Agenda and draft minutes

52.1     RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the County Council meeting held on 2 December 2025.

53.1     Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Chris Collier and Godfrey Daniel.

54.1     The Chairman shared the sad news of the death of three former councillors Joy Hughes, John Wilson and Michael Phillips.

FORMER COUNCILLOR JOY HUGHES

54.2     The Chairman shared that Joy Hughes was elected to the County Council in 2009 and represented the Bexhill King Offa division until 2013. She served as a member of the Planning Committee and Regulatory Committee.

FORMER COUNCILLOR JOHN WILSON

54.3     The Chairman informed the Council that John Wilson was elected to the County Council in 2005 and represented the Hastings Ashdown and Conquest division until 2009. He served as a member of several committees of the council, including the Community Services Scrutiny Committee, Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Regulatory Committee and East Sussex Fire Authority.

FORMER COUNCILLOR MICHAEL PHILLIPS

54.4     The Chairman shared that Michael Phillips was elected to the County Council in 2013 and represented the Bexhill King Offa division until 2017. He served as a member of the Corporate Parenting Panel during his tenure.

54.5     The Council stood for a moment’s silence as a mark of respect for the former councillors.

NEW YEAR’S HONOURS

54.6     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. With a special mention to Angela Wooller, Apprenticeship and Qualifications Manager who was awarded a BEM for services to Further Education.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

54.7     The Chairman reported that he had attended a number of engagements since the last meeting of the Council including: Little Gate Farm Civic Visit with Andrea Randall-Smith, a Citizenship Ceremony with Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Dr Deborah Ghate DL, Civic Christmas Carol Services hosted by the Mayor of Crowborough, the Mayor ofSeaford and the Mayor of Polegate, the Chichester Cathedral Carol Service and a meeting with Directors of Tourism Alliance.

54.8     The Chairman thanked the Vice Chairman for his ongoing support, including his attendance at theWest Sussex Fire & Rescue and West Sussex County Council Carol Service and Pantomime Evening hosted by Mayor of Polegate.

PETITIONS

54.9     The following petition was presented before the meeting by Councillors

PRAYERS

54.10     The Chairman thanked the Reverend Prebendary Stephen Stuckes, Cuckmere Churches for leading the prayers before the meeting.

55.1     Copies of the questions from members of the public and the answers from Councillor Claire Dowling, Lead Member for Transport and Environment are attached to these minutes.

56.1     There were no declarations of interest.

57.1     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 (Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)) and paragraph 3 (Annual Looked After Children report 2024-2025).

NON RESERVED PARAGRAPHS

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

Cabinet report – paragraph 2 (Council Monitoring: Quarter 2 2025/26), paragraph 4 (Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/27), and paragraph 5 (The Conservators of Ashdown Forest 2025/26 forecast outturn position and updated medium term financial plan including the 2026/27 budget).

Governance Committee – paragraph 1 (Pay Policy Statement) and paragraph 2 (Scheme of Members’ Allowances – Index for Annual Adjustment to Allowances).

Paragraph 1 - Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

58.1     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.

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

58.3     The following motion was moved by Councillor Bennett to adopt paragraph 1 of the Cabinet report:

(1) approve in principle the draft Council Plan 2026/27 at Appendix 1 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

(2) approve the net Revenue Budget estimate of £693.2m for 2026/27 set out in Appendix 2 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and Appendix 3 (draft) (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 £693.2m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 5) for the year 2026/27 is £420.8m;

(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 2026/27 is £1,960.29 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 the agreed schedule of instalments as set out at Appendix 5;

(5) note that the Council has written to Government to request Exceptional Financial Support in the form of a £70m capitalisation direction to support the budget in 2026/27;

(6) amend the Treasury Management Strategy, as set out later in this report, to allow borrowing to fund the revenue budget;

(7) note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness, as set out in Appendix 6;

(8) agree the Reserves Policy set out in Appendix 6;

(9) approve the Capital Strategy and Programme at Appendix 8;

(10) note progress with the Council Plan and Budget 2025/26 since quarter 2 set out in paragraphs 1.29 to 1.33;

(11) note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for 2026/27 to 2028/29, set out in Appendix 2;

(12) note the comments from engagement exercises set out in Appendix 7; and

(13) note the schedule of fees and charges that have increased above 4% at Appendix 9.

58.4     A recorded vote was taken on the motion moved by Councillor Bennett. The motion was CARRIED with the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE MOTION

Councillors Adeniji, Azad, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bowdler, Clark, di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Fisher, Fox, Galley, Geary, Glazier, Hay, Hollidge, Howell, Kirby-Green, Liddiard, Lunn,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

The Chairman has directed under Standing Order 36.9 (1) that the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Field shall stand referred to the County Council.

