IF the changes already made to the faces behind Colchester Council’s ruling Cabinet in the past few days are anything to go by, the next 12 months are going to be interesting.

The dust has settled after the council elections which saw the Conservatives lose two seats and the so-called Progressive Alliance, made up of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Highwoods Independent councillors, bolster control for another year.

The annual meeting is being held on Wednesday and Lib Dem Mark Cory is set to retain his role as council leader for the second year.

However, his new Labour deputy will be veteran councillor and former mayor Julie Young who is making her Cabinet debut.

She has replaced Labour’s Tim Young while other councillors joining the Cabinet will include Labour’s Adam Fox and the Lib Dem’s Theresa Higgins and Gerard Oxford for Highwoods Independents.

Others to stay on the Cabinet are Labour’s Mike Lilley and the Lib Dems’ Martin Goss and David King.

Roles and responsibilities have been tweaked, among them is for Mr Lilley’s public safety portfolio to encompass communities while Mrs Higgins’ role focuses on the council’s commercial aspect in light of its three arms-length organisations.

For Mrs Young, her 21 years of Colchester Council experience and role as a county councillor will no doubt come in handy as will her critical eye of how the council needs to change.

“Better communication with the people of Colchester” is a phrase she uses to suggest how the council can improve.

“And trying to see how we can better match their aspirations,” she adds. “That’s really a priority for me. I am keen on working collaboratively with Cabinet colleagues.”

She said there was “disquiet in the community” about some of the council-backed projects, not least the future plans for the St Botolph’s area.

Mrs Young will take on the Culture portfolio which also takes in what the council describes as performance.

“The Alumno project springs to mind as one of those dominating the press for a long period of time,” she said. “We will have to see how that turns out.”

The Alumno Group put forward plans for students flats, a Travelodge, retail units and public space in the so-called Cultural Quarter.

But their plans generated a storm of opposition and were rejected by councillors in March.

The proposals also saw divisions in the Labour group, with its former leader Mr Young backing the plans but others in the party vehemently opposed.

Gazette:

Mr Cory agreed with Mrs Young that the Cabinet “had not quite got right” its communication with the public.

And he admitted the Local Plan, the masterplan which sets out development in the area, was another area where people perhaps felt unheard.

Mrs Young said: “There is a perception the Alumno project was a surprise, even though there had been a long-standing masterplan there.

“When proposals for student accommodation came forward that surprised people.

“Whose fault is anybody’s guess but we do need to make sure people are aware of what the long term plans are for Colchester so things don’t come as a surprise and people can feed into the conversation and get heard.”

Mrs Young said the strategy for how Government demands for additional housing is delivered, whether through garden communities or by other means, also needed an “honest conversation” with the public.

Mr Cory added: “With the one seat majority we had last year, unfortunately some political games were played that hindered with some of the running of the council.

“It was so close, it was difficult to deliver certain things.”

The Cabinet’s overriding vision for the year is to ensure people are listened to while it struggles with less money to spend from the Government.

Headline pledges include delivering on a greener agenda including a joint Climate Emergency Motion to be discussed at full council in July.

Tackling air pollution is another part of the green pledge, with the Cabinet wanting to encourage people to ditch cars in favour of buses and bikes to help reduce emissions.

Another is planting community orchards, particularly in areas of deprivation.

Mrs Young said tackling gang culture was also high on their agenda, it being one of the main challenges she feels the area faces.

By expanding Mr Lilley’s Cabinet role to communities it hopes to garner a better understanding of police resources take a more robust approach to anti-social behaviour and strengthen communities.

Mr Cory said Mrs Young would be “building on the strides” made to celebrate Colchester’s culture and heritage - its USP - which will help it to deliver a new town centre masterplan.

Subject to receiving Government cash, it is hoped ways to make the town more inviting, such as a new public realm, could come to fruition.

He added: “We will be lighting up the Roman walls – that will be delivered this year. We will be doing more with the Roman Circus we hope.”

So what, do they each feel, is the most important issue in Colchester right now?

Mr Cory said: “There are parts of Colchester I think are fragmented.

“Some of it is over-building of housing without infrastructure combined with the strain on public services.”

Mrs Young agreed and said matters had not been helped by access to public services curtailed such as rural police stations, meals on wheels and now the threat of libraries closing.

“We need to invest in resources as best as we are able to.”

It’s set to be another colourful year for the Cabinet.

Time will tell what they deliver.