EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL’S FORWARD PLAN
The Leader of the County Council is required to publish a forward plan setting out matters which the Leader believes will be the subject of a key decision by the Cabinet, individual Cabinet member or officer in the period covered by the Plan (the subsequent four months). The Council’s Constitution states that a key decision is one that involves
(a) expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard to the expenditure of the County Council’s budget, namely above £500,000 per annum; or
(b) is significant in terms of its effects on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more electoral divisions.
As a matter of good practice, the Council's Forward Plan includes other items in addition to key decisions that are to be considered by the Cabinet/individual members. This additional information is provided to inform local residents of all matters to be considered, with the exception of issues which are dealt with under the urgency provisions. Only key decisions to be taken by officers are included.
For each decision included on the Plan the following information is provided:
- the name of the individual or body that is to make the decision and the date of the meeting or relevant time period for an officer decision
- the title of the report and decision to be considered
- groups that will be consulted prior to the decision being taken
- a list of documents that will be considered when making the decision
- the name and telephone number of the contact officer for each item.
The Plan is updated and published every month on the Council’s website two weeks before the start of the period to be covered.
Meetings of the Cabinet/individual members are open to the public (with the exception of discussion regarding reports which contain exempt/confidential information). Copies of agenda and reports for meetings are available on the website in advance of meetings. Key decisions taken by officers will not be taken at a meeting – documents listed can be made available on request to the contact officer, with the exception of those which contain exempt/confidential information.
For further details on the time of meetings and general information about the Plan please contact Stuart McKeown at County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE, or telephone 01273 481583 or send an e-mail to stuart.mckeown@eastsussex.gov.uk. For further detailed information regarding specific issues to be considered by the Cabinet, individual Member or officer please contact the named contact officer for the item concerned.
EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE
For copies of reports or other documents please contact the officer listed on the Plan or phone 01273 335274.
FORWARD PLAN – EXECUTIVE DECISIONS (including Key Decisions) –1 May 2025 TO 31 August 2025
Additional notices in relation to Key Decisions and/or private decisions are available on the Council’s website.
Cabinet membership:
Councillor Keith Glazier - Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development
Councillor Nick Bennett – Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change
Councillor Penny di Cara – Lead Member for Economy
Councillor Claire Dowling – Lead Member for Transport and Environment
Councillor Carl Maynard – Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health
Councillor Bob Bowdler – Lead Member for Children and Families
Councillor Bob Standley – Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability
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Date for Decision |
Decision Taker |
Decision/Key Issue |
Decision to be taken wholly or partly in private (P) or Key Decision (KD) |
Consultation
|
List of Documents to be submitted to decision maker |
Contact Officer |
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19 May 2025 |
Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development
|
Record of Delegation of Executive Functions To consider delegations in relation to executive functions including the Cabinet responsibilities and functions set out in the Constitution, the Officer Scheme of Delegation and the annual report by the Leader to be submitted to the County Council on 20 May 2025.
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Stuart McKeown 01273 481583
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Between 7 May 2025 and 31 May 2025 |
Chief Operating Officer
|
Oracle Programme resources Award of contract for the 2025/26 resource envelope, required to deliver the Oracle Programme.
|
KD |
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Ros Parker 01273 481412
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|
May 2025 |
Chief Operating Officer
|
Former Broad Oak Primary School (main site only) - Disposal of Freehold Approval by the Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change was given on 19 November 2024 to formally declare the site to be surplus to the Council’s operational requirements and for it to be disposed of. Authority was delegated to the Chief Operating Officer to approve the final sale terms. The site has been marketed on the open market and the Chief Operating Officer will approve the sale terms.
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P
KD |
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Rebecca Lewis 07955 312371
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2 Jun 2025 |
Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability
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Grove Park School To determine the statutory proposal to change the designation of Grove Park School.
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KD |
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Gary Langford 01273 481758
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2 Jun 2025 |
Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability
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Response to petition regarding Home to School Transport provision To decide on the Council’s response to the petition regarding Home to School Transport provision. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the Lead Member to hear the concerns of parents who signed the petition regarding the withdrawal of bus passes for some children attending Chailey School. |
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Jo Miles 01273 481911
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3 Jun 2025 |
Cabinet
|
Sussex Devolution: establishing transitional governance arrangements The Government published a White Paper on English Devolution in December last year, with proposals for the creation of a new tier of local government sitting above existing upper tier councils and operating over a wider geographic footprint to which new strategic powers and associated funding will be transferred from national government. Subject to Government approval following public consultation, the Cabinet will be asked to approve governance arrangements for the executive joint committee of the three upper tier councils for Sussex which will lead on the establishment of a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Sussex on terms agreed with West Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council. The implementation of the decision will be dependent on whether the Government decides the statutory test for the MCCA is met.
