Cabinet
MINUTES of a meeting of the Cabinet held at Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes on 13 December 2022.
PRESENT Councillors Keith Glazier (Chair)
Councillors Nick Bennett (Vice Chair), Bob Bowdler, Claire Dowling, Rupert Simmons and Bob Standley
Members spoke on the items indicated:
Councillor Bennett - item 5 (minute 29)
Councillor Bowdler - item 6 (minute 30)
Councillor Claire Dowling - item 9 (minute 33)
Councillor Field - item 6 (minute 30)
Councillor Murphy - item 6 (minute 30)
Councillor Shuttleworth - item 5 (minute 29)
Councillor Swansborough - item 5 (minute 29)
Councillor Tutt - item 5 (minute 29)
Councillor Webb - item 6 (minute 30)
26. Minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2022
26.1 The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 29 September 2022 were agreed as a correct record.
27. Apologies for absence
27.1 An apology was received from Councillor Carl Maynard.
28. REPORTS
28.1 Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.
29. Council Monitoring: Quarter 2 2022/23
29.1 The Cabinet
considered a report by the Chief Executive.
29.2 It was RESOLVED to:
1) Note the latest monitoring position for the Council.
Reason
29.3 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 September 2022.
30. Annual Report of Looked After Children's Services
30.1 The Cabinet
considered a report by the Director of Children’s
Services.
30.2 It was RESOLVED to
1) Note the annual progress report of Looked After Children’s Services in 2021/22.
Reason
30.3 The report summaries the performance of Looked After Children’s Services in 2021/22.
31. Treasury Management Annual Report 2021/22 and mid-year report 2022/23
31.1 The Cabinet
considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.
31.2 It was RESOLVED to:
1) Note the Treasury Management performance in 2021/22, incorporating the Mid-Year Review for the first half of 2022/23.
Reasons
31.3 The report fulfils the requirement to
submit an annual/half yearly report in the form prescribed in the
Treasury Management Code of Practice. Short term lending throughout
the 18 month period covered achieved returns between 0.35% and
1.40%. The key principles of security, liquidity and yield are
still relevant. Officers are currently investigating further
opportunities within the strategy to increase investment income
whilst minimising costs and maintaining security, in a period of
significant uncertainty.
32. The Conservators of Ashdown Forest - 2022/23 forecast out turn position, updated medium term financial plan and Ashdown Forest vision and management strategy
32.1 The Cabinet
considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.
32.2 It was RESOLVED to:
1) Note the quarter 2 budget position for the Conservators’ 2022/23 Core Budget and the potential requirement for ESCC to contribute towards the Core Budget deficit, currently forecast to be £125,168.
2) Note the Conservators of Ashdown Forest medium term financial plan.
3) Note the Ashdown Forest Vision and Management Strategy document.
Reasons
32.3 The report sets
out the financial position of the Conservators of the Ashdown
Forest (COAF) for 2022/23, against the approved budget agreed by
the Board of Conservators at their meeting on 29 November 2021 and
presented to Cabinet in January 2022.
32.4 East Sussex County Council is required to meet the shortfall on the Core budget which is forecast to be £125,168. The actual contribution will be known once the 2022/23 statement of accounts have been prepared.
33. To agree which items are to be reported to the County Council
33.1 It was agreed that items 5, 6 and 8 should be reported to the County Council.
[Note: the items being reports to the County Council refer to minute numbers 29, 30 and 32]