Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Pragnell (Chairman of the County Council) in the Chair.

1.1       The following motion was moved by Councillor Glazier and seconded –

‘To elect Councillor Galley to serve as Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year’.

1.2       The following motion was moved by Councillor Robinson and seconded –

‘To elect Councillor Daniel to serve as Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year’.

1.3       The Council agreed to vote by a show of hands. Following the vote, the Chairman declared Councillor Galley appointed as the Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year. Councillor Galley made a declaration of acceptance of office and took his seat as Chairman.

Councillor Galley in the Chair</AI1>

1.4       The Chairman thanked the Council for electing him as Chairman.

1.5       The Chairman, Leader of the Council and other Members paid tribute to the way in which Councillor Pragnell had carried out his duties as Chairman of the County Council over the past year, acting as an ambassador for the County, hosting and attending a number of engagements and ensuring the work of the Council was recognised in communities within and outside East Sussex. The Chairman presented Councillor Pragnell with the past Chairman’s badge.

2.1       The following motion was moved by Councillor Glazier and seconded –

‘To appoint Councillor Azad to serve as Vice Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year’.

2.2       The following motion was moved by Councillor Denis and seconded –

‘To appoint Councillor Cross to serve as Vice Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year’.

2.3       The Council agreed to vote by a show of hands. Following the vote, the Chairman declared Councillor Azad appointed as Vice Chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year. Councillor Azad made a declaration of acceptance of office and took his seat as Vice Chairman.

3.1       RESOLVED – to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the County Council held on 6 February 2024.

4.1       Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors David Tutt and Trevor Webb.

FORMER COUNCILLOR PAM BROWN

5.1       The Chairman began with the sad news of the death of former Councillor Pam Brown, OBE. Pam was elected to the County Council in 1973 and 1980 and served between 1973 to 1977 and 1980 to 1997. She was the Chairman of East Sussex Social Services and served as a Councillor on Hastings Borough Council. Pam was elected to serve as Mayor of Hastings from 2004 and 2005 and was twice Leader of Hastings Borough Council. She was also Made Honorary Alderman of Hastings, speaker of the Cinque Ports and Chairman of the Housing Committee.

5.2       The Council stood for a moment’s silence as a mark of respect to their former colleague Pam Brown.

PRAYERS

5.3       The Chairman thanked Father David Hill (Rector of St John’s the Evangelist), for leading the prayers before the meeting.

PETITIONS

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

Councillor Bowdler      - calling on the County Council to support the construction of a permanent school crossing at Punnetts Town Community Primary School.

Councillor Cross         - calling on the County Council to reduce the speed limit on Wellbrook Hill (the 267) between Mayfield and Five Ashes villages.

Councillor Osborne     - calling on the County Council to take action to make the stretch of road from Ditchling to Keymer safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Councillor Osborne     - calling on the County Council to scrap the planned single carriageway on Station Road, Plumpton Green at the entrance to the Nolands Development.

Councillor Ungar         - calling on the County Council to provide a zebra crossing on Green Street, Eastbourne to be sited between Caffe Corro and Cheriton Court, bollards to be erected along the section of Green Street, Eastbourne between the Post Office to the end of this run of shops and that the road surface of Green Street, Eastbourne to be repaired and redressed.

6.1                   There were no declarations of interest.

7.1       The Chairman of the County Council, having called over the reports set out in the agenda, reserved the following for discussion:

Governance Committee report – paragraph 2 (Appointment of Members to Committees, Sub-committees, Panels and other bodies).

Cabinet report – paragraph 1 (Council Monitoring: Quarter 3 2023/24), and paragraph 2 (Inspection of East Sussex local authority children’s services).

NON-RESERVED PARAGRAPHS

7.2       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 – East Sussex Pension Fund), paragraph 3 (Amendment to the Constitution – Health and Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) Terms of Reference.

Standards Committee report – paragraph 1 (Annual report of the Standards Committee).

The Leader to present to the County Council their written record of delegations of executive functions to Cabinet members including:

(a)        names of the County Councillors appointed to the Cabinet;

(b)        the extent of any authority delegated to cabinet members individually as portfolio holders;

(c)        appointment to the position of Deputy Leader;

(d)        the terms of reference and constitution of the Cabinet and any executive committees together with the names of cabinet members appointed to them;

(e)        the nature and extent of any delegation of executive functions to local committees;

(f)         the nature and extent of any delegation to officers.

