Leader of Council
The Leader of the Braintree District Council is Councillor Graham Butland.
At our Annual General Meeting on 21 May 2019, the 49 elected Members appointed Graham as Leader. The appointment is for a four-year term of office.
The Leader of the Council allocates executive functions.
The Leader can carry these functions out or arrange for:
- the Cabinet to carry them out
- a Cabinet member to carry them out
- a sub-committee to carry them out
- an officer to carry them out
The Cabinet
The Leader of the Council appoints the Cabinet.
The Leader divides responsibilities into portfolios and allocates these to each Cabinet member.
Cabinet member portfolios
The Cabinet members and their portfolios are:
The Cabinet
The Leader of the Council appoints the Cabinet.
The Leader divides responsibilities into portfolios and allocates these to each Cabinet member.
Cabinet Member Portfolios
The Cabinet members and their portfolios are:
Leader of the Council Councillor Graham Butland
Portfolio covering corporate strategy and direction:
- vision and strategic direction
- corporate strategy
- North Essex garden communities
- strategic partnerships
- strategic economic growth
- promotion of the district
- external relations
- electoral administration
Cabinet Member (and Deputy Leader of the Council) Councillor Tom Cunningham
Portfolio covering economic development and infrastructure:
- economic development strategies
- North Essex Economic Board and regional partnerships
- town centre renewal
- business engagement and support
- employment site; Enterprise Centre strategy
- inward investment
- skills and education improvement
- infrastructure and connectivity
Cabinet Member Councillor Frankie Ricci
Portfolio covering communities, culture and tourism:
- community facilities and support
- local community engagement
- community transport
- voluntary sector
- rural communities
- external funding
- equality and diversity
- older people
- Children and young people
- Heritage services
- Tourism
Cabinet Member Councillor John McKee
Portfolio covering corporate transformation:
- commercialisation and income generation
- efficiency and improvement programme
- strategic investment programme, including investment strategy
- asset management
- Enterprise centre portfolio
- ICT and digital strategy
- communications
- risk management
Cabinet Member Councillor Mrs Wendy Schmitt
Portfolio covering environment and place:
- waste minimisation and recycling
- street cleaning and parks
- landscapes and countryside
- parking and highways
- licensing
- building control
- environmental health
- climate change and sustainability
- community safety
- safeguarding
- armed forces covenant
- emergency planning
Cabinet Member Councillor David Bebb
Portfolio covering finance and performance management:
- medium-term financial strategy
- financial and treasury management
- performance management
- corporate governance
- customer services
- procurement
- health and safety
- member support and development
- human resources and organisational development
Cabinet Member Councillor Peter Tattersley
Portfolio covering health and wellbeing:
- Livewell programme
- health improvement
- emotional health and wellbeing
- heath partnerships
- leisure centres
- sports development
Cabinet Member Councillor Kevin Bowers
Portfolio covering homes:
- housing strategy
- housing development
- homelessness
- affordable housing delivery
- welfare reform
Cabinet Member Councillor Mrs Gabrielle Spray
Portfolio covering planning:
- local plan
- development management
- planning enforcement
- landscape services