First elected to Braintree District Council in May 1999 and a Member continuously since.
The Ward originally was formed of Rivenhall and Silver End parishes, with various boundary changes since to include Bradwell parish for a period but now comprises the parishes of Silver End, Cressing and Rivenhall.
Leader of the Green and Independent Group on Braintree District Council since May 2019.
Elected in May 1999 to Rivenhall Parish Council; Chairman since May 2007.
Essex County Councillor for Witham Northern division from 2013 to 2019.
Graduate of University College London (Astronomy, 1982).
Previously employed in archaeology and own landscaping/tree growing business.
Electoral Ward Profile
Member Allowances and Expenses
Updated: 17th May 2021
Councillors’ Community Grant
This grant scheme operates from 1st September 2016 and provides all 49 Ward Councillors with funds to support organisations and groups to develop and deliver community projects and initiatives that benefit local residents.
The Councillor Community Grants Scheme is monitored by the Grants Panel and Councillors are obliged to consider the Member Code of Conduct when making grant decisions. To aid transparency the details of each grant are published below. Grants made by Councillor James Abbott:
Organisation:1st Silver End Scouts Project:Summer Festival Overall cost of project: £500 Grant awarded: £500 Joint Grant: No Date: 12th June 2017
Organisation: Greener Silver End Project: Picnic in the Park Overall cost of project: £200.00 Grant awarded: £150.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 26th June 2017
Organisation: Rivenhall Playing Fields Association Project: New Shed / Storage Facility Overall cost of project: £1022 Grant awarded: £511 Joint Grant: YES (Cllr Kevin Bowers) Date: 24th July 2017
Organisation: Silver End Parish Council
Project: Community use Defibrillator
Overall cost of project: £900
Grant awarded: £500
Joint Grant: No
Date: 9th August 2017
Organisation: Cressing Temple Community Shed Project: Promotional material Overall cost of project: £316.00 Grant awarded: £316.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 1st October 2017
Organisation: Francis Crittall Pavilion Association Project: Francis Crittall Pavilion Association Overall cost of project: £80000 Grant awarded: £1000 Joint Grant: No Date: 19th October 2017
Organisation: Francis Crittall Pavilion Trust Project: Storage Overall cost of project: £1500 (requesting £650) Grant awarded: £650 Joint Grant: No Date: 24th October 2018
Organisation: Francis Crittall Pavilion Trust Project: Francis Crittall Pavilion Sign Overall cost of project: £1000 (requesting £350) Grant awarded: £350 Joint Grant: No Date: 21st November 2018
Organisation: Witham Art and Sketch Club Charity Registration Number: N/A Project: Witham Art and Sketch Club - Room and Speakers Overall cost of Project: £1,000 Grant Awarded: £184 (for now) Joint Grant: No Date: 17th March 2019 Financial Year: 2018/19
Organisation: Witham Art and Sketch Club Charity Registration Number: N/A Project: Insurance and Guest Speaker Changes Overall cost of Project: £300 Grant Awarded: £300 Joint Grant: No Date: 1st November 2019 Financial Year: 2019/20
Organisation: The Friends of Cressing Temple Gardens Charity Registration Number: 1166431 Project: Cressing Temple Community Gardening Overall cost of Project: £1379.32 Grant Awarded: £579.32 Joint Grant: Yes (Councillor Bob Wright) Date: 13th January 2020 Financial Year: 2019/20
Organisation: Cressing Community Magazine Charity Registration Number: N/A Project: Cressing Community Magaine Overall cost of Project: £2,200 Grant Awarded: £250 Joint Grant: Yes (Councillor Bob Wright - £250 contributed) Date: 12th January 2021 Financial Year: 2020/21
Organisation: Silver End Parish Council Charity Registration Number: N/A Project: Floodlights/Electrical Supply Overall cost of Project: £1,500 Grant Awarded: £750.00 Joint Grant: Yes (Councillor Bob Wright) Date: 12th January 2021 Financial Year: 2020/21
Organisation: Rivenhall Parish Council Charity Registration Number: N/A Project: New/replacement litter bin with lid Overall cost of Project: £200 Grant Awarded: £100.00 Joint Grant: Yes (Councillor Bob Wright) Date: 5th October 2021 Financial Year: 2020/21
Organisation: Silver End Heritage Society Charity Registration Number: N/A Project: New laptop computer Overall cost of Project: £1000 Grant Awarded: £500.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 5th October 2021 Financial Year: 2020/21
Organisation: Trust Links Charity No.: 1092324 Project: Plant House at Growing Together Overall cost of project: £2,841 Grant awarded: £1000 Joint Grant: Yes (Councillor Bob Wright) Date: 28th January 2022 Financial Year: 2021/22
Organisation: Cressing Parish Council Charity No.: N/A Project: Defibrillator at Playing Field Overall cost of project: £2,750 Grant awarded: £450 Joint Grant: Yes (Councillor Bob Wright) Date: 14th April 2022 Financial Year: 2022/23
Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
Councillor: Braintree District Councillor and Parish Councillor (Chairman) of Rivenhall Parish Council
Spouse: Employment declared
Councillor: Election expenses from the Witham and Braintree Green Party.
Spouse: None
Councillor/Spouse: None
Councillor/Spouse: Declared to the Monitoring Officer - Dispensation against publication granted - 23/11/2021
None
Chairman of Witham and Braintree Green Party, Co-ordinator of Essex Green Party, Rivenhall Parish Council.
Braintree District Council's appointed Representative to the Rivenhall Playing Field Association.
Member of: British Astronomical Association (and Cfds), CPRE (Essex), Witham and Countryside Society, End to End Nature Care, North Essex Astronomical Society, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE), UCL Alumni and Greenpeace.
11. Gifts and Hospitality with as estimated value of at least £50
None.
Updated: 26th November 2021