Agenda and draft minutes

42.1     RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the County Council meeting held on 10 October 2023.

43.1     Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Sarah Osborne, and Trevor Webb.

FORMER COUNCILLOR OLIVE WOODALL

44.1     The Chairman began with the sad news of the death of former Councillor Olive Woodall. Olive was elected to the County Council in 1997 and represented the Hampden Park division in Eastbourne.  She also served as a councillor on Eastbourne Borough Council and was elected to serve as Mayor of Eastbourne. The Council stood for a moment’s silence as a mark of respect to Councillor Woodall.

KING CHARLES

44.2     The Chairman acknowledged the news of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and committed to write to his majesty on behalf of the Council to wish him well, and a speedy recovery.

NEW YEAR’S HONOURS

44.3     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.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

44.4     The Chairman reported that he had attended the Royal Society of St George’s Trafalgar Dinner in Eastbourne, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants of East and West Sussex Awards in Lancing, the Lord-Lieutenant’s Royal Visit and ceremonial tree planting to commemorate the Coronation in Lewes, the Eastbourne Silver Band Annual Conference of Remembrance, the Honorary Freeman Inauguration Ceremony in Eastbourne, the Lewes Remembrance Service, the Royal Society of St George’s Service of Remembrance for the Canadians, Irish and West Indians in Seaford, the East Sussex Prayer Breakfast at the Winter Garden, Eastbourne, the Winchelsea Italian Event, the Ashdown Forest Foundation’s Christmas Celebration and Evening Performance at the Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, the Friends of Arundel Cathedral Christmas Pontifical Sung Vespers, the Newhaven Community Carol Concert at St Michael’s Church, the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and County Council Carol Service at Chichester Cathedral, the Civic Carol Service at St Mary the Virgin Church in Swanley, the Chairman’s Christmas Reception in Robertsbridge, the Seahaven Branch of the Royal Society of St George’s Christmas Dinner, the Cathedral Carol Service at Chichester Cathedral, a Citizenship Ceremony in Hastings, and the Polegate Drama Group’s production of Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates at Polegate Community Centre.

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

PETITIONS

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

Councillor Galley                    - calling on the County Council to reopen the Buxted 24 footpath, before the current temporary closure order expires (March 2024).

Councillor Kirby-Green           - calling on the County Council to “Make Burwash Village safer” -  To proceed without further delay with a simple and affordable 20mph safety scheme, which requires just the change of signage.

Councillor Julia Hilton             - calling on the County Council to make 20mph the default speed on the County’s residential streets.

PRAYERS

44.7     The Chairman thanked the Reverend Canon Martha Mutikani, Associate Vicar of the Uckfield Plurality for leading prayers before the meeting.

45.1     Copies of questions from members of the public and the answers from Councillor Gerard Fox (Chair of the Pension Committee) and Councillor Glazier, Leader and Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development are attached to these minutes.  A supplementary question was asked and responded to.

46.1     Councillor Kathryn Field declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in Item 7 as the Chair of Battle Pre-School.

46.2     Councillor David Tutt declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in Item 9 as a member of a consumer challenge group with Southern Water.

47.1     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 (Annual Progress report for Looked After Children’s Services), paragraph 2 (Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources), paragraph 4 (Scrutiny Review of School Exclusions) and paragraph 5 (Scrutiny Review of Pothole Management).

People Scrutiny Committee report – paragraph 1 (Scrutiny Review of School Exclusions)

Place Scrutiny Committee report – paragraph 1 (Scrutiny Review of Pothole Management)

NON-RESERVED PARAGRAPHS

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

Cabinet report – paragraph 3 (Council Monitoring: Quarter 2 2023/24), paragraph 6 (Treasury Management Policy and Strategy 2024/25) and paragraph 7 (the Conservators of Ashdown Forest – 2023/24 forecast outturn position and updated medium term financial plan including the 2024/25 budget)

Governance Committee report – paragraph 1 (Pay Policy Statement)

Paragraph 1 – Annual Progress report for Looked After Children’s Services.

48.1     Councillor Bowdler introduced the reserved paragraph in the Cabinet’s report.

48.2     The paragraph was noted after the debate.

Paragraph 2 – Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources.

48.3     Under Standing Order 23, the Council agreed that the speeches of the Leaders of the 5 Groups (or their nominees) on paragraph 2 of the Cabinet’s report be extended beyond 5 minutes, but not exceed 10 minutes.

48.4     In moving this paragraph of the Cabinet’s report, Councillor Bennett also moved an amendment to the Cabinet recommendations which was duly seconded (see minute number 48.6)

48.5     The County Council agreed that the vote on the Cabinet recommendation and the amendment (recommendation 12), moved by Councillor Bennett, should be taken together.

48.6     The following motion was moved by Councillor Bennett, to adopt paragraph 2 of the Cabinet report as amended:

              (1)     approve in principle the draft Council Plan 2024/25 at Appendix 2 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

       (2)     approve the net Revenue Budget estimate of £538.1m for 2024/25 set out in Appendix 3 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and Appendix 4 (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 final budget decisions;

       (3)     in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to agree that:

(i)     the net budget requirement is £538.1m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 6) for the year 2024/25 is £371m;

(ii)    the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as the basic amount of council tax (i.e. for a band D property) for the year 2024/25 is £1,778.31 and represents a 4.99% (2% of which relates to the Adult Social Care precept) increase on the previous year;

(4)         advise the District and Borough Councils of the relevant amounts payable and council tax in other bands in line with the regulations and to issue precepts accordingly in accordance with an agreed schedule of instalments as set out at Appendix 6.

