Agenda and minutes

53.1     RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the County Council meeting held on 7 February 2023.

54.1     Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Chris Collier, Johnny Denis, Gerard Fox, Nuala Geary, Alan Hay, Sarah Osborne, Peter Pragnell and John Ungar.

COUNCILLOR PRAGNELL

55.1     The Chairman announced that Councillor Pragnell was unwell and therefore unable to attend the meeting. On behalf of the Council, the Chairman wished Councillor Pragnell a full and quick recovery.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

55.2     The Chairman reported that Councillor Pragnell had attended a number of events since the last Council meeting, including a visit to Ashdown Forest and attending the Conservators Financial and Regulation Committee.

PETITIONS

55.3     The following petitions were presented before the meeting by councillors:

Councillor Maples*                  - calling on the County Council to introduce a lorry route network similar to the one in West Sussex, so that HGVs are redirected away from narrow local roads in our villages.

Councillor Bowdler                  - calling on the County Council to introduce lower speed limits on the B2095 Lower Street Ninfield to Marsh Road, A259.

Councillor Hilton                      - calling on the County Council to divest the Pension Fund from fossil fuels related investments and publicly support a permanent windfall tax on Big Oil and a rapid

transition to a green energy system. 

Councillor Daniel Shing          - calling on the County Council to introduce double yellow lines either side of driveway on 63 St Johns Road, Polegate.

*(on behalf of Councillor Denis)

PRAYERS

55.4     The Chairman thanked Mr. Michael Ensor, former Chairman of the Council, for leading prayers before the meeting.

56.1     There were no questions from members of the public.

57.1     There were no declarations of interest.

58.1     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 (Council Monitoring – Quarter 3 2022/2023)

Governance Committee report – paragraph 1 (Pay Policy Statement)

NON-RESERVED PARAGRAPHS

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

Governance Committee report – paragraph 2 (Remote Attendance at Meetings)

Paragraph 1 (Council Monitoring – Quarter 3 2022/2023)

59.1     Councillor Bennett introduced the reserved paragraph in the Cabinet report.

59.2     The paragraph was noted after debate.

Paragraph 1 (Pay Policy Statement)

60.1     Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph in the Governance Committee Report.

60.2     The motion was CARRIED after debate.

(a) Oral questions to Cabinet Members

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

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

Questioner                 Respondent               Subject

Councillor Lambert     Councillor Glazier       Lewes District Council legal

action with regard to Vision Properties in the case of Talland Parade, Seaford

Councillor                    Councillor Claire         Quality of pothole repairs

Swansborough           Dowling

Councillor Field           Councillor Standley     Early years funding in settings controlled

                                                                       by the County Council

Councillor Daniel         Councillor Glazier       Highways in Hastings and the

                                                                       installation of fibre networks

Councillor Daniel         Councillor Glazier       Effects of the National Government

budget on local government

Councillor Maples       Councillor Claire         Lewes bus station and temporary     

Dowling                       bus stops

Councillor Maples       Councillor Bennett      Housing developments on greenfield

sites

Councillor Murphy      Councillor Bowdler      Provision for childcare for 0-4 year-olds

following the National Government budget announcement

Councillor Hilton          Councillor Bennett      Queensway Gateway Road

Councillor Scott          Councillor Claire         Review of the criteria used for highway

Dowling                       repairs and success of repairs

Councillor Stephen     Councillor Bennett      Site formerly known as Hindlands

Shing                                                               playing fields in Polegate, and

                                                                        surrounding land

Councillor Tutt             Councillor Claire         Initial estimate of the Bexhill-Hastings

                                    Dowling                       relief road cost to date, and the

                                                                        estimated outcome

Councillor Georgia      Councillor Claire         Long-term repairs to highways and

Taylor                          Dowling                       potholes in Forest Row and the

effectiveness of the work of highways contractors

Councillor                    Councillor Glazier       Conservative councillors asking

Kirby-Green                                                    questions at Full Council meetings

61.2     Two written questions were received from Councillors Field and Stephen

Shing for the Lead Member for Transport and Environment. The Lead Member

responded to supplementary questions.