1. Local Government Reorganisation
1.1 The Chairman agreed that the decision taken by the Cabinet at a meeting on 20 March 2025 was urgent. The Cabinet RESOLVED to:
1) agree in principle the Interim Plan set out at Appendix 2 of the report;
2) delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, authority to finalise the content of the Plan for submission to Government; and
3) approve the continued development of proposals for the establishment of a single tier authority for the East Sussex area including public and stakeholder engagement.
1.2 The urgency arose due to deadlines imposed by the Central Government, which were outside the Council's control. Through extensive collaboration with District and Borough Councils, an interim plan was developed. This plan was recommended by the Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development on 11 March for consideration by the Full Council on 20 March. The plan was subsequently reviewed by the Cabinet on the same day, one day before the deadline set by the Central Government.
2. Exceat Bridge
2.1 The Chairman agreed that the decision taken by the Cabinet at a meeting on 22 April 2025 was urgent. The Cabinet RESOLVED to:
1) note the estimated costs and options for replacing Exceat Bridge;
2) agree to continue with the proposals for an offline two-lane replacement bridge (‘Option A’);
3) agree to re-direct £11.128m grant funding from the Newhaven and Peacehaven bus priority schemes set out in the Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to the Exceat Bridge Replacement Project;
4) approve the amendments to the 2025/26 BSIP funding allocation, reflecting the reallocation of £4m of funding to the Newhaven bus priority scheme; and
5) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to take all actions necessary to achieve the completion of the offline two-lane replacement bridge (‘Option A’), including but not limited to awarding any required construction contracts for the Bridge.
2.2 The reason for urgency arose because of the need to have certainty of funding ahead of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Inquiry.
COUNCILLOR ROY GALLEY
(Chairman of the Council)