Agenda and draft minutes

54.1     RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the County Council meeting held on 11 February 2025.

55.1     Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Bob Bowdler and Georgia Taylor.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

56.1     The Chairman reported that he had attended a number of engagements since the last County Council meeting including: Ashdown Forest Board Meeting and Covid 19 Day of Reflection with the Mayor of Eastbourne; and hosted a tea for Ashdown Forest staff and Volunteers at Babylon ECO Centre at Duddleswell.

56.2     The Chairman thanked the Vice Chairman for his ongoing support, including his attendance at the UN Association: Bexhill and Hastings Branch AGM and Public Seminar.

PETITIONS

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

PRAYERS

56.4     The Chairman thanked Councillor Belsey for leading the prayers before the meeting.

57.1     A copy of the question from a member of the public and the answer from Councillor Glazier, Leader and Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic development is attached to these minutes. A supplementary question was asked and responded to.

58.1     The Chaiman stated that all Members have been granted with a dispensation, in relation to their membership of the Council and any membership of a district or borough council under the Localism Act 2011 and the Council’s Code of Conduct to enable them to participate and vote on the items on the agenda which relate to devolution and local government reorganisation.

58.2     Councillor Maples declared an interest in item 7 as a Member of Lewes District Council and Lewes Town Council.

58.3     Councillor Holt declared an interest in item 7 as the Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council.

58.4     Councillor Ungar declared a personal interest in item 7 as having a member of family who works as a local government officer in the county of East Sussex. He did not consider this to be prejudicial.

59.1     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 Report - Q3 2024/25).

Leader and Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development report – paragraph 1 (Proposed response to consultation on the proposed Mayoral Combined County Authority across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove) and paragraph 2 (Proposed response to Government invitation for proposals for a single tier of local government in East Sussex).

NON-RESERVED PARAGRAPHS

59.2     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:

Governance Committee report – paragraph 1 (Amendment to the Constitution – Place Scrutiny Terms of Reference) and paragraph 2 (Amendment to the Constitution - Procurement and Contract Standing Orders).

Paragraph 1 - Council Monitoring Report - Q3 2024/25

60.1     Councillor Bennett moved the reserved paragraph of the Cabinet’s report.

60.2     The paragraph was noted after the debate.

Paragraph 1 - Proposed response to consultation on the proposed Mayoral Combined County Authority across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove

61.1     Councillor Glazier introduced and moved the reserved paragraph in the Leader and Lead Member’s report.

61.2     Council agreed to note the draft response to the Government consultation after the debate.

Paragraph 2 - Proposed response to Government invitation for proposals for a single tier of local government in East Sussex

61.3     Councillor Glazier introduced and moved the reserved paragraph in the Leader and Lead Member’s report.

61.4     Council agreed to note the Interim Plan after the debate.

a) Oral questions to Cabinet Members

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

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

62.2     Four written questions were received from Councillor Wright, two for the Lead Member for Transport and Environment. One for the Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change and one for the Leader and Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development. The Lead Members responded to supplementary questions.