Cabinet
MINUTES of a meeting of the Cabinet held at Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes on 26 September 2024.
PRESENT Councillors Keith Glazier (Chair), Nick Bennett (Vice Chair), Bob Bowdler, Penny di Cara, Claire Dowling, Carl Maynard and Bob Standley
Members spoke on
the items indicated:
Councillor Bennett - items 5, 6 and 9 (minutes 18, 19 and 22)
Councillor Collier - items 5, 6, 7 and 8 (minutes 18, 19, 20 and 21)
Councillor Cross - items 5 and 6 (minutes 18 and 19)
Councillor Daniel - items 7 and 8 (minutes 20 and 21)
Councillor di Cara - item 7 (minute 20)
Councillor Claire Dowling - item 8 (minute 21)
Councillor Maples - item 8 (minute 21)
Councillor Maynard - items 5 and 6 (minutes 18 and 19)
Councillor Redstone - item 8 (minute 21)
Councillor Stephen Shing - item 5 and 6 (minutes 18 and 19)
Councillor Shuttleworth - items 5 and 6 (minutes 18 and 19)
Councillor Standley - items 5 and 6 (minutes 18 and 19)
Councillor Swansborough - items 5, 6 and 8 (minutes 18, 19 and 21)
Councillor Tutt - items 5, 6 and 7 (minutes 18, 19 and 20)
Councillor Webb - items 5 and 6 (minutes 18 and 19)
16. Minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2024
16.1 The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 16 July 2024 were agreed as a correct record.
17. reports
17.1 Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.
18. Council Monitoring Quarter 1
18.1 The Cabinet
considered a report by the Chief Executive.
18.2 It was RESOLVED
to:
1) note the latest monitoring position for the Council;
and
2) note the addition and amendments to the risk
register as set out in paragraph 3.2 and Appendix 8 of the
report.
Reason
18.3 The report sets out the Council’s position and year-end projections for the Council Plan targets, Revenue Budget, Capital Programme, and Savings Plan, together with Risks at the end of June 2024.
19. Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR): Update on planning for 2025/26
19.1 The Cabinet
considered a report from the Chief Executive.
19.2 It was RESOLVED
to:
1) Note the updated
planning position and the actions being taken to support the
Council’s financial position as set out in the report;
2) Agree that the
Council consults where required on the savings proposals set out in
the report and at appendix 1 of the report;
3) Agree that Chief
Officers continue to identify further potential savings as set out
in section 5 of the report;
4) Agree to
continue lobbying vigorously through all available avenues for
sustainable funding to meet the needs of the residents of East
Sussex.
Reasons
19.3 The
Council’s current and forecast financial position requires
urgent action. The report outlines measures already being taken and
the exceptional steps required to bring forward savings proposals
ahead of the new financial year, in order to support the
Council’s legal duty to set a balanced budget.
19.4 We recognise the
significant impact the proposals identified for consultation will
have on local people, our staff and partners and on our ability to
manage and respond to future need for services. These are not
proposals we would want to make if there were other choices
available to us and they are not made lightly.
19.5 Work will
continue to develop and progress further savings. Another report
will be brought to Cabinet in November with more detail on this
work, as well as an overview of the latest national policy and
financial context, our latest assessment of the Council’s
medium term financial plan position and an update on the capital
programme.
19.6 Members’ involvement will continue throughout the process through Cabinet, County Council, Scrutiny Committees, and specific engagement sessions.
20. East Sussex Economic Prosperity Strategy 2024 - 2050
20.1 The Cabinet
considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and
Transport.
20.2 It was RESOLVED
to endorse the new East Sussex Economic Prosperity Strategy,
developed in partnership with Team East Sussex (TES).
Reasons
20.3 The former function of Local Enterprise Partnerships for strategic economic planning has now transferred to local democratic institutions, in this case East Sussex County Council. Whilst government expects local places to publish their strategy within six months of receiving transition funding (which itself is yet to be received), the production of an updated economic strategy has already taken place and been endorsed by TES as the Economic Growth Board for the county. East Sussex is in a strong position to articulate to Government its economic narrative and areas of focus for future investment opportunities.
21. Local Transport Plan 4 - adoption
21.1 The Cabinet
considered a report from the Director of Communities, Economy and
Transport.
21.2 It was RESOLVED
to:
1) Approve the East Sussex Local Transport Plan
4 (LTP4), Investment Plan and supporting documents to support and
deliver transport infrastructure across the county; and
2) Note the further work planned beyond the adoption of LTP4, as outlined in paragraphs 2.13 – 2.16 of the report.
Reason
21.3 Local Transport Authorities are required to have a Local Transport Plan (LTP) in place which sets the strategy and policy framework for transport across their geography. The East Sussex LTP4, which will cover the period 2024 to 2050, will ensure that we have an up-to-date LTP that is reflective of current national, sub national and local policy, which will place us in a stronger position to seek future funding.
22. Annual progress report on becoming a carbon neutral Council
22.1 The Cabinet
considered a report from the Director of Communities, Economy and
Transport and Chief Operating Officer.
22.2 It was RESOLVED
to note the progress report.
Reason
22.3 The Council has recognised the severity of the climate crisis by declaring a climate emergency, by setting a clear science-based target and by committing an additional £9.9m of funding up to March 2025 to cutting corporate carbon emissions. The scale of the Council’s functions and the diversity of providers the Council works with makes this a complex and substantial task. Significant work has already been undertaken to reduce emissions and will continue to be undertaken. The report sets out the further progress made during 2023/24.
23. To agree which items are to be reported to the County Council
23.1 It was agreed that items 5, 8 and 9 should be reported to the County Council.
[Note: the item being reported to the County Council refers to minute numbers 18, 21 and 22 ]