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
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
Date: 9th August 2017
Organisation: Cressing Temple Community Shed
Project: Promotional material
Overall cost of project: £316.00
Grant awarded: £316.00
Date: 1st October 2017
Organisation: Francis Crittall Pavilion Association
Project: Francis Crittall Pavilion Association
Overall cost of project: £80000
Grant awarded: £1000
Date: 19th October 2017
Organisation: Francis Crittall Pavilion Trust
Project: Storage
Overall cost of project: £1500 (requesting £650)
Grant awarded: £650
Date: 24th October 2018
Project: Francis Crittall Pavilion Sign
Overall cost of project: £1000 (requesting £350)
Grant awarded: £350
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
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: 1 Waterfall Cottages, Park Road, Rivenhall, CM8 3PR and 45 Collingwood Road, Witham, CM8 2DZ
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.