Place Scrutiny Committee – Work Programme

Current Scrutiny Reviews

Title of Review

Detail

Proposed Completion Date

To be agreed

 

 

Initial Scoping Reviews

Subject area for initial scoping

Detail

 Proposed Dates

Streetworks

The Committee has agreed to form a scoping board to explore a scrutiny review of streetworks. The scoping board will examine previous scrutiny work in this area as well as the Council’s approach to permitting road closures, communications with the public, diversions and lane rental. The following Committee members have indicated they wish to take part in this work: Councillors Hilton, Hollidge, Lunn, Murphy and Redstone.

20 October 2025

List of Suggested Potential Future Scrutiny Review or Reference Group Topics

Suggested Topic

Detail

Footway (Pavement) Maintenance

This topic was discussed as part of the Scrutiny Review of Pothole Management and the Review Board has suggested that the Committee may wish to carry out a scrutiny review on this topic. Some of the issues regarding additional investment in pavement maintenance may be similar to those examined as part of the pothole review.

Highway Drainage

The Review Board which worked on the Scrutiny Review of Pothole Management has also suggested that the Committee may wish to carry out a scrutiny review on highway drainage. This topic has links to storm overflows, flood risk management and climate change mitigation measures.

Climate Change

The Committee has agreed to consider scoping a review to examine the Council’s countywide work on climate change, which could look at countywide actions and how the Council works with other organisations (e.g. District and Borough councils) on this issue.

Parking Policy

A potential review of parking policy examining how the Council manages highway space in relation to allowing vehicles to park on street including for Electric Vehicle charging; the rational for pricing and could it be revised (e.g. can parking policy influence or encourage to more Active Travel); how the Council uses any parking revenue surplus and how that can be used under 2004 Traffic Management Act to fund other transport measures in areas where public expect ESCC to deliver services or projects where the Council does not have funding.

Local Speed Limit Policy – Part 2

Part 2 of the Scrutiny Review of Local Speed Limit Policy including: the work undertaken to review speed limits, their funding and cost; the role of speed limits in the context of the LTP4; the LTP4 prioritisation process and available resources; and the policy framework and budget allocation for 20mph limits and zones of other local authorities and the approaches they have taken to 20mph limits.

Scrutiny Reference and Working Groups

Reference Group Title

Subject Area

Meetings Dates

Local Transport Plan 4 Reference Group

The Committee established a Reference Group to provide input into the development of the revised Local Transport Plan (LTP4) which was adopted by the Council in October 2024. The Committee agreed to re-form the Reference Group as relevant support documents and strategies of LTP4 were developed and a briefing meeting on the revised Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) has been planned. Membership of the Reference Group consists of Cllr Beaver, Cllr Collier, Cllr Hilton, Cllr Hollidge, Cllr Lunn, Cllr Redstone (Chair), Cllr Shing and Cllr Tutt.

November 2025

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Reference Group

The Committee has established a Reference Group, together with members of the People Scrutiny Committee, to provide scrutiny input into the work related to Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Membership of the Reference Group consists of all Place Scrutiny Committee members and People Scrutiny Committee members Cllr Cross, Cllr Geary, and Cllr Howell.

26 November 2025, 12 January 2026

Asset Management Strategy Working Group

The Committee has established a Working Group to provide scrutiny input into the update of the corporate Asset Management Strategy. Future work subject to LGR developments. Membership of the Working Group consists of Cllr Hilton, Cllr Hollidge, Cllr Lunn, Cllr Murphy (Chair) and Cllr Redstone.

TBC

Reports for Information/Briefings

Subject

Detail

Proposed Date

Increased Use of Artificial Intelligence.

For the Committee to have a briefing on the increased use of AI, including what was happening currently, a risk analysis and the potential benefits (e.g. where AI could be used to gain efficiencies in areas such as process documentation).

November 2025

The Keep

A report or briefing on The Keep including information on who uses it, how the service works, what are the costs of the service and how it generates income, together with a site visit for committee members.

To be agreed

Funding bids and opportunities from Government

A report or briefing outlining how ESCC can work collaboratively with District and Borough councils in East Sussex to ensure funding allocated as part of Levelling Up and Town Deals etc. (managed by Government and the relevant District or Borough councils) improves Traffic Management, Movement and Access, Highway improvements and the Public Realm in these areas which are ESCC’s responsibility. 

To be confirmed

Training and Development

Title of Training/Briefing

Detail

Proposed Date

Place Scrutiny Committee Away Day

 

 

Work planning Away Day to review the Committee’s work programme and carry out horizon scanning of potential scrutiny topics, changes and challenges facing the Council where scrutiny input would be beneficial.

 

29 September 2025 (after Committee meeting)

Food Waste

 

 

This session will focus on the introduction of food waste recycling and will explain how waste services will be changing in order to separate and compost food waste from April 2026 onwards. Other key aspects of the Environment Act will also be covered. To be held via Teams and open to all Members.

 

29 September 2025, 2-3pm

Future Committee Agenda

Items

Author/Witnesses

27 November 2025

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

The Committee will examine any additional information requested at the September meeting and consider any updated RPPR information for 2026/27.

Chief Executive / Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

Qualitative Approach to Social Value in Procurement

A report on the development and next steps in adopting a qualitative approach to Social Value in procurement, following a recommendation that this model is explored for procurement across the Council in the Committee’s review report on the same topic.

 

Chief Operating Officer / Director of Procurement / Head of Policy & Modernisation, Orbis

Work Programme

To consider items for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme:

·         Reports for future meetings

·         Scrutiny reviews and potential scrutiny reviews

·         Items from the Forward Plan

Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

19 March 2026

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

The Committee will review its input into the RPPR budget setting process, and the impact of any recommendations or comments made by the Committee.

Chief Executive / Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

Scrutiny Review of Local Speed Limit Policy

To receive the second update report on the implementation of the recommendation from the Scrutiny Review of Local Speed Limit Policy

Assistant Director Communities / Head of Communities

Work Programme

To consider items for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme:

·         Reports for future meetings

·         Scrutiny reviews and potential scrutiny reviews

·         Items from the Forward Plan

Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

22 July 2026

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

The Committee will examine any additional information requested at the September meeting and consider any updated RPPR information for 2026/27.

Chief Executive / Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

Work Programme

To consider items for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme:

·         Reports for future meetings

·         Scrutiny reviews and potential scrutiny reviews

·         Items from the Forward Plan

Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

23 September 2026

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

The Committee will examine any additional information requested at the September meeting and consider any updated RPPR information for 2026/27.

Chief Executive / Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

Work Programme

To consider items for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme:

·         Reports for future meetings

·         Scrutiny reviews and potential scrutiny reviews

·         Items from the Forward Plan

Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

Future Items – to be scheduled

Witnesses

Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) Road Collisions

The Committee requested an update report on the effectiveness of the interventions that have been put in place to try and reduce the number of KSI collisions on the County’s roads and have an outline of the measures that other local authorities have put in place to tackle this issue.

 

Director of Communities Economy and Transport / Assistant Director Communities

SPACES Programme and property asset disposal

To receive an update report on the work of the SPACES programme last reported to the Committee in March 2024, to include information on the Council’s approach to property asset disposals. Timing TBC and to tie in with the work of the Asset Management Strategy Reference Group

 

Assistant Director Property / Chief Operating Officer

Highways maintenance contract

To receive an update report on the key performance indicators of the Highways Maintenance Contract. To be scheduled March or July 2025.

 

Director of Communities Economy and Transport / Assistant Director Communities