Agenda and minutes

31.1     RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the County Council held on 9 July 2019 as a correct record.

PROJECT RUDOLPH

32.1     The Chairman reminded all councillors that each year Christmas presents are collected at main council officers in Eastbourne, Hastings and Lewes for children whose families live in financial crisis and who would not otherwise receive a present. This project is very much valued by the children and families and I would ask that you support this when Project Rudolph 2019 is launched.

VOLUNTEERS

32.2     The Chairman referred to the amazing contribution that volunteers make every day in East Sussex. There are many volunteers across the County and the Chairman stated that, on behalf of the Council, he would continue to show his appreciation to these unsung heroes.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

32.3     The Chairman reported that he had attended a number of engagements since the last meeting of the County Council including: memorial services for the Dieppe raids which he attended as the guest of the Mayor of Dieppe and The Mayor of Bexhill’s service at which our former colleague, Stuart Earl, was posthumously awarded ‘The Freedom of Bexhill’.

PRAYERS

32.4     The Chairman thanked Jez Field for leading the prayers before the meeting.

PETITIONS

32.5     The following petition was presented by a member immediately before the meeting:

33.1     The following members declared personal interests in items on the agenda as follows:

34.1     Julia Hilton (a representative of the petitioners) addressed the County Council prior to the debate. The Council agreed to vary procedure to enable all councillors who wished to speak to do so.

34.2     The following motion was moved by Councillor Bennett and seconded:

In order to maintain the momentum of its responsible approach to Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) considerations consistent with the Paris Agreement and the Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2019), and building on the substantial progress on ESG matters made over the last 36 months by the Committee, this Council agrees to:

1.    Recognise the concerns raised through the petition.

2.    Note that the East Sussex Pension Fund is already recognized as having a strong approach to socially and environmentally responsible investment with a below benchmark exposure to both carbon and fossil fuels.

3.    Request that the Pension Committee asks its investment consultants to undertake a further investigation, with particular focus on the long term risks and opportunities to the Fund associated with climate change, and report back to the Committee on how, in the light of its need to fulfil its obligations to all pension scheme employers and members, it might further integrate ESG considerations including those relating to its approach to fossil fuel exposure, into its investment strategy.

34.3     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Stephen Shing and seconded:

To delete the motion and replace with –

The County Council agrees:

1)    To note that the Council’s current policy of “engaging” with fossil fuel companies has been unsuccessful, and its continued investments in fossil fuels are “no longer aligned with the interests of the East Sussex Pension Fund” and pose “a material financial risk” to the Fund

2)    that, in line with its Responsible Investment Policy, the East Sussex Pension Fund: (a) immediately freezes any new investment in the top 200 publicly-traded fossil fuel companies; and (b) divests from its existing investments in these companies within five years.

34.4     A recorded vote on Councillor Stephen Shing’s amendment was requested and taken. The amendment was LOST, the votes being cast as follows

FOR THE AMENDMENDMENT

Councillors O’Keeffe, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing and Webb

AGAINST THE AMENDMENT

Councillors Barnes, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bentley, Boorman, Bowdler, Charman, Charles Clark, Martin Clarke, Godfrey Daniel, Davies, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Earl-Williams, Elford, Elkin, Enever, Ensor, Fox, Galley, Glazier, Liddiard, Loe, Maynard, Pragnell, Scott, Sheppard, Simmons, Smith, Standley, Stogdon, Taylor, Tidy and Whetstone

ABSTENTIONS

Councillors Philip Daniel, Field, Grover, Lambert, Osborne, Rodohan, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Tutt, Ungar and Wallis

34.5     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Tutt and Seconded:

To delete the motion and replace with –

That East Sussex County Council believes that it would be possible for East Sussex Pension Fund to obtain either the same or greater return for the fund by divesting from shares in the fossil fuel based companies within their portfolio. To do so would also remove the financial risk that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

35.1     Copies of questions from Nina Ovenden from Easons Green, Isaiah Keal from Easons Green, Anou Rothschild from Easons Green and Ingrid Burniston from Easons Green and the answers from Councillor Claire Dowling (Lead Member for Transport and Environment) and Councillor Fox (Chair of the Pension Committee) are attached to these minutes. Supplementary questions were asked and responded to.