8.1       In accordance with the Constitution, Councillor Glazier presented a written record to the Council of the appointment of the Deputy Leader and  appointments to the Cabinet, their portfolios and his delegation of executive functions. A copy of the Leader’s report is attached to these minutes.

Paragraph 2 – Appointments of Members to Committees, Sub- committees, Panels and other bodies.

9.1       Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph in the Governance Committee report.

9.2       The following amendment to paragraph 2.13 was moved by Councillor Field and seconded:

            (3) allocate the Chair and Vice Chair positions on the committees as set out in the table in paragraph 2.12 to Members of the opposition groups.

9.3       The amendment was LOST.

9.4       A vote on the original motion moved by Councillor Glazier was taken, and CARRIED.

(a)   Scrutiny Committees

Health Overview and Scrutiny

People

Place

(b) Audit Committee

(c) Governance Committee

(d) Regulatory Committee

(e) Planning Committee

(f) Standards Committee

(g) Pension Committee

(Note 1: The proposed nominations from political and independent groups will be tabled at the meeting)

(Note 2: In accordance with the statutory provisions, the proposed allocation of places to political and independent groups is set out in the report of the Governance Committee)

10.1     Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that appointments be made to the Committees and Sub-Committees, listed in item 8 of the agenda, in accordance with the published list of nominations from political groups.

10.2     The motion was CARRIED.

(a) County Joint Consultative Committee (5 members of the County Council)

(b) County Consultative Committee (Governors) (5 members of the County

Council)

(c) Joint Advisory Committee (Schools) (5 members of the County Council)

(d) Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (5 members of the

County)

(e) Corporate Parenting Panel (7 members of the County Council)

[The memberships proposed by the political and independent groups will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting]

11.1     Councillo Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that members be appointed to serve on the Committees and Panels listed in item 9 of the agenda, in accordance with the political balance provisions and the published list of nominations f11.1          Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that members be appointed to serve on the Committees and Panels listed in item 9 of the agenda, in accordance with the political balance provisions and the published list of nominations from political groups.

11.2     The motion was CARrom political groups.

11.2     The motion was CARRIED.

Approved Marriage Premises Review Panel

Recruitment Panel (Chief Executive, Directors and Deputies)

Commons and Village Green Registration Panel

[The composition of these bodies is set out in the Constitution]

12.1     Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that the bodies listed in agenda item 10 be continued, that the political balance provisions shall not apply to these Panels and that members be appointed by the Chief Executive as the need arises.

12.2     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Field and seconded:

that the bodies listed in agenda item 10 be continued, that the political balance provisions shall not apply to these Panels and that members be appointed by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader,  as the need arises.

12.3     The amendment was voted on and CARRIED.

12.4     The motion was CARRIED (with no member voting against). </AI10>

[The membership of the Panel, proposed by the political groups will be tabled at the meeting]

13.1     Councillor Bennett moved, and it was seconded, that the political balance provisions would not apply to the membership of the Discretionary Transport Appeal Panel and that members be appointed in accordance with the published list of nominations from political groups.

13.2     The motion was CARRIED (with no member voting against).

(a) Chair of the Regulatory Committee

(b) Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees

(c) Chair and Vice Chair of the Audit Committee

(d) Chair of the Governance Committee

(e) Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee

(f) Chair of the Pension Committee

(g) Chair of the Standards Committee

14.1     The following motion, moved by Councillor Bennett and seconded, was CARRIED:

To appoint the following members to positions listed below:

15.1     There were no questions from members of the public.

Paragraph 1 (Council Monitoring: Quarter 3 2023/24)

16.1     Councillor Bennett moved the reserved paragraph.

16.2     The paragraph was noted after the debate.

Paragraph 2 (Inspection of East Sussex local authority children’s services).

16.3     Councillor Bowdler moved the reserved paragraph.

16.4     The paragraph was noted after the debate.</AI14><AI15></AI15>

a) Oral questions to Cabinet Members

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

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

17.2     Two written questions were received from Councillors Ungar for the Lead Member for Education, Inclusion, Special Educations Needs and Disability, and Councillor Lambert for the Lead Member for Transport and Environment. The questions and answers are attached to these minutes. The Lead Members responded to the supplementary questions.