Agenda and draft minutes

1.1       The Leader approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2022.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

2.1       There were none.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

3.1       There were none.

4.1       Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

5.1       The Leader considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport on behalf of the Lead Member for Economy.

DECISIONS

5.2       The Leader RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the work that has been done to develop county-wide business support and skills programmes working with district and borough partners;

(2) Note the development of the Newhaven Town Deal Grants programme;

(3) Approve the commissioning and/or managing of county-wide business support and skills programmes on behalf of district and borough funding partners including a grants programme in Newhaven; and

(4) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (CET) to enter into grant agreements or other arrangements with district and borough funding partners using UK Shared Prosperity Funds (including Rural England Prosperity Fund), Town Deal and other funding as identified by funding partners.

REASONS

5.3       There has been significant work that has taken place with district and borough partners to put in place business support and skills programmes following the loss of EU funding, together with the development of a Grants Programme for the Newhaven Town Deal area.

5.4       Delegation of authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (CET) to enter into grant agreements or other arrangements with funding partners and commission delivery via grant or competitive tendering processes will ensure that East Sussex County Council (ESCC) can move to the next, vital stage of delivering much needed support to businesses and residents in East Sussex as part of work to drive sustainable economic growth in line with one of ESCC’s priority outcomes.