The newly-elected Braintree District Council, meeting for the first time in full council on Monday, has issued a statement of its priorities for the coming year.

The six-point plan will, for the first time, be seen through by lead members - each with a special area of policy responsibility.

The priorities are:

The provision of new swimming pools for Braintree and Halstead

improving recycling

improving access to services and facilities, especially through a rural transport policy

improving the condition of the council's 10,000-home housing stock

meeting the needs of young people

investing in information technology for the benefits of staff, councillors and the public.

Leader of the Labour-controlled council, John Gyford, said: "These are all major plans, with major financial implications and will be considered alongside a review of the district council's financial strategy."

For the first time the council has lead members, with special areas of responsibility.

The move is in line with Government plans to modernise the way local government works, streamlining processes and reducing the number of committees.

Mr Gyford explained that by 2001, the Government expects local councils to operate a ''Cabinet style system'', with councillors taking on areas of special responsibility and seeing issues through committee stage.

Lead members will acts as a focal point for policy themes, working with councillors and officers, community partners and the electorate.

Ian Pointon, lead member for resources and best value, said: "The lead member will pull together the different parts of the council to deliver the goods, to get problems solved.

"This will be the end of people being fobbed off with the phrase,'I'm sorry, but that's not my responsibility'."

From last Monday's meeting each lead member will be given five minutes at the start of business to present issues and recommendations and to receive questions from fellow councillors.

Lead members are: Phil Barlow (employment and economic development); David Mann (environment); Eileen Davidson (housing); Lynn Green (community needs); Malcolm Fincken (promoting democracy); Ian Pointon (resources and best value); John Kotz (health) and Jim Fyfe (equalities).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.