Leader of Council
Braintree District Council has adopted Executive (Cabinet) arrangements as permitted by the Local Government Act 2000 and operates with a Leader and Cabinet.
The Leader of the Braintree District Council is Councillor Graham Butland.
At our Annual General Meeting on 25th May 2023, the 49 elected Members appointed Councillor Graham Butland as the Leader and he is appointed for a four-year term of office.
The Leader of the Council allocates Executive (Cabinet) functions to:
- Himself
- the Cabinet
- a Cabinet Member under a Scheme of Delegation
- a Sub-Committee of Cabinet
- an Officer under a Scheme of Delegation
The Leader may appoint a Deputy Leader, who will exercise powers of the Leader when they are absent.
The Leader has appointed Councillor Tom Cunningham as his Deputy Leader.
The Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet Members is set out in Section 24 of Chapter four of the Constitution
The Cabinet
The Leader of the Council appoints the Cabinet, which cannot exceed 10 Members including the Leader. Members of the Cabinet are Councillors from the majority Political Group who form the Administration of the Council.
As of 25th May 2023, the Cabinet consists of the Leader and six Cabinet Members. The Leader has also appointed 5 Deputy Cabinet Members who will provide assistance to the Leader and the Cabinet Members. One Deputy Cabinet Member is assigned to two Cabinet Members, with the Leader having two Deputy Cabinet Members. Deputy Cabinet Members have no decision making powers or voting rights.
The Leader divides Cabinet responsibilities into portfolios and allocates these to Members of the Cabinet.
There are seven portfolios which the Leader has assigned to one of the three Corporate Priorities of Transformation, performance and Delivery; Connecting People Places and Prosperity and Supporting Communities. The Leader’s Portfolio has strategic oversight of the Cabinet Functions.
Cabinet Member Portfolios
Leader of the Council: Councillor Graham Butland
Deputy Cabinet Members: Councillor Richard van Dulken and Councillor Billy Taylor
Portfolio: Overall Strategy
- External Role at National, Regional & Local Level including joint working
- Lead on Business Planning, Performance & Corporate Strategy
- Devolution
- Corporate Communications & Reputation
- Corporate Consultation & Engagement
- External Strategic Partnerships and Relationships
- Emergency Planning
- Overall Vision & Strategic Direction
- Corporate Strategy
- Promotion of the District
- Communications
- Investment and Development Programme
- Electoral Administration
- Levelling up
- Cost of Living
- North Essex Alliance
- Car Parks
- Highways
- To exercise the executive functions of any Cabinet Member in their absence, in an emergency or in any other circumstance where the Leader thinks it is desirable to act on any matter
Corporate Priority: Transformation, Performance and Delivery
Councillor Tom Cunningham - Cabinet Member for Transformation, the Environment and Customer Services, and Deputy Leader
Deputy Cabinet Member: Councillor Peter Schwier
Portfolio includes:
- Transformation, including shared services
- Commercialisation
- Waste & Recycling
- Climate Change
- Street Cleansing
- Parks & Open Spaces
- Customer Services Charter
- Contact Centre
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
Councillor Kevin Bowers - Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance
Deputy Cabinet Member: Councillor Peter Schwier
Portfolio includes:
- Budget – Revenue & Capital Spend
- MTFS
- Treasury management
- Property & Estate Management
- Corporate Procurement
- ICT & Digital Services
- HR & Payroll Services
- Health & Safety, Insurance & Risk Management
- Corporate Governance
- Member support
- Performance Management
- Revenues, Benefits & Welfare
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
Corporate Priority: Connecting People Places and Prosperity
Councillor Gabrielle Spray - Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure
Deputy Cabinet Member: Councillor James Coleridge
Portfolio includes:
- Planning & Neighbourhood Planning
- Local Plan
- Building Control
- Planning Enforcement
- Strategic Transport & Infrastructure
- Cycling Strategy
- NSIPs
- Land Charges
- Street Naming
- Biodiversity
- Landscape Services
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
Councillor Frankie Ricci - Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Inward Investment
Deputy Cabinet Member: Councillor James Coleridge
Portfolio includes:
- Economic Growth & Development
- Urban & Rural Regeneration
- Skills Including Apprenticeships
- Business Engagement & Support
- Town Centres – Planning and Investment
- Locate Braintree District, including Tourism
- NEEB
- Inward Investment
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
- Digital Essex
Corporate Priority: Supporting Communities
Councillor Lynette Bowers-Flint - Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Wellbeing
Deputy Cabinet Member: Councillor Charley Dervish
Portfolio includes:
- Strategic Housing Function
- Homelessness & Rough Sleeping
- Health & Wellbeing
- Environmental Health
- Leisure Services
- Older Persons & Ageing Well
- Social Mobility
- Welfare Reform
- Safeguarding
Councillor Mary Cunningham - Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities
Deputy Cabinet Member: Councillor Charley Dervish
Portfolio includes:
- Art, heritage, sport & Culture
- Children & Young People
- Community Funding & Grant Schemes
- Community Development
- Policing Matters
- Licensing Policy
- Community Safety
- Voluntary sector
- Equality & diversity
- Community Facilities
- Rural Communities
- Armed Forces Lead
Details of Cabinet Meetings including Agenda and Minutes are published on the Council's website here
Updated: 5th October 2023