Agenda and minutes

39.1     RESOLVED – to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the County Council held on 17 October 2017 as a correct record subject to paragraph 31.6 being amended to read Ringmer Library rather than Lewes Library.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Tania Charman and Darren Grover.

TREVOR MAY

41.1    The Chairman paid tribute to Trevor May, who had represented the Old Hastings and Mount Pleasant Division from 1997 to 2001, following his recent death.  On behalf of the Council the Chairman offered condolences to Trevor’s  family and friends.

41.2    The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect for their former colleague Trevor May.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

41.3    The Chairman reported that he had attended a number of engagements since the last meeting including: the visit of guests from Blois at Lewes Town Hall, the Eastbourne Silver Band Concert of Remembrance, the Remembrance Day Parade in Lewes, the East Sussex Prayer Breakfast and the British Empire Medal investiture ceremony at Brighton Town Hall. The Vice Chairman also attended a number of events.

PRAYERS

41.4     The Chairman thanked the Reverend Steve Daughtery of Southover Church, Lewes for leading th prayers before the meeting.

PETITIONS

41.5     The Chairman informed the Council that immediately before the meeting the following petitions had been received:

42.1     Copies of the questions asked by Richard Moore from Lewes, Esme Needhan from Hastings, Hugh Dunkerley from Brighton, Anna Reggiani from Forest Row, Gabriel Carlyle from St Leonards on Sea, Arkady Johns from St Leonards on Sea, Arnold Simanowitz from Lewes, Dirk Campbell from Lewes, Fran Witt from Lewes, John McGowan from Lewes, Greg Lewis-Brown from Forest Row, Simon Lewis from Seaford, Jo Nye from Bexhill on Sea, Emma Lynch from Seaford, Layla Dyer from Lewes, Karen Wilkinson from the Parents Union, Stephen Keogh from Willingdon, Ella Lewis from Seaford, Judy Lewis from Lewes, Lorraine Heugh from Robertsbridge, Julie Ryan from Hastings, Felicity Bull from Lewes and Nick Swift from Forest Row and the answers from Councillor Stogdon (Chair of the Pension Committee), Councillor Standley (Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability) and Councillor Bentley (Lead Member for Communities and Safety) are attached to the minutes. Supplementary questions were asked and responded to.

43.1     There were no declarations of interest

44.1 Ella Lewis (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.

44.2 The following motion was moved by Councillor Standley and seconded:

That the Council, whilst noting the petitioner’s comments:

1.    Recognises the need for action to reduce avoidable absence from schools in East Sussex;

2.    Agrees that the Get A Grip campaign successfully highlighted the concerns regarding attendance; and

3.    Agrees that the Council continue to work with teachers and parents to improve attendance as part of the policies to improve educational attainment in all schools across the County.

44.2     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Lambert and seconded:

Delete Councillor Standley’s motion and replace it with:

Responsible parents are well aware of the need to ensure maximum school attendance by their children.  We all want the best results from education for our children – they are our future. 

Parents acknowledge the concerns of the County Council in wishing to highlight the importance of regular school attendance.  However, the Get a Grip campaign has been detrimental in achieving this.  Responsible parents feel under attack, and it is unlikely that those less committed to their children’s education will be motivated by the campaign which is viewed by many people as patronising and aggressive in tone.

This Council resolves to request the Executive to:

·         pause the campaign

·         acknowledge the concerns of large numbers of parents about the nature of the communications they have received from the Council

·         establish a forum with volunteer parents and other appropriate stakeholders to find a more constructive way on engaging with this issue to enable the campaign to move forward on a constructive and positive basis that engages and motivates, rather than alienates, parents.

35.5 The following amendment to Councillor Lambert’s amendment was moved by Councillor Stephen Shing and seconded. The amendment was LOST:

Insert the following point at the end of Councillor Lambert’s amendment:

·         Council should use its resources to work with the 5% of children missing school to help those vulnerable children to attend school

35.6 A recorded vote on Councillor Lambert’s amendment was requested and taken. The amendment was LOST, the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE AMENDMENT

Councillors Philip Daniel, Field, Lambert, O’Keeffe, Osborne, Rodohan, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Tutt, Ungar and Wallis

 AGAINST THE AMENDMENT

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

.

ABSTENTIONS

Councillors Godfrey Daniel, Scott and Webb

35.8 A recorded vote was requested on the motion moved by Councillor Standley as follows:

That the Council, whilst noting the petitioner’s comments:

1.    Recognises the need for action to reduce avoidable absence from schools in East Sussex;

2.    Agrees that the Get A Grip campaign successfully highlighted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

(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

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

WRITTEN QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER 44

45.2    Two written questions were received from Councillors Shuttleworth and Fied for the Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development and the  Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability. The questions and answers are attached to these minutes.

45.3 The Lead Members responded to  supplementary questions