Minutes
EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
MINUTES of a MEETING of the EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL held at the Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes on 25 May 2021at 10.00 am
|
Present |
Councillors Sam Adeniji, Abul Azad, Matthew Beaver, Colin Belsey, Nick Bennett, Bob Bowdler, Chris Collier, Godfrey Daniel, Johnny Denis, Penny di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Kathryn Field, Gerard Fox, Roy Galley (Vice Chairman), Nuala Geary, Keith Glazier, Julia Hilton, Ian Hollidge, Stephen Holt, Johanna Howell, Eleanor Kirby-Green, Carolyn Lambert, Tom Liddiard, Philip Lunn, James MacCleary, Wendy Maples, Sorrell Marlow-Eastwood, Carl Maynard, Matthew Milligan, Steve Murphy, Sarah Osborne, Peter Pragnell (Chairman), Paul Redstone, Christine Robinson, Pat Rodohan, Phil Scott, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing, Alan Shuttleworth, Rupert Simmons, Bob Standley, Colin Swansborough, Barry Taylor, Georgia Taylor, David Tutt, John Ungar and Trevor Webb
|
1 To elect a Chairman of the County Council
David Elkin (Chairman of the County Council) in the Chair
1.1 The following motion was moved by Councillor Glazier and seconded –
‘To elect Councillor Pragnell to serve as Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year’.
1.2 There being no other nominations, the Chairman put the motion to the vote and declared Councillor Pragnell elected as Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year. Councillor Pragnell made a declaration of acceptance of office and took the Chair.
Councillor Pragnell in the Chair
1.3 The Chairman thanked the Council for electing him as Chairman. Given the unusual nature of the meeting, the Chairman informed the Council that David and Sandra Elkin would be invited to attend the July meeting of the Council in order that councillors could pay tribute to David Elkin for his time on the Council, for serving as Chairman and in order that he can be presented with the past Chairman’s badge.
2 To appoint a Vice Chairman of the County Council
2.1 The following motion was moved by Councillor Glazier and seconded –
‘to appoint Councillor Galley to serve as Vice Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year’.
2.2 There being no other nominations, the Chairman put the motion to the vote and declared Councillor Galley appointed as Vice Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year. Councillor Galley made a declaration of acceptance of office and took his seat as Vice-Chairman.
3 Minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2021
3.1 RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 23 March 2021 as a correct record.
4 Apologies for absence
4.1 Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Charles Clark and Alan Hay.
5 To receive notice of the Returning Officer certifying the election of County Councillors for the various electoral divisions
5.1 The County Council agreed to receive the Notice of the Returning Officer certifying the election, on 6 May 2021, of County Councillors for the various electoral divisions in East Sussex.
6 Chairman's business
WELCOME
6.1 The Chairman welcomed all members to the first meeting of the County Council following the elections.
PETITIONS
6.2 The following petitions were presented before the meeting by members::
|
Councillor Galley |
- calling on the County Council to take action to improve road safety on the Nursery Lane junction onto the A22 at Nutley |
|
Councillor MacCleary |
- calling on the County Council to make safety improvements to the A259 Bishopstone junction |
|
Councillor Ungar |
- calling on the County Council to clear the excess vegetation along the Lottbridge Drive shared path |
7 To appoint the Leader of the Council (and Chair of the Cabinet)
7.1 The following motion was moved by Councillor Bennett and SECONDED –
‘to nominate Councillor Glazier as Leader of the Council (and Chair of the Cabinet) for the term of office as set out in the Constitution’.
7.2 There being no other nominations, the Chairman put the motion to the vote and declared Councillor Glazier elected as Leader of the Council (and Chair of the Cabinet) for the term of office as set out in the Constitution.
8 Record of delegation of Executive Functions
8.1 In accordance with the Constitution, Councillor Glazier presented a written record to the Council of his appointments to the Cabinet, their portfolios and his delegation of executive functions. A copy of the Leaders report is attached to these minutes.
9 Reports
9.1 The Chairman of the County Council having called over the reports set out on the agenda reserved no paragraphs for discussion.
NON RESERVED PARAGRAPHS
9.2 On the Motion of the Chairman of the County Council, the Council, ADOPTED those paragraphs in the reports that had not been reserved for discussion as follows:
Governance Committee report – paragraph 1 (updated report on the allocation to Groups of places on committees), paragraph 2 (appointments to outside bodies) and paragraph 3 (arrangements for the annual meeting)
Cabinet report – paragraph 1 (coronavirus update)
Standards Committee report – paragraph 1 (annual report)
9.3 The Chairman announced that in light of the Council’s decision regarding the arrangements for the meeting, the meeting would be adjourned after agenda item 14 and that any items not considered today would be considered at the next meeting of the Council.
10 Appointments to Committees and Sub-Committees
10.1 Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that the appointments be made to the Committees and Sub-Committees listed in item 10 of the agenda, in accordance with the list of nominations from the political and independent groups, which had been circulated.
10.2 The motion was CARRIED.
11 Appointments of Members to other Committees and Panels
11.1 Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that the appointments be made to the Committees and Panels listed in item 11 of the agenda, in accordance with the list of nominations from the political and independent groups, which had been circulated.
11.1 The motion was CARRIED.
12 Confirmation to the continuation of other bodies
12.1 Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that the bodies listed in agenda item 12 be continued, that the political balance provisions shall not apply to these Panels and that members be appointed by the Chief Executive as the need arises.
