Agenda and draft minutes

Cabinet - Thursday, 9th January, 2025 11.00 am

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

Contact: Georgina Seligmann Governance and Democracy Manager

Note: or at the conclusion of Full Council, whichever is the later

Media

Items
No.	Item
38.	Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2024 PDF 113 KB View item 38. as HTML 22 KB Additional documents: Webcast for 38. Minutes: 38.1 The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 10 December were agreed as a correct record.
39.	Apologies for absence Additional documents: Webcast for 39. Minutes: 39.1 Apologies were received from Councillor di Cara.
40.	REPORTS Additional documents: Webcast for 40. Minutes: 40.1 Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.
41.	Local Government Devolution and Reorganisation PDF 250 KB View item 41. as HTML 60 KB View the background to item 41. View the decision for item 41. Report by the Chief Executive Additional documents: Appendix 1. , item 41. PDF 462 KB Appendix 2. , item 41. PDF 150 KB Webcast for 41. Minutes: 41.1 The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive. 41.2 It was RESOLVED to approve that the Leader writes to the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution: 1) Confirming the Council’s clear commitment to devolution and local government reorganisation as part of the Devolution Priority Programme, based on a proposal for the devolution of powers to a new combined authority for the Sussex area covering the areas of the three upper tier authorities. 2) Confirming the Council’s commitment to developing a proposal for unitary government in East Sussex. 3) Inviting the Government to postpone elections in May 2025, for a year, to enable the proposals for Local Government Reorganisation to be developed and the early implementation of the proposed devolution arrangements. Reasons 41.3 It is recommended that the Council responds to the Government’s invitation by expressing a commitment to work with partners to develop proposals for a mayoral strategic authority for the area of Sussex, and to seek to take advantage of the benefits of participating in the Devolution Priority Programme. It is also recommended that the letter to the Government includes a commitment to reorganisation, with a view to taking advantage of the benefits that offers, and to ensure that we are aligned, and consistent with, the other upper tier local authorities in the proposed strategic authority. 41.4 The development and delivery of the proposed devolution and reorganisation will require significant commitment and resource. It is therefore proposed that the Government be invited to postpone the County Council elections, scheduled for May 2025, for a year to help enable detailed proposals for a Strategic Authority and local government reorganisation to be developed, with a view to helping manage the demands of devolution alongside reorganisation.
42.	To agree which items are to be reported to the County Council Additional documents: Webcast for 42. Minutes: 42.1 There were no items to report to the County Council.