36.1     The Chairman of the County Council, having called over the reports set out in the agenda, reserved the following for discussion:

Cabinet report (16 July 2019) - paragraph 1 (Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources – State of the County)

Cabinet report (8 October 2019) - paragraph 1 (Council Monitoring)

Leader and Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development  report - paragraph 1 Notice of Motion: Right to work for those seeking asylum)

Place Scrutiny Committee report - paragraph 1 (Notices of Motion: Climate emergency)

NON-RESERVED PARAGRAPHS

36.2     On the motion of the Chairman of the County Council, the Council ADOPTED those paragraphs in the reports that had not been reserved for discussion as follows:

Governance Committee  report paragraph 1 – Amendment to Constitution – scheme of delegation to officers

36.3     The Chairman informed the Council that he was going to vary the order of the agenda by taking item 9 (report of the Place Scrutiny Committee) next

37.1     Councillor Bowdler moved the reserved paragraph (Notices of Motion: climate emergency) in the report of the Place Scrutiny Committee.

37.2     The following amendment moved by Councillor Tutt and seconded was LOST:

East Sussex County Council:

(i)            supports the aims and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

(ii)           recognises and declares a Climate Emergency.

(iii)          will set a target of achieving carbon neutrality from its activities as soon as possible and in any event by (insert) [2030] (delete) [2050, in line with the new target for the UK agreed by Parliament in 2019].

(iv)         will build upon the work we have undertaken to date, will commit resources where possible and will align our policies to address the Climate Emergency.

(v)          will set out a clear plan of action to reduce our carbon emissions.

(vi)         will report (insert) [six monthly to the County Council] (delete) [annually at the May County Council Meeting] on its progress towards the target.

(vii)        will investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment, as well as writing to central government with respect to the emergency to request funding to implement swift appropriate actions.

(viii)       will use our Environment Strategy to provide a strong unified voice in lobbying for support to address this emergency, sharing best practice across East Sussex and more widely through other partners

(ix)         (insert) [will include an environmental impact assessment on every Council report]

37.3     The following motion was moved by Councillor Bowdler was CARRIED:

East Sussex County Council:

(i)            supports the aims and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

(ii)           recognises and declares a Climate Emergency.

(iii)          will set a target of achieving carbon neutrality from its activities as soon as possible and in any event by 2050, in line with the new target for the UK agreed by Parliament in 2019.

(iv)         will build upon the work we have undertaken to date, will commit resources where possible and will align our policies to address the Climate Emergency.

(v)          will set out a clear plan of action to reduce our carbon emissions.

(vi)         will report annually at the May County Council Meeting on its progress towards the target.

(vii)        will investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment, as well as writing to central government with respect to the emergency to request funding to implement swift appropriate actions.

(viii)             will use our Environment Strategy to provide a strong unified voice in lobbying for support to address this emergency, sharing best practice across East Sussex and more widely through other partners

Paragraph 1 (Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources – State of the County)

38.1     Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph of the Cabinet’s report.

38.2     The motion was CARRIED after debate

Paragraph 1 (Council Monitoring)

39.1     Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph of the Cabinet’s report.

39.2     The motion was CARRIED after debate

40.1     Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph (Notice of Motion: Right to work for those seeking asylum).

40.1     The motion was CARRIED after debate.

(a)  Oral questions to Cabinet Members

(b)  Written Questions of which notice has been given pursuant to Standing Order 44

noF moi41.1    The following members asked questions of the Lead Cabinet Members indicated and they responded:

WRITTEN QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER 44

41.2     Four  written question were received from Councillors Lambert, Tutt, Ungar and Whetstone for the Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability, the Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development and the Lead Member for Resources. The questions and answers are attached to these minutes. The Lead Members responded to supplementary questions