Agenda and draft minutes

Notification of items which the Chair considers to be urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda. Any members who wish to raise urgent items are asked, wherever possible, to notify the Chair before the start of the meeting. In so doing, they must state the special circumstances which they consider justify the matter being considered urgent.

44        PRESENT –    Councillor Glazier (Chair)

Councillors Bennett, Bentley, Dowling, Elkin, Maynard, Simmons and Tidy

                  The following members spoke on the items indicated:

                  Councillor Barnes        -           item 6 (minute 49)

                  Councillor Birch           -           item 6 (minute 49)

                  Councillor Carstairs     -           items 5a, 5b and 6 (minutes 48 and 49)

                  Councillor Field           -           items 5a and 5b (minute 48)

                  Councillor Hodges       -           items 5a, 5b and 6 (minutes 48 and 49)

                  Councillor S Shing      -           item 6 (minute 49)

                  Councillor Tutt             -           item 6 (minute 49)

                  Councillor Ungar         -           item 6 (minute 49)

                  Councillor Webb          -           items 5a and 5b (minute 48)  

45.1     The minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2014 were agreed as a correct record.

Disclosures by all members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

46.1     Councillor Field declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in items 5a and 5b, as chair of Battle Pre-School group, and in item 7 as a member of Rother District Council.

46.2     Councillor Hodges declared a personal, non-prejudicial, interest in item 6 as a director of Let’s Do Business.

46.3     Councillor Maynard declared a personal, non-prejudicial, interest in item 7 as Leader of Rother District Council.

46.4     Councillor Standley declared a personal, non-prejudicial, interest in item 7 as Leader of Wealden District Council.

46.5    Councillor Ungar declared a personal, non-prejudicial, interest in item 7 as a member of Eastbourne Borough Council. 

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

Report by the Assistant Chief Executive

48.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee and a report by the Director of Children’s Services with observations on the Scrutiny Committee’s report. 

48.2     It was RESOLVED to (1) note and welcome the report of the Scrutiny Committee; and

                                                (2) recommend the County Council to welcome the main recommendations set out in the report and to approve the response of the Director of Children’s Services to the recommendations and their implementation as set out in the action plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

Reason

48.3     The Scrutiny Review has provided a useful insight into Early Years Attainment in East Sussex.  It recognizes the importance of Early Years outcomes as a platform for future achievements and aspirations. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

49.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport. 

49.2     It was RESOLVED to note the update.

Reason

49.3      The report highlights how the majority of the peer challenge recommendations are already being progressed or explains how they will be.  Continued support from authorities in carrying through the recommendations independently and collectively will ensure the positive working relationships already well-established further enable growth.  

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

50.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.  Amended recommendations were circulated prior to the meeting.   

50.2     It was RESOLVED: (1) to agree, subject to recommendation 2 below and the Chief Finance Officer being satisfied:

a) that no authority shall receive a lower level of funding than they would have received without the Pool; and

b) any resources gained on the basis of the levy amount saved by individual authorities be shared on the following basis: 40% to ESCC, 10% to the Fire Authority and the remaining 50% split amongst the District/Borough Councils;

to the Council’s participation in an East Sussex National Non Domestic Rate Pool;

(2) to agree to delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to  agree the terms of, and enter into the Memorandum of Understanding and to take any other action to give effect to recommendation 1 above; and

(3) agree that the Chief Finance Officer shall review the Council’s membership of the Pool on an annual basis

Reason

50.3      Local authorities are free to come together to form pools for Non Domestic Rates (NDR) purposes.  In such cases tariffs and top-ups can be combined and this can result in lower payments being made to the government.  Authorities within such arrangements need to agree how risks and benefits are shared.  A pooling arrangement within East Sussex could result in additional resources being retained within East Sussex. 

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

51.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.    

51.2     It was RESOLVED to note the reports.

Reason

51.3      The report fulfils the requirement to submit an annual/half yearly report in the form prescribed in the Treasury Management Code of Practice. 

52.1     The Cabinet agreed that items 5a and 5b should be reported to the County Council.

[Note: the items to be reported refer to minute 48]