Agenda and draft minutes

29.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2025.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

30.1     Councillor Maynard declared a personal interest in item 5 as a Member of Rother District Council. He did not consider this to be prejudicial.

30.2     Councillor di Cara declared a personal interest in item 5 as a Member of Eastbourne Borough Council. She did not consider this to be prejudicial.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

31.1     There were none.

32.1     Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health

33.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

DECISIONS

33.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the East Sussex All Age Autism Action plan, prior to it being launched in Autism Acceptance Week in early April 2025.

REASONS

33.3     The approach taken to develop the plan recognises the importance and value of input from people with lived experience and wider public consultation to deliver a meaningful action plan which responds to local priorities.

33.4     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability will also consider this, since the action plan is for both children and adults. The approved East Sussex All Age Autism Action plan will be launched in Autism Acceptance Week in early April 2025.

Report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health

34.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

DECISIONS

34.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Approve the proposed plan for the use of the Household Support Fund in East Sussex in 2025-26 as set out in paragraphs 2.7 – 2.14 of the report; and

2) Delegate to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health and the Director of Children’s Services the authority to implement the scheme including detailed allocation decisions of the final allocation of the delivery partner element (confirmed to be £3,217,220.88).

REASONS

34.3     The announcement of an extension to the Fund provides an opportunity to support households with children, households with pensioners, households with a disabled person and other vulnerable households within East Sussex who are experiencing financial challenges and will be welcomed by partners.

34.4     The report sets out an overall approach to allocating the Fund in East Sussex which builds on the successful delivery of previous years and enables East Sussex County Council to ensure the Fund is administered effectively and efficiently in the forthcoming year from 1st April 2025.

Report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health

35.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

DECISION

35.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to agree to proceed with a public consultation on the proposal to introduce administrative fees for adults who fully fund non-residential care and support arranged by East Sussex County Council.

REASONS

35.3     The consultation will ensure adults who could be impacted by these proposals can have their views heard and that the final plans are informed by this feedback. The consultation is expected to take place from May to July 2025.