Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change
DECISIONS made by the Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change, Councillor Nick Bennett, on 25 September 2025 at Remote Meeting via Microsoft Teams
22. Decisions made by the Lead Cabinet Member on 12 August 2025
22.1 The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 August 2025.
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. Playing field adjacent to the Tilling Green Community Centre - outcome of the public consultation of the Council's proposed disposal of the land
26.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.
DECISIONS
26.2The 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;
2) Approve that the site is to be marketed on the open market by an appointed marketing agent; and
3) Approve the exercise of the Landlord’s option to break the lease relating to the site at an appropriate time.
REASONS
26.3 The Council has considered the outcome of the responses from members of the public concerning the intention to dispose of the site, as summarised in the report. The feedback on the proposal to dispose of the site is balanced in terms of the numbers for and against.
26.4 In the absence of consent from the Secretary of State, the Council is obliged under s.123 of the Local Government Act 1972 to dispose of assets at the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained. In addition, the disposal of the land will support the likely provision of housing in the local area.
26.5 In order to dispose of the Site, it is necessary to exercise the Landlord’s option to break the existing lease relating to the site at a time that is considered to be appropriate.
27. Award a building contract for the provision of new secondary school accommodation at Acre Wood Academy, Crowborough
27.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information in a later agenda item.
DECISIONS
27.2The Lead Member RESOLVED to:
1) Approve the award of a building contract to Willmott Dixon to construct new secondary school accommodation at Acre Wood Academy adjacent to the primary school accommodation; and
2) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report.
REASONS
27.3 The Acre Wood Academy capital project, Crowborough is an important part of the Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) place planning strategy. The new secondary school accommodation will deliver additional specialist provision to meet the needs of children with SEND requirements.
28. Exclusion of Public and Press
28.1 It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press from the meeting 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 Schedule 12A to 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. Award a building contract for the provision of new secondary school accommodation at Acre Wood Academy, Crowborough - 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 relation to an earlier item on the agenda.
REASON
29.3 The report contained exempt information in relation to an earlier item on the agenda.