Agenda and minutes

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

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.

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.

38.1     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.

39.1     There were no declarations of interest.

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

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.

(a)  Oral Questions to Cabinet Members

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

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