Councillor Lesley Smetham

...the Environment and Communities Committee approved recommendations to provide feedback on the Medium Term Financial Strategy Consultation 2026/27 - 2029/30, scrutinize budget savings proposals, and note the conditions for successful budget delivery.

...the committee approved recommendations related to the second financial review for 2025/26, including noting the council's overall financial position, scrutinizing the Environment and Communities Directorate's revenue forecast, reviewing capital spending, noting budget reductions, and acknowledging the available reserves position.

...to support the progress of the new Local Plan, the committee approved recommendations to publicize and undertake a further call for sites and to delegate certain decisions related to the plan's production to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Communities Committee.

...to approve the Statement of Gambling Principles 2026-2029, a policy document guiding decisions under the Gambling Act 2005 for the next three years.