Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Partnerships.

Councillor Ranger, the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Partnerships, presented his report. He highlighted the following additional points:

·         The work on developing the Sports Strategy for submission to the Local Plan examination continued to progress according to programme, and it was hoped it would be ready to submit to the Local Plan Inspectors in April.

·         The Council had recently formed a small steering group with local sports groups in Saffron Walden to carry out a feasibility study for a modern high-quality multi-sports campus located in or near to the town. The Council aimed undertake an examination of the currently identified shortfall of sports facilities in greater detail, and to identify a cost-effective site to improve provision for a wide range of sports and activities. Work was beginning in parallel with working with clubs and organisations in the south of the district.

·         Uttlesford had a foodbank delivered by a group of volunteers who were very professional in their work. The foodbank was now a registered charity. It had now signed a lease on premises in Shire Hill. It would be positive if the rent was securely funded. The next administration should consider raising a motion to contribute 1% of Members’ allowances to pay the bulk of the rent.

·         There had been a disagreement at the December Council meeting between himself and Councillor Hargreaves as to what should have been minuted on minute item C35 in the minutes of the October Council meeting. They had now agreed a substituted minute. This new wording now gave the impression that, should the Residents for Uttlesford become the administration in Uttlesford District Council, they would seek to remove from the Constitution, the protection which prevented decisions being made in secret.