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 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 Housing Portfolio Holder (attached);

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

(g)        Report of the Planning and Governance 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).

(a)          Leader of the Council

The Leader advised that the Council had a good track record in investment of the quality of services provided to the District residents, which had been achieved by prudent financial management and effective relationships with the public and private sector partnerships. In October, he had the pleasure of attending the opening of John Scott Court, which had been the first council houses built by the Council in 30 years. Secondly, he had attended the ground breaking event, which marked the start of construction for the new leisure centre in Waltham Abbey. He also advised that there were also improvement plans for the future of all the District’s leisure centres.

Furthermore, the Leader informed members that the Council’s number one priority would be the delivery of the Local Plan. He would be working with the Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder, listening to views and working closely with Ward Councillors before the meeting on 14 December 2014. There would be a lot of work to be done to get the final draft Local Plan in place, but everyone had risen to the challenge and he thanked everyone involved.

(b)          Finance Portfolio Holder

Councillor G Mohindra advised that the annual consultation for the Council’s Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme had now closed. There had been 267 hits on the survey, although the majority had not completed the survey. An additional 12 responses had been received after the survey had been reopened but the majority supported the proposals being put forward and were not in receipt of council tax support.

The 100% rate retention bid had been submitted to the DCLG on Friday 3 November 2017, although Thurrock Council had decided to remove themselves from the bid. This withdrawal had been most unhelpful and had reduced the chances of the bid being successful with the DCLG’s stating preference for bids covering entire Counties but it had still been submitted with the 15 remaining authorities.

(c)          Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder

Councillor S Kane updated members following the increased anti-social behaviour that had surrounded Halloween on 31 October 2017. He advised that a planned operational response had been delivered by the Community Policing Team which had been supported by EFDC Community Safety Team to help direct of police resources around the District.

(d)          Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder

Councillor J Philip advised that he would be carrying out local plan briefing sessions with members on an area by area basis with an additional briefing before the publication of the Council’s agenda on 14 December 2017, so that any queries could be sorted out before that meeting. He asked members to contact himself or officers, if they had any queries before the meeting on 14 December 2017.

(e)          Technology and Support Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor A Lion advised that members would now be receiving their pay slips through the online system, iTrent. He informed members that drop in sessions had been provided before the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 31 October 2017 and would be provided again before the Council meeting on 21 December 2017.