Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive seeking Members’ approval of the amended North Essex Council’s (NEC) North Essex Local Growth Priorities document (the document) attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members were reminded that the Council had considered the document at its meeting on 11 December 2025, where it had been recommended that the document be deferred and sent back to the NEC to consider inclusion of the items raised, including St. Peter’s hospital, tourism, specific transport and skills & training. Following this the Director of the NEC (Mr Gwyn Owen) had attended a Group Leaders meeting where clarity on some of the content of the proposed plan was sought. The Director of the NEC agreed to incorporate this feedback and the revised document was now presented to the Council (Appendix 1) for consideration.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and moved the recommendations set out in the report. These were duly seconded. The Head of Economic Development then provided further detail before introducing the Director of the NEC who gave a short presentation outlining the importance of having a unified North Essex position and how this would strengthen the strategic case for projects and increase the likelihood of securing transformative investment in the North of the county. He took Members through how their feedback had been taken on board and incorporated into the document and outlined the next steps.

Thanks were given to the NEC Director for the work he had undertaken to meet with Members and incorporate their feedback. The Council also gave its thanks to the Head of Economic Development for her work on this project.

The Chairperson then put the recommendations which were duly agreed by assent.

RESOLVED

(i)             That Members acknowledged the amendments made to the document further to feedback;

(ii)            That the North Essex Local Growth Priorities (Appendix 1 to the report) be approved for the socio-economic benefit of the region and District.