Committees

Essex County Council is structured to allow the elected councillors to make decisions effectively, with a degree of oversight that, in addition to public scrutiny, ensures the decisions are made fairly and in the best interest of the people of the county.

The Democracy Team support councillors so they can participate in the democratic process, including committees and scrutiny, the running of the decision-making process and providing support for the civic roles. To contact us please email democratic.services@essex.gov.uk.

The Council, as a political decision-making body, can be divided into four main areas:

  • The Council

  • The Cabinet

  • Standing Committees

  • Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Set out below is a list of all of the Committees. If you click on the meeting you are interested in you will find information about the membership and meetings. By selecting the date of the meeting you can find out more information including the agenda, reports and minutes. Details of Overview and Scrutiny Committees can be found at the foot of this page.

The Calendar of Meetings will display what is scheduled to take place this month.

Published Final Reports issued by Scrutiny Committees may be found in Committee and Democracy related Documents in the scrutiny folder. Further information on the scrutiny function can be found here

Many committees provide opportunities for members of the public to ask a question. The agenda for every committee that permits public speaking gives information on how to register to speak. If you wish to speak at a committee, please look at an agenda for that committee in order to obtain guidance. To find out how and when you can speak, what subjects you may address and what advance warning you may need to give please email Democratic.Services@essex.gov.uk. You can also contact the Democratic Services Officer for the committee identified on the agenda.

The Development and Regulation Committee Protocol and how to speak at this committee can be found here

In the interests of improving access to the Council’s meetings, most meetings will be livestreamed on the ECC Democracy - YouTube Channel. Recordings of the meetings once they have finished are also available on the Channel.

CMIS Organisation Structure

Essex County Council

Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

This committee was formed on 11 October 2017 as an amalgamation of the Audit Committee and the Standards Committee. For all the agenda and papers of those previous committees, please go to 'Committees No Longer Active'. (on the Home Page)

Boundary Review Committee

To make submissions to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England with respect to the review of the ECC electoral divisions. Established by the Council at its meeting on 11 July 2023, the Committee will operate until the date of the annual meeting of the Council in 2024.

Cabinet

Comprises the Leader of the Council and nine Cabinet Members (appointed by the Leader) and is responsible for exercising all Executive Functions

Development and Regulation Committee

Considers planning applications in respect of minerals and waste, County Council development and Village Green status

Essex Climate Action Commission

The Essex Climate Action Commission brings together academics, politicians and business leaders to identify ways in which the Council can mitigate the effects of climate change, improve air quality, reduce waste and increase the amount of green infrastructure and biodiversity in the county, whilst also inspiring others to do the same.

Essex Countywide Traveller Unit Joint Committee

Committee that brings together representatives of councils across Essex and the Fire and Police Services to oversee the work of the Essex Traveller Unit to bring education, health and welfare services to Gypsies and Travellers and to supervise approved sites.

Essex Health and Wellbeing Board

Statutory body which acts as a forum for leaders from the health and care system in Essex to work together to improve the health and wellbeing of residents. The Board has a statutory duty to produce a joint strategic needs assessment and a joint health and wellbeing strategy for the local population.

Essex Pension Fund Advisory Board

The PAB assists with ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and legislation and to ensure the effective and efficient governance and administration of the (Local Government Pension Scheme) Essex Pension Fund.

Essex Pension Fund Investment Steering Committee (ISC)

The ISC is a sub Committee of the Essex Pension Fund Strategy Board and ensures that the Essex Pension Fund's Investments comply with the relevant regulations and legislation.

Essex Pension Fund Strategy Board (PSB)

The PSB ensures that the administration of the (Local Government Pension Scheme) Essex Pension Fund and its Fund investments comply with the relevant regulations and legislation through the Investment Steering Committee (ISC).

Essex Police, Fire and Crime Panel

Comprises representatives of the 15 local authorities in wider Essex and two independent members. Meets at least four times a year to scrutinise the work of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, exercising the function as a critical friend, in support of the Commissioner.

