Agenda and minutes

41.1     RESOLVED – to confirm the minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 20 October 2015 as a correct record

42.1 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Buchanan, Godfrey Daniel, Michael Phillips and David Tutt

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

43 .1    The Chairman reported that he had attended a number of engagements since the last meeting of the County Council including: a Let’s Do Business event in Hastings, Westerleigh Judokwai, Hastings and Rother Special Olympics Celebration, the Eastbourne Silver Band Concert of Remembrance, the Sussex Downs College Principal’s Prayer breakfast, Professor Julian Crampton’s retirement reception, Lewes Bonfire at the invitation of the Mayor of Lewes, the Eastbourne Business Awards, the Salvation Army annual Lifeboat Service, the Chichester Chapter Dinner,  

remembrance services and parades in Eastbourne, Hastings and Uckfield, the Ian Gow public speaking completion, the Matthew 25 Mission, the East Sussex Youth Awards and an event for volunteers. The Vice Chairman also attended a number of events.

PRAYERS

42.2     The Chairman thanked Reverend Judith Egar, St Anne’s Church, Lewes for leading the prayers before the Council meeting

PETITIONS

 42.3 The Chairman informed the Council that immediately before the meeting he had received the following petition from members as follows:

44.1     Copies of questions asked by Sue Burton from Battle and Belinda Styles from Windmill Hill and the answers by Councillor Maynard Elkin (Lead Member for Transport and Environment) and Councillor Chris Dowling (Lead member for Community Services) are attached to these minutes.  Supplementary questions were asked and responded to.

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

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

            Governance Committee                  -           paragraph 1

Lead Member for Resources         -           paragraph 1

47.1     Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph of the Governance Committee’s report

47.2     An amendment (attached to these minutes) in relation to the county electoral boundaries in the Lewes District area was moved by Councillor O’Keeffe and seconded was CARRIED

47.3     An amendment (attached to these minutes) in relation to the county electoral boundaries in the rural Rother area was moved by Councillor Maynard and seconded was CARRIED

47.4     An amendment (attached to these minutes) in relation to the county electoral boundaries in the Wealden District area was moved by Councillor Standley and seconded was CARRIED

47.5     The motion moved by Councillor Glazier, as amended, was CARRIED

48.1     Councillor Elkin moved the reserved paragraph in the report of the Lead Member for Resources.

48.2     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Simmons and seconded:

Amend paragraph 1.11 of the Report of the Lead Member for Resources as follows:

As a major employer in the area the Council welcomes the positive benefits that arise from the relationships that we have with recognised trade unions [insert] [and indeed all of our staff] [delete] [and seeks to encourage trade union membership in its own workforce, as well as promoting the benefits of trade union membership in the county as a whole.] This Council [insert] [values the commitment of our staff, directly and through representatives, which works to the benefit of all our services and all Parties]. [delete] [believes that the relationship between employers and their employees in East Sussex through their collective representatives would be damaged by the proposals and calls on the Government to scrap the Trade Union Bill and all associated secondary legislation].

[delete] [We request that the Leader of the Council] [insert] [The Council encourages Members to] write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills [insert] [should they consider parts of the Trade Union Bill currently proceeding through Parliament, will either damage or improve those relationships] [delete] [stating the Council’s opposition to the Bill and requesting that Government scrap the proposed legislation]

48.3     A recorded vote was requested and taken. The amendment was CARRIED, the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE AMENDMENT

Councillors Barnes, Belsey, Bennett, Bentley, Carstairs, Davies, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Earl, Elkin, Ensor, Galley, Glazier, Howson, Maynard, Pragnell, Sheppard, Simmons, Standley, Stogdon, Taylor, Tidy and Whetstone

AGAINST THE MOTION

Councillors Blanch, Butler, Charlton, Charman, Clark, Field, Forward, Hodges, Keeley, Lambert, O’Keeffe, Pursglove, Rodohan, Scott, D Shing, S Shing, Shuttleworth, St Pierre, Ungar, Wallis, Webb and Wincott

ABSTENTIONS

None

48.4     The following Motion was moved and CARRIED

As a major employer in the area the Council welcomes the positive benefits that arise from the relationships that we have with recognised Trade Unions and indeed all of our staff. This Council values the commitment of our staff, directly and through representatives, which works to the benefit of all our services and all Parties.

The Council encourages Members to write to the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills should they consider parts of the Trade Union Bill currently proceeding through Parliament, will either damage or improve those relationships.

(a)  Oral questions to Cabinet Members

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

ORAL QUESTIONS TO CABINET MEMBERS

49.1    The following members asked questions of the Lead Cabinet Members indicated and they responded:

WRITTEN QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER 44

49.2    One written question was received from Councillor Clark for the Lead Member for Adult Social Care. The question and answer are attached to these minutes.

49.3    The Lead Member responded to a supplementary question.