Agenda and minutes

46.1     RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the County Council held on 7 December 2021 as a correct.

47.1     An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Steve Murphy.

NEW YEAR’S HONOURS

48.1     On behalf of the Council, the Chairman congratulated all those who live or work in East Sussex who were recognised in the New Year’s Honours including Roger Cohen, a Trading Standards Officer, who was awarded an MBE for services to the RNLI.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

48.2     The Chairman reported that he had attended one engagement since the last meeting of the Council the Year 8 achievement at Ark Alexandra Academy in Hastings. The Chairman thanked the Vice Chairman for his ongoing support.

PETITIONS

48.3     The following petitions were presented before  the meeting by Councillors:

PRAYERS

48.4     The Chairman thanked the Father David Holl Miller for leading prayers before the meeting.

49.1     Copies of a question from a member of the public and the answer from Councillor Claire Dowling (Lead Member for Transport and Environment) are attached to these minutes.

50.1     There were no declarations of interest.

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

Cabinet report – paragraph 1 (Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources), paragraph 3 (Annual Progress report for Looked After Children’s Services) and paragraph 4 (Treasury Management Policy and Strategy 2022/23

NON-RESERVED PARAGRAPHS

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

Cabinet report – paragraph 2 (Council monitoring quarter 2)

Paragraph 1 – Reconciling Policy Performance and Resources

52.1     Under Standing Order 23, The Council agreed that the speeches of the Leaders of the 5 Groups (or their nominees) on paragraph 1 of the Cabinet’s report be extended beyond 5 minutes.

52.2     Councillor Bennett moved the adoption of paragraph 1 of the Cabinet’s report.

52.3     The following amendment (from the Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and Independent Groups) was moved by Councillor Tutt and seconded:

Delete paragraph 1.66 of the Cabinet’s report and replace with:-

            (1)  approve, in principle, the draft Council Plan 2022/23 at Appendix 1 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

           (2)  approve the net Revenue Budget estimates totalling £453.2m for 2022/23 as set out on Appendix 2 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and 3 (Budget Summary) and authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Leader and Deputy Leader, to make adjustments to the presentation of the Budget Summary to reflect the final settlement and budget decisions with the following amendments:

1.    To use £4,126,000 of the revenue surplus on: -

a.    Ringfence investment in Vehicle Activated Signage (VAS) Units to tackle the widespread problems of speeding across the County (at £200,000 per year for 3 years) - £600,000

b.    Ringfence further investment in pavements and dropped curbs (at £100,000 per year for 4 years – managed within the capital programme) - £400,000

c.     Comprehensive programme of training for all teachers and education professionals to address concerns about Mental Health and other health issues arising from the pandemic and lockdowns - £750,000

d.    Community Action Programmes aimed at countering youth offending, particularly drug crime - £425,000

e.    Pilot a retrofit scheme to demonstrate the comprehensive benefits of retro fitting property - £450,000

f.      Ongoing re-investment in I-Send EHCP Assessment Service for 2022/23 and future years - £188,000

g.    Bollards - accelerate replacement of keep left lights with reflectors, including maintenance costs - £250,000

h.    Carers – provision of extra sessions of respite care, training for new carers and for young carers and development of new County App for carers to give easy access to information sources and to each other - £580,000

i.      Community Match Funding – for 2022/23, pilot a reduced external match requirement to 25% - £100,000

j.      Biodiversity – Pilot the development of a 50% Council match funded scheme for local biodiversity and habitat initiatives (£100,000 per year for 2 years) - £200,000

k.     Use Libraries savings in 2022/23 to invest in book stock - £183,000 (and removal of all £288,000 savings currently in the Medium Term Financial Plan by 2023/24)

36.   

2.    One-off investment from the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund (MSFCCF) to review, research and identify innovative models of home care with a view to producing a business case and budget proposal for 2023/24 - £100,000

3.    Use the existing Economic Intervention Fund to conduct and support feasibility work for pump priming and stimulating the Community Energy Sector  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

(a)  Oral questions to Cabinet Members

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

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

53.2     Fourteen written questions were received from Councillors Lambert, Field, Ungar, Georgia Taylor, Maples and Hilton for  the Lead Member for Transport, the Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health, the Lead Member for Economy and  the Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change. The questions and answers are attached to these minutes. The Lead Members responded to  supplementary questions.