CABINET
MINUTES of a meeting of the Cabinet held on 19 July 2022 at Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes
|
PRESENT |
Councillors Keith Glazier (Chair) |
|
|
Councillors Nick Bennett (Vice Chair), Bob Bowdler, Claire Dowling, Carl Maynard and Bob Standley |
Members spoke on the items indicated
Councillor
Bennett
- items 5 and 6 (minute 11 and 12)
Councillor Swansborough - item
6 (minute 12)
Councillor
Tutt
- item 5 (minute 11)
8. Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2022
8.1 The
minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 27 June 2022 were agreed
as a correct record.
9. Apologies for absence
9.1 An
apology was received from Councillor Simmons.
10. Reports
10.1 Copies of the
reports referred to below are included in the minute book.
11. Modern Slavery Statement
11.1 The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.
11.2 It was RESOLVED to:
1) agree the East Sussex County Council’s first Modern Slavery Statement;
2) authorise the Chief Operating Officer to make, if necessary, minor modifications to the Statement Prior to publication.
Reason:
11.3 Surrey County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council have agreed that the responsibility for implementing approaches to responding to modern slavery in their operations and supply chains will rest with Orbis Procurement - a shared partnership service between the three authorities.
11.4 As this is the Council’s first statement, it demonstrates how we have started responding to modern slavery risks in our operations and supply chains and some of our planned actions. Statutory guidance acknowledges that “Organisations will need to build on what they are doing year on year. Their first statements may show how they are starting to act on the issue and their planned actions to investigate or collaborate with others to effect change.”
11.5 While the Council’s first statement has touched on some of its planned actions, statements are primarily retrospective, focusing on the actions that have already been taken in the last financial year to tackle modern slavery in its organisation and supply chains. It is not a policy or a strategy document, but rather an annual reporting mechanism.
11.6 The aim is to have the statement signed and published by 30 September 2022 as required by Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
12. Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion 2021/22
12.1 The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.
12.2 It was RESOLVED to note the internal audit service’s opinion on the Council’s control environment.
Reason
12.3 The report gives an opinion on the adequacy of East Sussex County Council’s control environment as a contribution to the proper, economic, efficient and effective use of resources. The report covers the audit work completed in the year from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 in accordance with the Internal Audit Strategy for 2021/22. Substantial assurance can be provided that East Sussex County Council had in place an adequate and effective framework of governance, risk management and internal control for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.
13. Conservators of Ashdown Forest Budget 2021/22
13.1 The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.
13.2 It was RESOLVED to:
1. note the 2021/22 Outturn for the Conservators’ Core and Countryside Stewardship budgets.
2. approve the contribution of £19,546 to fund the deficit on the Conservators’ Core budget for 2021/22.
Reason
13.3 To note the final accounts for the
Ashdown Forest Trust for 2021/22 and a financial contribution from
COVID 19 grant funding was agreed to offset the 2021/22 Core budget
outturn deficit.
14. Items to be reported to the County Council
14.1 It was agreed that item 7 should be reported to the County Council.
[Note: the item being reported to the County Council refers to minute 13]