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KD |
A Government run consultation on devolution to Sussex has been undertaken - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sussex-and-brighton-devolution/sussex-and-brighton-devolution-consultation and closed on 13 April. The County Council submitted a response. The Government will analyse the responses, and the Secretary of State will take a decision devolution proposals for Sussex. The following are being consulted on the arrangements for establishing a Combined Authority that will hold and discharge the devolved functions alongside the mayor who is expected to be elected in May 2026: · West Sussex County Council · Brighton & Hove City Council · District and Borough Council Leaders |
Report, other documents may also be submitted
|
Philip Baker 01273 481564
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3 Jun 2025 |
Cabinet
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CIPFA: Financial Resilience and Governance Review Cabinet is asked to approve commissioning Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) to undertake a financial resilience and governance review. This would be required should the Council need to seek Exceptional Financial Support to enable the balanced 2026/27 budget to be set |
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Ian Gutsell 01273 481399
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3 Jun 2025 |
Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change
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Petition - Divest from Israel and stop support for genocide To decide on the response to the petition calling on the County Council to divest the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), and end procurement contracts, with companies enabling Israel’s grave violations of Palestinian rights.
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|
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Ian Gutsell, Ros Parker 01273 481399, 01273 481412
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4 Jun 2025 |
Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health
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Proposed consultation in relation to the future of the Circle Room Young persons Sexual Health clinic in Lewes To seek approval from the Lead Member to carry out a targeted consultation about a proposal to close the Circle Room Young Persons Sexual Health clinic session at the end of the current contract, which is due to end on 31 March 2026. The Circle Room currently offers a three-hour drop-in sexual and reproductive health clinic once per week in Lewes.
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KD |
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Tony Proom 01273 335252
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16 Jun 2025 |
Lead Member for Transport and Environment
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Petition: Installation of pedestrian crossing and a 20mph speed limit in Mill Road, Hailsham To consider a petition to install a pedestrian crossing outside Lion House Park and a 20mph speed limit on the approaches to Lion House Park, in Mill Road, Hailsham.
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Clare Akehurst 03456 080193
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16 Jun 2025 |
Lead Member for Transport and Environment
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Transport and Works Act Agreement - Rother Valley Railway In May 2023, the Secretary of State for Transport made the Transport and Works Act Order to enable the completion of the Rother Valley Railway (Bodiam to Robertsbridge Junction). Some of the works to reinstate the railway will need to take place on adopted public highway that the County Council manages and maintains. Ordinarily, these works would be permitted under Section 278 of the Highway Act, which officers have delegated authority to negotiate and agree. However, due to the unusual nature of this project, the works will need to be agreed through a Transport and Works Act Agreement, which no delegated authority exists for officers to agree to. The report to Lead Member will be to seek authority for a Transport and Works Act Agreement to be agreed and signed with Rother Valley Railway.
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Full public consultation was undertaken on the proposed Transport and Works Act Order. |
Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Mark Weston 01273 482242
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24 Jun 2025 |
Cabinet
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Council Monitoring: Quarter 4 2024/25 - Year end To consider the Council Monitoring report for the fourth quarter of 2024/25 as part of the Council's Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources process.
|
KD |
|
Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Victoria Beard 07894 708914
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24 Jun 2025 |
Cabinet
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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) - State of the County To consider the State of the County report and begin the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources process for 2026/27 and beyond.
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KD |
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Victoria Beard 07894 708914
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15 Jul 2025 |
Cabinet
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24/25 Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion To note the Internal Audit Service’s Opinion on the Council’s control environment.
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Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Nigel Chilcott 01273 481992
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17 Jul 2025 |
Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health
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Adult Social Care What Matters To You Strategy - Year 2 Action Plan (2025-26) approval Together with residents and partners, the Adult Social Care and Health (ASCH) department developed an adult social care strategy for the county – What Matters To You. The strategy, launched in June 2023, is specific to East Sussex, providing a person-centred framework that gives direction for staff and services. An action plan was developed to run from 1 April 2024. This action plan is being successfully met by the 17 teams working across 64 actions. The next iteration of this plan for 2025-26 will focus on 16 key actions. It is this plan that is being presented for approval.
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KD |
· Citizen’s Panel · East Sussex Seniors Forum · Inclusion Advisory Group · Disability Rights Reference Group |
Report, other documents may also be submitted
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Colin Brown 07701 394807
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