Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change
DECISIONS made by the Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change, Councillor Nick Bennett, on 3 September 2024 at Remote Meeting via Microsoft Teams
Councillors Godfrey Daniel, Sorrell Marlow-Eastwood and Peter Pragnell spoke on item 4 (see minute 26)
Councillor Stephen Shing spoke on item 5 (see minute 27)
22. Decisions made by the Lead Cabinet Member on 15 July 2024
22.1 The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2024.
23. Disclosure of Interests
23.1 There were none.
24. Urgent items
24.1 There were none.
25. Reports
25.1 Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.
26. Proposed disposal of Land at Sandrock Hall Bends, The Ridge, Hastings
26.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.
26.2 Mr Peter Bailey, a local resident, spoke to highlight concerns regarding the potential future development of the site including flooding risks, biodiversity impacts and increased traffic flow and congestion.
DECISIONS
26.3 The Lead Member RESOLVED to:
1) Note the summary of the responses to the public notice of the Council’s intention to dispose of the site as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report;
2) Agree to the Council entering into a Promotion Agreement;
3) Approve the disposal of the site in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972; and
4) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to:
(a) agree the terms of any future sale to achieve best value for the site in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972; and
(b) take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in this report.
REASONS
26.4 The Council has considered the outcome of the responses from members of the public concerning the intention to dispose of the site. These are summarised in the report.
26.5 Entering into the Promotion Agreement provides the best opportunity to bring forward housing development sites locally, in accordance with the Local Plan. In addition to this, there will be an improvement upon the existing open space provision, with an area of at least 0.635ha in size to be designated for use as amenity land and/or open space and/or woodland and/or sustainable urban drainage as part of any development of the site.
26.6 Delegation of authority to the Chief Operating Officer to agree the terms of the Promotion Agreement and then to comply with and give effect to the provisions set out therein including but not limited to agreeing the terms of any future sale of the East Sussex County Council-owned site to achieve best value in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and to take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report will facilitate an effective and efficient process.
27. Corporate office estate; new lease of St Mary's House, Eastbourne
27.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.
DECISIONS
27.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to:
1) approve the proposed new lease terms of St Mary’s House, Eastbourne; and
2) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to approve the final lease negotiations, the signing and completion by the Council of the new lease, the surrender of the existing lease and any related documentation and to take any other actions considered appropriate to give effect to the above decision.
REASONS
27.3 The Council is seeking to secure a longer lease term for St Mary’s House, Eastbourne, given that it is now the sole corporate office hub in Eastbourne following the closure of St Mark’s House.
27.4 Delegation of authority to the Chief Operating Officer to approve the final lease negotiations, the signing and completion by the Council of the new lease, the surrender of the existing lease and any related documentation and to take any other actions considered appropriate to give effect to the above decision will facilitate the timely completion of the lease documentation
28. Exclusion of the Public and Press
28.1 It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press for the remaining agenda items on the grounds that if the public and press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
29. Proposed disposal of Land at Sandrock Hall Bends, The Ridge, Hastings - Exempt Information
29.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided exempt information in support of an earlier item on the agenda.
DECISIONS
29.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the exempt information in the report which relates to an earlier item on the agenda.
REASON
29.3 The report contained exempt information in relation to an earlier item on the agenda.
30. Corporate office estate; new lease of St Mary's House, Eastbourne - Exempt Information
30.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided exempt information in support of an earlier item on the agenda.
DECISIONS
30.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the exempt information in the report which relates to an earlier item on the agenda.
REASON
30.3 The report contained exempt information in relation to an earlier item on the agenda.