(5)   agree the Reserves Policy set out in Appendix 7;

(6)   approve the Capital Strategy and Programme at Appendix 9;

(7)         note progress with the Council Plan and Budget 2023/24 since quarter 2 set out in paragraphs 2.36 to 2.42;

(8)        note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for 2024/25 to 2026/27, set out in Appendix 3;

(9)         note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness, as set out in Appendix 7;

(10)      note the comments from engagement exercises set out in Appendix 8;

(11)     note the schedule of fees and charges that have increased above 4% at Appendix 10; and

(12)     agree to welcome the indication of the additional social care grant which would reduce our need to draw on reserves, and that, once the final  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Paragraph 1 – Scrutiny Review – School Exclusions

49.1     The Chairman reminded the Council that he was taking paragraph 1 of this report with paragraph 4 of the Cabinet’s report.

49.2     Councillor Howell moved the adoption of paragraph 1 of the Scrutiny Committee report.

49.3     Councillor Glazier moved the adoption of paragraph 4 of the Cabinet’s report. The motion, including the recommendations, was CARRIED after debate.

49.4     The motion to adopt paragraph 1 of the Scrutiny Committee’s report, including the recommendations, was CARRIED after debate on the basis that implementation would be in accordance with the recommendations of the Cabinet.

Paragraph 1 – Scrutiny Review – Pothole Management

50.1     The Chairman reminded the Council that he was taking paragraph 1 of this report with paragraph 5 of the Cabinet’s report.

50.2     Councillor Beaver moved the adoption of paragraph 1 of the Scrutiny Committee report.

50.3     Councillor Glazier moved the adoption of paragraph 5 of the Cabinet’s report. The motion, including the recommendations, was CARRIED after debate.

50.4     The motion to adopt paragraph 1 of the Scrutiny Committee’s report, including the recommendations, was CARRIED after debate on the basis that implementation would be in accordance with the recommendations of the Cabinet.</AI8><AI9>

The Chairman has directed under Standing Order 36.9 that the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Hilton shall stand referred to the County Council.

This Council declares an urgent need for Ocean and River Recovery.

We recognise that we need ocean recovery to meet our net zero carbon emissions targets, and we need net zero carbon emissions to recover our ocean. We also need to act as the custodians of the rivers, waterways and tributaries that run through our towns and villages on the way to the sea. We recognise that all people wherever they live, impact and are impacted by ocean and river health and that we have an essential role to play in recovering the health of our ocean.

This Council requests Cabinet to:

1.     Report to full council within 6/12 months with an ocean and river recovery strategy and action plan that delivers against transparent, measurable indicators reported to the council annually (see next section for suggestion about strategic goals and action to be taken).

2.     That the council writes to central government requesting that they put the oceans and rivers into net recovery by 2030. (full details of this letter and specific requests can be seen in the next section).

51.1     Under Standing Order 29, the Council consented to Councillor Hilton to amend the Motion of which notice had been given. The following amended motion was moved by Councillor Hilton and seconded by Councillor Field:

This Council declares an urgent need for Ocean and River Recovery.

We recognise that we need ocean recovery to meet our net zero carbon emissions targets, and we need net zero carbon emissions to recover our ocean. We also need to act as the custodians of the rivers, waterways and tributaries that run through our towns and villages on the way to the sea. We recognise that all people wherever they live, impact and are impacted by ocean and river health and that we have an essential role to play in recovering the health of our ocean.

This Council requests Cabinet to:

1.     Report to full council within 6/12 months with an outline ocean and river recovery strategy and action plan that will be integrated into the local nature Recovery Strategy, and that delivers against transparent, measurable indicators reported to the council annually (see next section for suggestion about strategic goals and action to be taken).

2.     That the council writes to central government requesting that they put the oceans and rivers into net recovery by 2030 (full details of this letter and specific requests can be seen in item 10 of the agenda).

51.2     A recorded vote on the motion was requested and taken. The motion was LOST, with the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE MOTION

Councillors Cross, Collier, Denis, Field, Hilton, Lambert, Maples, Murphy, Robinson, Rodohan, Stephen Shing, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Taylor, Tutt, Ungar, and Wright.

AGAINT THE MOTION

Councillors Adeniji, Azad, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bowdler, di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Fox, Galley, Geary, Glazier, Hay, Hollidge, Howell, Kirby-Green, Liddiard, Lunn, Marlow-Eastwood, Maynard, Milligan, Pragnell, Redstone, Standley.

ABSTENTIONS

Councillors Daniel and Scott.

The Chairman has directed under Standing Order 36.9 that the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Tutt shall stand referred to the County Council.

Overview and scrutiny committees are a key strand of corporate governance and play an important role in holding the Executive to account. It is therefore proposed that Full Council agree as follows:

1.         that the Chair of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee shall be appointed from amongst the members of opposition groups;

2.         to delegate authority to each of the three Overview and Scrutiny Committees to appoint their Chair from amongst their memberships, subject to the requirement above; and

3.         that the Constitution be amended accordingly.

52.1     </AI9>

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The following motion was moved by Councillor Tutt and seconded by Councillor Collier:

Overview and scrutiny committees are a key strand of corporate governance and play an important role in holding the Executive to account. It is therefore proposed that Full Council agree as follows:

1.         that the Chair of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee shall be appointed from amongst the members of opposition groups.

2.         to delegate authority to each of the three Overview and Scrutiny Committees to appoint their Chair from amongst their memberships, subject to the requirement above; and

3.         that the Constitution be amended accordingly.

52.2     The Motion was LOST after debate.

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     Five written questions were received from Councillors Field, Lambert, and Stephen Shing for the Lead Member for Transport and Environment. The questions and answers are attached to these minutes. The Lead Member responded to supplementary questions.