Bidlake
Inworth Road
Feering
Colchester
Essex
C05 9SE

Tel: 01376 570254

Email: cllr.rmitchell@braintree.gov.uk

Conservative Party Councillor for Kelvedon.

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Council Roles

- Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment

Involvement with Organisations within Braintree District and Elsewhere.

- Feering Parish Council
- Scouts assistant
- Joint Committee - Parking Service (with Colchester and Uttlesford)

Background

Having lived in Feering since 1997, and just outside the District for most of my formative years, I am committed to the area and to helping the Council achieve best value for all residents. I am always pleased to assist any constituent who needs help with the workings and/or services provided by the Council.

Personal Highlights/Contributions

Having helped to introduce the Sustainable Energy Policy for the Council, I keep a close eye on, and hold responsibility for, the overall impact of Climate Change and the Council’s responsibility for mitigating and adapting to the challenges. As Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment, I am continuing this work, aiming towards a carbon-neutral Council, ensuring that Sustainable policies are followed and encouraging the continuation of the excellent work that Officers and Members have done to enable residents to reduce & recycle such a high, and regularly increasing, percentage of our waste. I am pleased to have been able to support the Green Heart programme, both by encouragement and practical efforts.

I am most proud to initiate the discussions for building a (community owned) wind turbine in the District which will set an excellent example of one method for Councils to receive a substantial revenue return on a capital investment, saving Council services, improving fuel security and saving carbon all at the same time.

Whilst I firmly opposed the route proposed by the Highways Agency to extend the A120 through open countryside & the Blackwater Valley, I remain committed to pursuing improvements for the road, to improve access to/from the East of the District. Sadly, I feel the current climate will not see much progress on this  for some years so, in the light of this, I will continue to lend my voice to improvements to ensure a sensible & safe traffic flow. 

I argued strongly that a second runway for Stansted was an un-sustainable project, in the long term, which the Council confirmed by comprehensively rejecting the proposal. I was obviously pleased when plans were shelved by the Government in 2010.

Training and Development Undertaken

Since first elected to the Council in 2003, I have attended a number of courses to better understand Planning, Flooding, Environmental, Licensing, Housing and Technology issues affecting the Council. 

I am keen to remain abreast of technological advances that help Members & Officers interact with residents in the most efficient, cost effective & sustainable manner, and I continue to strive for more Council Member and Officer understanding of the advantages & efficiencies available through the increased use of IT & emerging technologies.