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;

(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;

(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 the 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.

(a)          The Leader of Council

The Leader advised the Council that he had attended several meetings across the District and wider area.  There had been discussions regarding the Essex Highway Rangers and the valuable work they do around the District with considerations into  bringing them back in house.

He had also attended a celebration day for volunteer groups in the District; moved forward with discussions and potential partnership arrangements with the Epping Town Council at the St John’s Site, Epping and attended meetings with the Local MP, Dame Eleanor Laing.

Finally, he thanked the members of his Cabinet for their service and work over the past year.

(b)          Housing and Property Services Portfolio Holder

Councillor S Stavrou updated members on the Council House Building programme which was discussed at the Cabinet meeting on 11 April 2019. There had been a total of 45 new homes for affordable rent completed and a further 63 were expected and another 73 homes over the next three years. An audit of the council’s house building programmed had been undertaken in February 2019, which had identified some lessons to be learnt from phases 1,2 and 3 and actions had been put in place to improve the future programme delivery.