Evidence shows that 20mph limits:

·       increases a pedestrian's chance of survival if hit by a car

·       improves the quality of life for those living in a 20mph zone

·       leads to calmer streets and improved community cohesion

·       reduces pollution 

This Council requests the Cabinet to:

Consider implementing a maximum speed limit of 20mph when adopting roads in new developments.

59.1     With agreement from Council, Councillor Field moved an altered motion, which was seconded by Councillor Wright.

Evidence shows that 20mph limits:

• increases a pedestrian's chance of survival if hit by a car

• improves the quality of life for those living in a 20mph zone

• leads to calmer streets and improved community cohesion

• reduces pollution 

This Council requests the (delete the following wording) Cabinet [replace with the following wording] Executive to consider implementing a maximum speed limit of 20mph when adopting roads in new developments [add the following wording] by:

1.              Reviewing the approach to setting local speed limits in new developments once the government issues the updated guidance to ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’ and ‘Manual for Streets’; and

2.              Seeking to influence the content of the emerging Local Plans throughout the county, so that the policies of Planning Authorities for new developments support the principles around low speed zones (including 20mph) as in Manual for Streets.

59.2     The motion was CARRIED after debate.

The Chairman has directed under Standing Order 36.9 (1) that the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Taylor shall stand referred to the County Council.

We are concerned about the behaviour of some elected representatives in relation to the potential housing of asylum seekers in the Crowborough Training Camp. This is resulting in insecurity for residents and elected representatives. A strong moral leadership is essential and we, as the principal council, need to openly demonstrate positive behaviour in line with our code of conduct and the Nolan Principles, and to model behaviour that reduces hate and actively promotes community cohesion for all residents whether they be temporary or permanent residents.

The motion:

This Council calls on the Leader to:

·       Publicly condemn all forms of political discourse that inflame hatred and encourage racism in our communities.

·       Publicly condemn misinformation or inflammation of hate against any resident, business owner, local official or elected representatives across East Sussex. 

·       Remind Councillors that they must abide by the spirit and the letter of the Code of Conduct and Nolan principles to which we subscribe.

·       Encourage officers and relevant Councillors to collaborate and work together to ensure safety and security for all residents within the area.

60.1     The following motion was moved by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Cross.

This Council calls on the Leader to:

·     Publicly condemn all forms of political discourse that inflame hatred and encourage racism in our communities.

·     Publicly condemn misinformation or inflammation of hate against any resident, business owner, local official or elected representatives across East Sussex.

·     Remind Councillors that they must abide by the spirit and the letter of the Code of Conduct and Nolan principles to which we subscribe.

·     Encourage officers and relevant Councillors to collaborate and work together to ensure safety and security for all residents within the area.

60.2     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Maynard and seconded by Councillor Fox.

This Council calls upon the Leader to:

·     (delete the following wording) Publicly condemn all forms of political discourse that inflame hatred and encourage racism in our communities. [replace with the following wording] Publicly support freedom of speech within the law and the right of peaceful protest so long as the same does not encourage or condone violence or inflame racial hatred of any kind whether against one racial, ethnic or religious group or another.

?      (delete the following wording) Publicly condemn misinformation or inflammation of hate against any resident, business owner, local official or elected representatives across East Sussex [replace with the following wording] Condemn all misinformation and statements whether by elected representatives, residents or others calculated to encourage or condone violence or inflame racial hatred of any kind whether against one racial, ethnic or religious group or another including  anti-semitic  or Islamophobic statements.

·     Remind (delete the following wording) Councillors [replace with the following wording] elected representatives that they must abide by the spirit and the letter of the Code of Conduct and Nolan principles (delete the following wording) to which we subscribe.

?      (delete the following wording) Encourage officers and relevant Councillors to collaborate and work together to ensure safety and security for all residents within the area. [replace with the following wording] Encourage officers and elected representatives to listen to and consider the fears and concerns of all local residents and work together to ensure their safety and security.

60.3     The following motion was CARRIED after debate.

This Council calls upon the Leader to:

·     Publicly support freedom of speech within the law and the right of peaceful protest so long as the same does not encourage or condone violence or inflame racial hatred of any kind whether against one racial, ethnic or religious group or another.

·     Condemn all misinformation and statements whether by elected representatives, residents or others calculated to encourage or condone violence or inflame racial hatred of any kind whether against one racial, ethnic or religious group or another including anti-semitic or Islamophobic statements.

·     Remind elected representatives that they must abide by the spirit and the letter of the Code of Conduct and Nolan principles.

·     Encourage officers and elected representatives to listen to and consider the fears and concerns of all local residents and work together to ensure their safety and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

a) Oral questions to Cabinet Members

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

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

61.2     Five written questions were received from Councillors Hilton and Taylor to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment and the Lead Member for Economy. The Lead Members responded to supplementary questions.