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 21 May 2019, the 49 elected Members appointed Councillor 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 19 April 2021, the Cabinet consists of the Leader and seven Cabinet Members.
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 Innovative Environment, Connecting People and Prosperity and Supporting Our Communities. The Leader’s Portfolio has strategic oversight of the Cabinet Functions.
Cabinet Member Portfolios
Leader of the Council: Councillor Graham Butland
Portfolio: Overall Strategy
- Overall Vision and Strategic Direction
- Corporate Strategy
- Strategic Partnerships
- COVID 19 response
- Strategic Economic Growth
- Promotion of the District
- Communications
- External Relations
- Performance Management
- Investment and Development Programme
- Electoral Administration
Corporate Priority: Innovative Environment
Cabinet Member: Councillor John McKee
Portfolio: Finance and Corporate Transformation
- Medium-Term Financial Strategy
- Financial and Treasury Management
- Commercialisation and Income Generation
- Efficiency and Improvement Programme
- Customer Services
- Procurement
- Corporate Governance
- Member Support and Development
- HR and Organisational Development
- Health and Safety
- Risk Management
- ICT
- Digital Strategy
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
Cabinet Member: Councillor Mrs Wendy Schmitt
Portfolio: Environment
- Waste Minimisation and Recycling
- Street Cleansing and Parks
- Landscapes and Countryside
- Parking & Highways
- Licencing
- Building Control
- Environmental Health
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- Emergency Planning
Corporate Priority: Connecting People, Places and Prosperity
Cabinet Member: Councillor Tom Cunningham
Portfolio: Economic Growth
- Economic Development Strategies & COVID Recovery
- North Essex Economic Board & Regional Partnerships
- Business Engagement and Support
- Employment Site Strategy
- Inward Investment
- Digital Connectivity
- Town Centre Renewal Strategies and Improvements
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
Cabinet Member: Councillor Kevin Bowers
Portfolio: Housing, Assets and Skills
- Housing Development
- Housing Strategy
- Homelessness
- Affordable Housing Delivery
- Asset Management
- Enterprise Centre Portfolio and Strategy
- Skills & Education Improvement
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
Cabinet Member: Councillor Mrs Gabrielle Spray
Portfolio: Planning and Infrastructure
- Local Plan
- Development Management
- Planning Enforcement
- Landscape Services
- Infrastructure
Corporate Priority: Supporting Our Communities
Cabinet Member: Councillor Peter Tattersley
Portfolio: Health and Wellbeing
- Health Improvement
- Health Partnerships
- Livewell Programme
- Emotional Health and Well-being
- Leisure Centres
- Sports Development
- Safeguarding
- Older People
- Children and Young People
Cabinet Member: Councillor Frankie Ricci
Portfolio: Communities
- Community Safety
- Welfare Reform
- Local Community Engagement
- Voluntary Sector
- Equality & Diversity
- Community Facilities and Support
- Community Transport
- Rural Communities
- External Funding
- Armed Forces Covenant
- Cycling Strategy
- Heritage Services
- Tourism
- Specific Major Projects relevant to the Portfolio
Cabinet Support Members
From time to time the Leader may appoint Cabinet Support Members who may assist and work with the Cabinet Members in the exercise of their roles and responsibilities.
Cabinet Support Members are entitled to attend Cabinet meetings and only at the Leader’s discretion participate in the debate. Cabinet Support Members cannot vote and have no decision making powers.
A Cabinet Support Member has been assigned to each of the Corporate Priorities and will support the Cabinet Members whose Portfolio is assigned the same priority.
The following Members were appointed Cabinet Support Members on 19 April 2021:
-
Councillor Ian Pritchard - Innovative Environment
-
Councillor Justin Wrench - Connecting People, Places and Prosperity
-
Councillor Mrs Iona Parker - Supporting Our Communities
Updated: 22 April 2021