Agenda and minutes

48.1     The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 January 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

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

Report by Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

50.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Transport and Environment, together with the comments of the Libraries Scrutiny Review Board and representations submitted from the lead petitioner in relation to Hollington Library. The following people addressed the Cabinet on behalf of petitioners: Miss Boniface (Polegate Library), Ms Budden (Polegate Library), Mr Lloyd MP (Langney Library), Ms Owen (Ringmer Library) and Councillor Pritchett (Willingdon Library)

50.2     It was RESOLVED to:

(1)         note the findings of the public consultation on the draft Libraries Strategic Commissioning Strategy, which took place between 21 September and 14 December 2017, and the resulting changes made to the Strategy which are described in the report (at paragraph 2.12);

(2)         agree the new library services that, in response to the consultation, the revised Strategy would implement, including an enhanced, modern eLibrary with greater investment, a new children and young people’s offer to support literacy and numeracy, increased outreach work in our most disadvantaged communities, and new Community Library Membership and Teachers Library Membership;

(3)         agree the revised Libraries Strategic Commissioning Strategy and its implementation, which will create a modern, sustainable library service that reflects the changing ways people access the service and which prioritises resources, including allocation of the Stock Fund, more closely towards specific groups and communities where we have identified highest need;

(4)         agree that, as part of the overall Strategy, Langney, Mayfield, Ore, Pevensey Bay, Polegate, Ringmer and Willingdon libraries and the Mobile Library close on 5 May 2018, and support to Northiam Village Library also ceases from this date;

(5)         agree to give delegated authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive, to consider any viable community proposals to take over the running of the seven libraries or the Mobile Library, and to enter into appropriate agreements on behalf of ESCC.

Reason

50.3     The revised Libraries Strategic Commissioning Strategy (LSCS) will enable the Council to create a modern, sustainable library service for East Sussex, which prioritises the needs of the county and is able to adapt to future needs, and which would enable the Council to meet its statutory duty to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service that can be accessed using reasonable means.  The revised LSCS would secure £653k of savings, comprising the final part of a Libraries Transformation Programme which would deliver a total saving of £1.9m.

50.4       In addition to providing a core library offer that would retain a very high level of accessibility to all those who live, work and study in East Sussex, by re-prioritising and developing new, more targeted services the revised LSCS presents a key opportunity for us to support and empower those with the greatest needs to make potentially transformational changes to their life chances.  The implementation of a needs-based library service would enable resources to be targeted to communities where we have identified the highest needs.

50.5       Having carefully considered all of the consultation feedback, we do  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

Report by Chief Executive

51.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive

51.2     It was RESOLVED to:

            1) note the latest monitoring position for the Council; and

            2) approve the proposed amendments to the performance measures and targets as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report

Reason

51.3     The report sets out the Council’s position and year end projections for the Council Plan targets, Revenue Budget, Capital Programme, Savings Plan together with Risks for 2017/18 quarter 3.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

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

52.2It was RESOLVED to:

1)               endorse the Council’s response to the consultation, as set out at Appendix 1, and the Council’s lobbying position that will be reaffirmed in Section 2 of this report; and

2)               delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to agree the final consultation response for submission by 12March 2018.

Reason

52.3     The Fair Funding Review will establish the base position and methodology for future national funding allocations based on need. It is therefore important that the  Council engages in the process and responds to consultations in relation to the review.

Report by Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

53.2     It was RESOLVED to approve the consultation response attached as Appendix 1 to the report and delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to take all other necessary actions in respect of the recommendation.

Reason

53.3     The proposal to create the Major Road Network is overwhelmingly positive and if the Government go ahead will provide funding opportunities to improve parts of the road network serving East Sussex. The Council’s response to the consultation includes a number of areas where it is believed the proposals could be improved as set out in the report.

54.1     The Cabinet agreed that item 6 be reported to the County Council.

(Note: The item being reported refers to minutes number 51)