on the Council’s agenda, to deliver a service that was suitable for the 21^st Century.   

(b)        Leisure and Community Wellbeing

Councillor H Kane advised that the highlight of the year for Leisure and Wellbeing had been the re-opening of the Museum in Waltham Abbey. She appreciated and congratulated the team of Officers for their diligence and dedication to the project and was very proud. The Officers had also produced a short clip on YouTube called ‘Museum on the Move’ for a Museum competition around the world, which had already progressed to round two.

Councillor M Sartin advised that the next opportunity to vote for the short clip was Monday 2 May 2016.