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Report to: |
Place Scrutiny Committee
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Date of meeting:
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22 July 2025 |
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By: |
Deputy Chief Executive
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Title: |
Place Scrutiny Committee future work programme
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Purpose: |
To review and agree items for the Place Scrutiny Committee’s future work programme and receive updates on previous work. |
RECOMMENDATIONS: The Place Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:
2) Review upcoming items on East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) Forward Plan in appendix 2 to identify any issues that may require more detailed scrutiny for inclusion in the committee’s future work programme; and
3) Agree to re-form the Local Transport Plan 4 Reference Group, for a briefing session on the LTP4 request assessment process.
1. Background
1.1 The work programme is an important tool in ensuring the correct focus and best use of the Committee’s time in scrutinising topics that are of importance to the residents of East Sussex, and the efficient and effective working of the Council. It also provides clarity for those who may be requested to give evidence to the Committee on the issues under review, and the questions the Committee requires answers to.
1.2.
Discussion of the work programme provides the Committee with the
opportunity to examine topics that it may be of value to
scrutinise, and to decide whether further scoping work is required.
This provides a basis for deciding the best way of scrutinising a
topic, the timescale, and who from the Committee will be involved
in carrying out the review work. If there are a number of topics
for review, the Committee can determine the priority of the work
within the resources available to the Committee.
2. Work programme
2.1 The Committee is asked to review the items in the current work programme and discuss potential future agenda items and other scrutiny work for inclusion in the future work programme based on current priorities for scrutiny. This may include topics or issues identified through the Committee’s work on the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) process as set out earlier on the agenda. A copy of the current work programme is contained in appendix 1 of the report for consideration by the Committee.
3. Forward Plan
3.1 A copy of the Council’s Forward Plan of executive decisions for the period 1 July 2025 to 31 October 2025 is included in appendix 2. The Committee is requested to review the forthcoming items on the Forward Plan to identify any issues that may require scrutiny work. The Forward Plan is revised and published on a monthly basis, and Committee members should regularly review the Forward Plan.
4. Working and Reference Groups
Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
4.1 Since the last Committee meeting the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Reference Group, made up of Members of both Place and People Scrutiny Committees, held its first meeting on 15 May 2025. The Reference Group considered how the final East Sussex LGR proposal would be developed ahead of the 26 September deadline for submission to Government and how residents and stakeholders would be engaged in the development of proposals. The Reference Group also considered the latest developments in relation to devolution and proposals to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex. The Reference Group’s next meeting is on 23 July 2025 and it will continue to meet as required to provide scrutiny input into the devolution and LGR processes.
Asset Management Strategy
4.2 The Asset Management Strategy Working Group held its first meeting on 11 March 2025 to consider the work being undertaken on revising the Council’s Property Asset Management Strategy and to provide scrutiny input into the Strategy. In light of the potential impacts of changes to local government, the Working Group supported a light touch refresh of the existing strategy. The Working Group will therefore meet again at an appropriate point later in 2025 to consider a draft update of the Asset Management Strategy.
Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4)
4.3 The Local Transport Plan Reference Group was previously established to provide scrutiny input into the development of LTP4, which was adopted by the Council in October 2024. Supporting strategies and documentation continue to be developed in line with the LTP4 for adoption by the Council. The Committee is recommended to reconvene the LTP Reference Group for the purpose of receiving a briefing on one of these supporting documents, the request assessment process, in late August/early September ahead of a report being presented to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment.
5. Conclusion and reasons for recommendations
5.1 The Place Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider the work programme contained in appendix 1 and agree any additional scrutiny work to be included in the future programme. The Committee is also recommended to agree to reconvene the LTP4 Reference Group for the purpose of receiving a briefing on the request assessment process.
PHILIP BAKER
Deputy Chief Executive
Contact Officer:
Patrick Major, Policy and Scrutiny Adviser
Tel. No. 07701 258227
Email: patrick.major@eastsussex.gov.uk