Agenda and minutes

Full Council - Tuesday, 6th December, 2022 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes. View directions

Contact: Stuart McKeown  Member Services Manager

Media

Items
No. Item

35.

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2022 pdf icon PDF 646 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

35.1     RESOLVED - to confirm as a correct record minutes of the County Council meeting held on 11 October 2022.

36.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

36.1     Apologies were received on behalf of Councillors Chris Collier, Gerard Fox, Julia Hilton, Tom Liddiard, Phillip Lunn, James MacCleary, Colin Swansborough,  Daniel Shing and David Tutt.

37.

Chairman's business

Additional documents:

Minutes:

BOB LACEY

 

37.1     The chairman referred to the death of a former colleague, Bob Lacey. Elected to the Council in 2005, Bob represented the Eastbourne Upperton Division before serving as Chairman 2007 to 2009, a role in which he served with distinction. The Chairman offered condolences to Bob’s family and friends on behalf of the Council. The Council stood and remained silent as a mark of respect to Bob Lacey.

 

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

 

37.2     The Chairman reported that he had attended a number of engagements since the last meeting of the Council including: the Hastings Day Luncheon and Mini Expo Event, a tea for Ashdown Forest Volunteers Ashdown Park Hotel, the East Sussex High Sheriff's Annual Judge's Service, the Queen's Award for Enterprise, a Sussex Prayer Breakfast at East Sussex Downs Golf Club, an Eastbourne Silver Band Concert of Remembrance, the Remembrance Day Parade and Service in Lewes, the Hastings Remembrance Day, a Four Seasons Concert on Ashdown Forest, a Service of Remembrance for Canadian, Irish and West Indian soldiers from the Great War, Christmas Pontifical Sung Vespers at Arundel Cathedral, the opening of the Isabel Blackman Centre in Hastings, and the St John Sussex Carol Service in Eastbourne.

 

37.3     The Chairman thanked the Vice Chairman for his ongoing support.

 

PETITIONS

 

37.4     The following petitions were presented before the meeting by members:

 

Councillor Robinson *                                     - calling for a pedestrian crossing on Sutton Avenue to access the South Coast Road and Dell Park.

*(on behalf of Councillor Collier)

 

PRAYERS

 

37.5     The Chairman thanked Reverend Ben Brown, Rector of St Anne's Church, Lewes, for leading the prayers before the meeting.

38.

Questions from members of the public pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

38.1     A copy of the question from a member of the public and the answer from Councillor Claire Dowling (Lead Member for Transport and Environment) is attached to these minutes. A supplementary question was asked and responded to.

39.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

39.1     There were no declarations of interest.

40.

Reports

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

Report of the Lead Member for Transport and Environment - paragraph 1 (Notice of Motion: No to Fracking)

 

NON-RSERVED PARAGRAPHS

 

40.2     There were none

 

 

 

41.

Report of the Lead Member for Transport and Environment pdf icon PDF 206 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Paragraph 1 – Notice of Motion: No to Fracking

 

41.1     Councillor Claire Dowling moved the reserved paragraph of the Lead Member’s report.

 

41.2     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Georgia Taylor and seconded:

 

1)            The County Council recognises the significant public concerns over any initiatives to develop fracking, or other methods, for the extraction of shale oil or gas in East Sussex (insert) and accepts the scientific evidence that, to meet net zero targets, no new exploration or extraction of fossil fuels could take place.

2)            The County Council, therefore, supports the Government’s recent announcement that reinstates the moratorium on fracking (insert) and the County Council continues to ensure implementation of and alignment with the 2008 Climate Act, and the National Planning Policy Framework and East Sussex County Council policies on climate and environment by opposing any future lifting of the moratorium and opposing any fossil fuel exploration, fracking or any other extraction of oil or gas within East Sussex.

 

41.3     A recorded vote on the amendment was requested and taken. The amendment was LOST, the votes being cast as follows:

 

FOR THE AMENDMENT

 

Councillors Denis, Field, Holt Lambert, Maples, Murphy, Osborne, Robinson, Rodohan, Stephen Shing, Shuttleworth, Georgia Taylor and Ungar.

 

AGAINST THE AMENDMENT

 

Councillors Adeniji, Azad, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bowdler, Clark, di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Galley, Geary, Glazier, Hay, Hollidge, Howell, Kirby-Green, Marlow-Eastwood, Maynard, Pragnell, Redstone, Simmons, Standley and Barry Taylor.

 

ABSTENTIONS

 

Councillors Daniel, Milligan, Scott and Webb.

 

41.4     A recorded vote on the motion moved by Councillor Claire Dowling was requested and taken as follows:

 

“The County Council recognises the significant public concerns over any initiatives to develop fracking, or other methods, for the extraction of shale oil or gas in East Sussex. The County Council, therefore, supports the Government’s recent announcement that reinstates the moratorium on fracking.”

 

41.5     The motion was CARRIED with the votes being cast as follows:

 

FOR THE MOTION

 

Councillors Adeniji, Azad, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bowdler, Clark, Denis, di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Field, Galley, Geary, Glazier, Hay, Hollidge, Holt, Howell, Kirby-Green, Lambert, Marlow-Eastwood, Maynard, Milligan, Murphy, Osborne, Pragnell, Redstone, Robinson, Rodohan, Shuttleworth, Simmons, Standley, Barry Taylor, Georgina Taylor, Ungar and Webb.

 

AGAINST THE MOTION

 

None

 

ABSTENTIONS

 

Councillors Daniel, Maples, Scott and Stephen Shing.

42.

Questions from County Councillors

(a)  Oral Questions to Cabinet Members

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

Questioner

Respondent

Subject

 

Councillor Field

Councillor Maynard

 

Care Quality Commission Inspection of Royal Sussex County Hospital

 

Councillor Shuttleworth

Councillor Standley

Funding issues facing schools due to increasing demands and pressures

Councillor Murphy

Councillor Glazier

 

Cost of security operation for meetings at County Hall

 

Councillor Daniel

Councillor Glazier

Central Government support for the residents of East Sussex

 

Councillor Stephen Shing

Councillor Glazier

Cross party working on the County Council