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Current Scrutiny Reviews |
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Title of Review |
Detail |
Proposed Completion Date |
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Street Works |
The Committee has agreed to carry out a review of street works. The review will focus on network management and how the Council works with utility companies to minimise the impact of street works. The board agreed to undertake further scoping in November to refine the terms of reference of the review to ensure it is focused on the main areas where there are concerns about the approach to street works taken by utility companies. Membership: Councillors Hilton, Hollidge, Lunn, Murphy (Chair) and Redstone. |
March 2026 |
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Initial Scoping Reviews |
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Subject area for initial scoping |
Detail |
Proposed Dates |
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To be agreed |
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List of Suggested Potential Future Scrutiny Review or Reference Group Topics |
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Suggested Topic |
Detail |
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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. Scoping may also explore verge cutting policy due to the impact on footway maintenance. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Queensway Gateway Road |
The Committee have agreed to explore a scrutiny review to examine the construction of the Queensway Gateway Road in Hastings, to focus on issues since the point at which the Council took on responsibility for the completion of the scheme. Timing subject to the completion of works. |
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Scrutiny of major projects |
A potential review topic to explore, understand and take forward learning of the role that scrutiny can play in the evaluation and assessment of major schemes and projects taking place in the county. |
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Scrutiny Reference and Working Groups |
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Reference Group Title |
Subject Area |
Meetings Dates |
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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. |
12 January 2026 |
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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) Board
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RPPR Board meets annually to agree detailed comments and any recommendations on the emerging portfolio plans and spending and savings proposals to be put to Cabinet on behalf of the scrutiny committee. |
16 December 2025 |
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Exceat Bridge Reference Group |
The committee is currently exploring the establishment of a Reference Group to scrutinise and provide input to the planning and oversight of the bridge replacement project before and during construction. |
First meeting December 2025 TBC |
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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 |
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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. 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. |
TBC |
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Reports for Information |
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Subject |
Detail |
Proposed Date |
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Verge cutting |
To receive a report for information on the Council’s verge cutting policy and to understand opportunities for increasing verge cutting levels in areas of the county that do not have town or parish councils.
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To be agreed. |
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Briefings, Training and Development |
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Title of Training/Briefing |
Detail |
Proposed Date |
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Increased Use of Artificial Intelligence. |
For the Committee to have a briefing or report 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). |
28 November 2025 |
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Government Road Safety Strategy |
For the Committee to receive a briefing on the Government’s New Road Safety Strategy due to be published in autumn, and any implications this may have for ESCC policies. |
Following the publication of the strategy |
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Trading Standards |
A briefing on the work undertaken by the trading standards team to combat illicit trading of cigarettes and vapes, including through the use of recently acquired powers. |
To be agreed |
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The Keep |
A 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 |
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Approach to consultation and engagement |
A briefing on the Council’s approach to public consultation and engagement and the process involved. |
To be agreed |
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Future Committee Agenda Items |
Author/Witnesses |
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19 March 2026 |
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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 |
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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.
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Assistant Director Property / Chief Operating Officer |
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Scrutiny Review of Street Works
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To receive the report of the Review Board on the Scrutiny Review of Street Works for approval and submission to Cabinet for comment and Full Council for agreement.
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Chair of the Review Board / Review Board members |
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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 |
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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 |
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22 July 2026 |
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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 |
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Highways maintenance contract |
To receive an update report on the key performance indicators of the Highways Maintenance Contract.
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Director of Communities Economy and Transport / Assistant Director Operations |
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Parking policies |
A report covering a number of areas related to parking and parking policies, including: · how the Council uses any parking revenue surplus; · pavement parking; and · the rationale for pricing and could it be revised (e.g. can parking policy influence or encourage to more Active Travel)
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Director of Communities, Economy and Transport/ Assistant Director Operations |
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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 |
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23 September 2026 |
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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 |
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Strategic Highway Policies and Asset Management Plans, including highway drainage |
For the Committee to receive a progress report on the updated strategic highways policies and asset management plans adopted following the Lead Member for Transport and Environment meeting on 8 September 2025. In particular to include an update on the Drainage Asset Management Plan and any identified issues or challenges. |
Director of Communities Economy and Transport / Assistant Director Operations |
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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 |
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30 November 20226 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Future Items – to be scheduled |
Witnesses |
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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.
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Director of Communities Economy and Transport / Assistant Director Communities |