Agenda and minutes

8.1       The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 27 June 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

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

Report by the Chief Finance Officer

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

10.2     It was RESOLVED to approve the External Audit Plan for 2022/23.

Reason

10.3     The External Audit Plan provides an overview of the planned scope and timing of the statuatory audit of the Council’s 2022/23 statement of accounts and identifies any significant risks.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

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

Reason

11.3     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 2022 to 31 March 2023 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 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

12.2     It was RESOLVED to note the report and the Ashdown Forest Trust’s Income and Expenditure Account for 2022/23 and Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023.

Reason

12.3       The trust made an operating surplus of £5,019 during 2022/23. The General Reserve as at 31 March 2023 amounts to £172,088. This fund is available to finance expenditure which meets the Trust’s objectives.

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

[Note: The items being reported to the County Council refer to minute number 12 ]

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

14.2     The Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1) Agree that the Council makes:

a) A Compulsory Purchase Order (“CPO”) under sections 239, 240, 246, 250 and 260 of the Highways Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 for the acquisition of freehold interests (both residential and commercial), and any other interests as may arise, which are not already owned by the Council and new rights within the areas edged red and shaded pink and blue shown on the plan at Appendix 1 of the report;

b) A Side Roads Order (“SRO”) under sections 14 and 125 of the Highways Act 1980 and all other necessary powers to:-

(i)  Improve, raise, lower, stop up, divert or otherwise alter existing

highways which cross or enter the route of the replacement Exceat Bridge or will otherwise be affected by the construction of the replacement Exceat Bridge or as required by the Exceat Bridge Scheme;

(ii)       Construct new lengths of highway for purposes connected with the alterations as referred to in (i) above and with the delivery of the Exceat Bridge Scheme; and

(iii)   Stop up private means of access and provide replacement or new

means of access all as shown on the plan at Appendix 2 of the report;

c) A Bridge Scheme under section 106 of the Highways Act 1980 to enable the construction of the replacement Exceat Bridge over the River Cuckmere being a navigable waterway. The Bridge Scheme plans are appended at Appendix 3.

2) Agree that the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport be authorised to:-

a) Continue to take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, SRO and Bridge Scheme (together “the Orders”) including land referencing, serving any requisitions for information, preparing all necessary documentation (including the Orders and the Statement of Reasons), submission of the Orders to the Secretary of State for confirmation, the publication and service of all notices and preparing for and presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry;

b) Acquire all interests in land within the areas of the CPO either compulsorily or by agreement;

c) Deal with objections to the Orders including agreeing terms for the withdrawal of objections in order to secure the delivery of the Exceat Bridge Scheme;

d) Negotiate and enter into agreements or undertakings with persons with any interest in the land affected by or relating to the Orders;

   e) Remove from the CPO any plot (or interest therein) no longer required to be acquired compulsorily and to amend the interests scheduled in the CPO (if so advised) and to alter the nature of the proposed acquisition from an acquisition of existing property interests to an acquisition of new rights (if so advised);

f) Make any minor amendments as are considered necessary to the Orders arising as a result of negotiations with affected persons or further design work to enable the delivery of the Exceat  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.