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).

The Council received written reports from all the Portfolio Holders. The Chairman invited the Leader to provide an oral report and any other members of the Cabinet to give an update of their written report, if required.

(a)          The Leader of Council

The Leader advised that he had attended many meetings across the district since the last Council meeting.

Firstly, as part of the Council’s programme of modernisation covered within the People Strategy, a new officer structure had been agreed. At the most senior level, the new Management Board would consist of the Chief Executive and two Strategic Directors. In June following a rigorous interview process which included technical assessments, a stakeholder panel and a presentation, Georgina Blakemore had been appointed as one of the Strategic Directors. She had previously held senior corporate roles at both Colchester and Basildon Councils. Unfortunately, the Appointments Panel had not felt able to appoint another person to the other Strategic Director position at this time and it would remain vacant. The intention was still to recruit another Strategic Director, in consultation with the external advisors SOLACE  and the Senior Management Selection Panel would meet again in September 2018 to take this forward.

On the 20 July 2018, he had attended the launch of the Community Safety Hub, which brought together the Council, Essex Police and other agencies at the Civic Office. He credited the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder, Councillor S Kane who when appointed to the role, set out to do something about anti-social behaviour in the district. The new Hub also demonstrated the future vision of how the Council would look and would improve the working environment for officers.

He had also attended the 150 year celebrations of Smithfield Market hosted by the City of London Corporation at Guildhall, in the presence of Princess Anne. Finally, he had attended a meeting with the leaders of the neighbouring districts regarding the centre core of the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor (LSCC), which works together to promote jobs and future opportunities for the district, Harlow, Uttlesford, Broxbourne and East Herts.

(b)          Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder

Councillor S. Kane advised that the Petanque Day mentioned in his Portfolio Holder Report to Council was organised by Ongar and District Twinning Association not the Ongar Town Forum as suggested.

(c)          Technology and Support Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor A. Lion advised that the drop in i-trent training session for new members would be rescheduled due to the launch of the Community Safety Hub.

He also advised that the Council had been mentioned in the Financial Times on 18 July 2018, regarding the District having one of the highest Broadband speeds. 

(d)          Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder

Councillor J. Philip advised members that the annual canvass of electors had begun and the forms should have started to be received. He pointed out that there were a number of automated ways to respond, which he would like to encourage residents to use and which were faster and cheaper for the Council. Already, 5% of residents had responded and he encouraged both members and residents to respond quickly to prevent fewer people to chase and the costs associated.