Here at Braintree Council we are determined that local people
get the services they need and want. Your new Council has
made substantial changes to the way in which we do our business to
ensure that this happens.
One of our major innovations is to introduce Local Committees,
based on the areas surrounding our three main towns of Braintree,
Witham and Halstead.
Each Local Committee has a budget that is available to any
properly constituted community group. Recent awards include
funding replacement windows in Greenstead Green Village Hall,
repairs to Wtham Memorial, and refurbishment of Great Bardfield
Playground. You can download copies of the Application Form
and The Guidelines for Applicants - see the link under "more
information"..
We will be using these Committees for ongoing dialogue with
local partners, stakeholders and residents on the major issues
facing their communities. Each Committee meeting will have an
open Question and Answer session where Cabinet Members and Senior
Officers will be there to answer your questions, hear your
experiences and listen to your views. We will publish and
publicise a programme of topics in advance so you will know what is
going to be debated and when.
Each local committee is responsible for all functions
arising solely within its local area and is granted full delegated
powers and responsibilities to deal with these items within the
Council’s budget and policy framework. The local committees
are made up of Councillors from each particular area and meetings
are held in public.
The Local Committees' Term of Reference are to:-
•Contribute to the Council’s direction and
ambition
•Monitor the quality of local
service
•Leadership to the community
•Focus
on local issues
•Work with partners
Local Committees will focus on:-
•Environmental well
being
•Social well
being
•Economic well
being
Local Committees will:-
•Improve the overall quality of life for local
people
•Provide a leadership role to local
communities
•Contribute to Council
priorities
•Influence and work with other
agencies
•Champion local issues
Within our overall District priorities, Local Committees will
ensure that local issues are identified, discussed and
resolved.