12.2 The motion was CARRIED (with no member voting against).
13 Appointment to the Discretionary Transport Appeal Panel
13.1 Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that the political balance provisions would not apply to the membership of the Discretionary Transport Appeal Panel and that members be appointed in accordance with the list of nominations from political groups that had been circulated.
13.2 The motion was CARRIED (with no member voting against).
14 Appointment of Chairs and and Vice Chairs
14.1 The following motion, moved by Councillor Bennett and seconded, was CARRIED:
To appoint the following members to positions listed below’:
|
Committee
|
Chair |
Vice-Chair |
|
Regulatory
|
Chris Dowling |
|
|
Audit Committee
|
Swansborough |
Fox |
|
People Scrutiny Committee
|
Howell |
Ungar |
|
Place Scrutiny Committee
|
Beaver |
Hilton |
|
Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
|
Belsey |
Robinson |
|
Governance Committee
|
Glazier |
|
|
Planning Committee
|
Liddiard |
Barry Taylor |
|
Pension Committee
|
Fox |
|
|
Standards Committee |
Belsey
|
|
15 Adjournment
15.1 In view of the Council’s earlier decision to defer consideration of items not already dealt with the Chairman adjourned the meeting. Items 15 (questions from members of the public), 16 (the Cabinet’s priorities for the year) and 19 (questions from County Councillors) will be considered at the next meeting of the Council.
THE CHAIRMAN DECLARED THE MEETING CLOSED AT 10.18 am
_________________________
The reports referred to are included in the minute book
_________________________
Delegations approved by the Leader of the Council – 25 May 2021
(a) names of the County Councillors appointed to the Cabinet
The Cabinet comprises the following members
|
Portfolio |
Appointment |
|
Strategic Management and Economic Development |
Councillor Keith Glazier |
|
Resources and Climate Change |
Councillor Nick Bennett |
|
Economy |
Councillor Rupert Simmons |
|
Transport and Environment |
Councillor Claire Dowling |
|
Adult Social Care and Health |
Councillor Carl Maynard |
|
Children and Families (designated statutory Lead Member for Children’s Services) |
Councillor Bob Bowdler |
|
Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability |
Councillor Bob Standley |
(b) the extent of any authority delegated to cabinet members individually as portfolio holders will remain as set out in the Constitution of the County Council eastsussex.gov.uk/constitution or alternatively hard copies are available at County Hall, Lewes (please contact Andy Cottell – 01273 481955) and below.
In overall terms the areas of responsibility for each portfolio holder includes the following (subject to any subsequent amendment by the Leader at his discretion) principal services to be interpreted broadly. In accordance with the wishes of the Leader, principal services are not to be construed restrictively. In the event of any doubt in connection to a decision made by a Lead Member, the Leader confirms that he has delegated full executive authority to that decision maker:
|
Portfolio |
Scope |
|
Strategic Management and Economic Development |
· Chairing and managing the executive and its work
· Any executive function including overall strategy and policy for the Council
· Principal service area responsibilities: Communications Local Enterprise Partnership Policy and Performance East Sussex Better Together/Health and Wellbeing Board Equalities South East Seven Partnership Transport for South East (SNTB) Democratic Services
all ancillary activities |
|
Resources and Climate Change |
· Any executive function including strategy and policy for all corporate resources matters
· Principal service area responsibilities: Financial Management Property asset management Risk management Procurement Internal audit ICT Personnel and Training Legal Orbis Coroner services Council lead on Climate Change
all ancillary activities |
|
Economy |
· Any executive function including strategy and policy for all economic development and regeneration and all ancillary activities
· Principal service area responsibilities Economic Development Culture Skills (shared with Education) all ancillary activities Trading Standards
|
|
Transport and Environment |
· Any executive function including strategy and policy for all Transport and Environmental matters
· Principal service area responsibilities: Operational services Planning and developmental control Transport strategy Archives and records Customer Services Emergency Planning Gypsies and travellers Libraries Registration Services Road Safety Environmental and waste strategy all ancillary activities
|
|
Adult Social Care and Health |
· Any executive function including strategy and policy for all Adult Social Care and Public Health matters
· Principal service area responsibilities: Services for vulnerable adults including older people, learning disability, physical disability, mental health, public health and all ancillary activities Community Safety Voluntary Sector
|
|
Children and Families |
· Any executive function including overall strategy and policy for all Children’s Services (social care) matters
· Principal service area responsibilities: Child protection and family support Fostering and adoption for children Residential care for children Other aspects of social care for children Youth justice Youth service all ancillary activities |
|
Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability
|
· Any executive function including strategy and policy for all Children’s Services (education) matters
· Principal service area responsibilities: Quality and standards in educational establishments Special educational needs School admissions and transport Early years and childcare School organisation and place planning Skills (shared with Economy) all ancillary activities
|
(c) appointment to the position of Deputy Leader
Councillor Bennett to be appointed Deputy Leader of the County Council
(d) the terms of reference and constitution of the Cabinet and any executive committees together with the names of cabinet members appointed to them
The terms of reference and constitution of the Cabinet and any executive committees will remain as currently set out in the Constitution of the Council
(e) the nature and extent of any delegation of executive functions to local committees
There is no delegation of executive functions to local committees
(f) the nature and extent of any delegation to officers
The delegations of executive functions to Officers will be as set out in the Constitution. The delegations to Officers can be viewed via the following link:
Constitution - Delegations to Officers
or alternatively hard copies are available at County Hall, Lewes (please contact Andy Cottell – 01273 481955)
Urgent Executive Decisions
There were no executive decisions taken during 2020/21 where the making of the decision was agreed in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.
Councillor Keith Glazier
Leader of the Council