Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday, 19th July, 2022 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes. View directions

Contact: Georgina Seligmann  01273 481955

Media

Items
No. Item

8.

Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2022 pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

9.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

9.1       An apology was received from Councillor Simmons.

10.

Reports

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

11.

Modern Slavery Statement pdf icon PDF 703 KB

Report by Chief Operating Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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. 

 

12.

Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

 

 

 

13.

Conservators of Ashdown Forest Budget 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 693 KB

Report by Chief Operating Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

Items to be reported to the County Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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]