Agenda and minutes

8.1       The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 27 June 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

9.1       An apology was received from Councillor Simmons.

10.1     Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

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

11.2     It was RESOLVED to:  

            1)         agree the East Sussex County Council’s first Modern Slavery Statement;

2)         authorise the Chief Operating Officer to make, if necessary, minor modifications to the Statement Prior to publication.

Reason:

11.3     Surrey County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council have agreed that the responsibility for implementing approaches to responding to modern slavery in their operations and supply chains will rest with Orbis Procurement - a shared partnership service between the three authorities.

11.4     As this is the Council’s first statement, it demonstrates how we have started responding to modern slavery risks in our operations and supply chains and some of our planned actions. Statutory guidance acknowledges that “Organisations will need to build on what they are doing year on year. Their first statements may show how they are starting to act on the issue and their planned actions to investigate or collaborate with others to effect change.”

11.5     While the Council’s first statement has touched on some of its planned actions, statements are primarily retrospective, focusing on the actions that have already been taken in the last financial year to tackle modern slavery in its organisation and supply chains.  It is not a policy or a strategy document, but rather an annual reporting mechanism.  

11.6     The aim is to have the statement signed and published by 30 September 2022 as required by Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. 

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

12.2    It was RESOLVED to note the internal audit service’s opinion on the Council’s control environment.

Reason

12.3    The report gives an opinion on the adequacy of East Sussex County Council’s control environment as a contribution to the proper, economic, efficient and effective use of resources. The report covers the audit work completed in the year from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 in accordance with the Internal Audit Strategy for 2021/22. Substantial assurance can be provided that East Sussex County Council had in place an adequate and effective framework of governance, risk management and internal control for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

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

13.2     It was RESOLVED to:

            1.         note the 2021/22 Outturn for the Conservators’ Core and Countryside                    Stewardship budgets.

2.         approve the contribution of £19,546 to fund the deficit on the Conservators’ Core budget for 2021/22.

Reason

13.3     To note the final accounts for the Ashdown Forest Trust for 2021/22 and a financial contribution from COVID 19 grant funding was agreed to offset the 2021/22 Core budget outturn deficit.

14.1     It was agreed that item 7 should be reported to the County Council.

[Note: the item being reported to the County Council refers to minute 13]