Full Council

All 75 members of the Council meet together five times a year in public to set the annual budget; determine policy; approve the Constitution and any changes to it; discuss motions put forward by members of the Council; and ask questions of the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairmen.

Great Notley Country Park Joint Venture Partnership Board

The Joint Venture Partnership Board was established as part of the Joint Working Agreement between Essex County Council and Braintree District Council. It has the following responsibilities in relation to Great Notley Country Park: Strategic and investment planning, Agreement of specific projects/schemes at the Park (including appropriate funding arrangements), Performance monitoring, Business and budgetary planning, Local consultation arrangements and review of feedback.

Senior Management Employment Committee

Responsible for various issues relating to the employment of Senior Managers, including appointment and dismissal, appeals against dismissal, terms of conditions of employment and performance pay. Can also delegate to the Chief Executive or his nominee authority to deal with particular appointments and dismissals. This committee was formed on 14 July 2020. Prior to this date, a similar function was undertaken by the Committee to Determine the Pay and Conditions of Employment of Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers and its sub committees. For all the agenda and papers of those previous committees, please go to 'Committees No Longer Active'. (on the Home Page)

Essex Flood Partnership Board

Essex Flood Partnership Board (Private Meeting)

This meeting is not open to members of the public

Essex Parking Partnership

North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP)

NEPP is a council-run partnership, led by Colchester City Council. It aims to administer parking rules in a fair and proportionate way and to ensure the delivery of street-based parking services remains consistent. Essex County Council is a member of the partnership but is not responsible for its administration. Minutes and decision notices are uploaded here for transparency.

South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP)

SEPP is a council-run partnership, led by Chelmsford City Council. It aims to administer parking rules in a fair and proportionate way and to ensure the delivery of street-based parking services remains consistent. Essex County Council is a member of the partnership but is not responsible for its administration. Minutes and decision notices are uploaded here for transparency.

Harlow Gilston Garden Town Joint Committee

Harlow Gilston Garden Town Joint Committee

The Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Partner Authorities have established a Joint Committee for the purposes of section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 to co-ordinate and facilitate the delivery of 16,000 homes in the HGGT by 2033, and 7,000 homes in the years after that along with associated infrastructure. The Joint Committee comprises of five (5) voting members, being one representative from each of the partner Councils. The Councils represented are Harlow District Council, Epping Forest District Council, East Herts District Council, Essex County Council and Hertfordshire County Council. The Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Inter Authority Agreement, brings together the constitutional and contractual partnership arrangements between the partner authorities to meet the ambitions for democratic accountability and decision-making alongside formal arrangements for risk-sharing and clarity on responsibilities.

Integrated Care Partnerships

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Corporate Policy and Scrutiny Committee

Reviews overall strategic direction, policies and priorities of the Cabinet and Council including the overall corporate revenue and capital budget strategy, financial resources, equality and diversity, procurement and the transformation programme.

Health Overview Policy and Scrutiny Committee

Reviews and scrutinises matters relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in the County of Essex. Including primary, secondary, tertiary care, and public health, and may involve reviewing the work of commissioners (such as local clinical commissioning groups), providers of health services (such as hospitals) and other organisations in the health sector.

People and Families Policy and Scrutiny Committee

Exercises a scrutiny function on matters relating to children and young people, families, education, adult social care, special needs and safeguarding. Comprises 18 Members

Place Services and Economic Growth Policy and Scrutiny Committee

Exercises a scrutiny function on matters relating to environment, economic growth and infrastructure, sustainability, highways and transportation, libraries, planning communities, waste and recycling and trading standards. Comprises 14 Members

South East Local Enterprise Partnership

SELEP Accountability Board

The Accountability Board Forward Plans are located under Public Documents

Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community

Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Joint Committee

ECC's Members of this committee are Cllrs Wagland and Scott. ECC's observers of this committee are Cllrs Crow and Cory.

These organisations are either companies owned (wholly or partially) by ECC or groups otherwise supported by ECC. Their meetings are not open to the public, but for transparency the minutes of meetings held will be published here.

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