Appendix 1

Place Scrutiny Committee – Comments to Cabinet

The Place Scrutiny Committee RPPR Board met on 16 December 2021 to discuss the comments it wished to make to Cabinet on the draft Portfolio Plans, Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), Savings Plan and the announcements regarding the Local Government Financial Settlement for 2022/23.

The Place Scrutiny Committee RPPR Board made the following observations and comments:

The RPPR Board is supportive of the work being done by the departments within its remit and did not propose any changes to the draft Portfolio Plans. The Board commented that it was difficult to make comments on the budget without knowing the impact of the Local Government Provisional Settlement on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). The Board may make further comments after the details of the Settlement are available and the impact is known.

The Board discussed the relationship between capital and revenue spending on highways maintenance, and whether a case could be made for further investment in highways in order to improve the condition of roads and pavements. The Board also noted the role of highway drainage in preserving and maintaining roads in good condition.

Summary Comments to Cabinet

The comments that the Place RPPR Board would like to make to Cabinet are:

· The Place RPPR Board is supportive of the work being carried out by Governance Services, Business Services and the Communities, Economy and Transport departments as outlined in the draft Portfolio Plans and has no suggested changes to the Portfolio Plans.

· The Board discussed the case for making further capital investment in highways maintenance, and the relationship with ongoing revenue budget expenditure, in order to improve the condition of roads and pavements in East Sussex. This may be something that the Place Scrutiny Committee may wish to explore further in the future.

· The Place RPPR Board has found it difficult to make detailed comments on the budget without knowing the impact on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) of the Local Government Provisional Settlement.