135 Statement of the Leader of the Council
To consider the statement of the Leader of the Council setting out the Council’s report and programme for the current municipal year.
Minutes:
Councillor Mrs P A Channer, Leader of the Council (the Leader) made a statement (attached at APPENDIX 1 to these Minutes) setting out the Council’s report and programme for the remainder of the municipal year. The statement referred to a number of areas, including:
· the challenges faced due to the increased cost of living, including the prioritisation of resources, partnership working and investing time and effort to fulfil core services;
· supporting residents and communities to improve quality of life and increase social value;
· the Commercial Strategy, essential to the Council’s financial sustainability.
· the new ‘One Maldon District’ Group which brings together agencies such as the Police, NHS, schools and the Council.
· partnership working, progressing commercial activities, bidding for government funds and giving younger residents a voice through a Youth Council.
· working with Essex County Council to develop a transport strategy and launch the Council’s Investment Prospectus;
· the return of tourism to the District and the planned reopening of the Splash Park in the summer;
· updating the Customer Engagement Strategy;
· continuation of the Local Development Plan review and beginning work on to renew the Council’s Corporate Plan;
· engaging with communities and partners to support climate action, recover and boost the Council’s economy and build capacity and resilience of communities.
The Leader thanked Officers for their continued dedication, commitment, professionalism and passion. She finished presentation of her statement to the Council advising how the Council continued to strive and do more than the minimum and looked forward to seeing what could be achieved with partners and communities in the coming months.
In her response to the statement from the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs J L Stilts thanked the Leader for allowing her to have a copy of her speech ahead of the meeting. She commented that the Opposition commended the statement, was pleased to see the Council’s reception open and that it was supporting residents. She noted that the Council was committed to the Climate Action Plan and improving healthcare in the District and supported the work undertaken by the One Maldon District Group. Councillor Stilts advised the Opposition was pleased that tourism had opened up and looked forward to seeing what could be achieved by the Council working together with partners for the future.