Agenda and minutes

Councillor Azad (Vice Chairman of the County Council) in the Chair

1.1           The following motion as 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           Voting was by roll call, the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE ELECTION OF COUNCILLOR DANIEL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL

Councillors Cross, Collier, Daniel, Denis, Field, Hilton, Holt, Maples, Murphy, Osborne, Robinson, Rodohan, Scott, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Taylor, Tutt, Ungar, and Webb.

FOR THE ELECTION OF COUNCILLOR GALLEY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL

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

ABSTENTIONS

Councillors Adeniji, Daniel Shing, and Stephen Shing.

1.4           The Vice-Chairman declared Councillor Galley elected as Chairman for the ensuing year. Councillor Galley made a declaration of acceptance of office and took the Chair.

Councillor Galley in the Chair

1.5       The Chairman thanked the Council for re-electing him as Chairman for a further year.

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

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

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

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

Voting was by roll call, the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILLOR DANIEL AS VICE CHAIRMAN

Councillors Cross, Collier, Daniel, Denis, Field, Hilton, Holt, Maples, Murphy, Osborne, Robinson, Rodohan, Scott, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Taylor, Tutt, Ungar, and Webb.

FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILLOR AZAD AS VICE CHAIRMAN

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

ABSTENTIONS

Councillors Adeniji, Daniel Shing, and Stephen Shing.

2.3       The Chairman declared Councillor Azad elected as Vice Chairman 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 20 March 2025.

4.1       Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Carolyn Lambert, James MacCleary and Brett Wright.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTIVITIES

5.1       The Chairman reported that he had attended a number of engagements since the last County Council meeting, including: a Royal Visit at Newhaven Fort, Lunch with the Lord Lieutenant, Forest Row Parish Council – Meet and Greet, Fundraising Event at Seaford Rugby Club with the Mayor of Seaford, Black Tie and Tiara Charity Ball with the Mayor of Eastbourne,  Ashdown Forest Meeting with Mark Pearson, Chief Executive, Spring Tea with Head of Buxted CE Primary School and Seahaven Branch of Royal Society of St George – St George’s Day Service followed by refreshments The Chairman also reported that he   hosted a Volunteering Networking Event at Hellingly Community Hub.

5.2       The Chairman thanked the Vice Chairman for his ongoing support, including his attendance at Lord Brett McLean's 50th Birthday Chairty Fundraising Concert at Pebsham Community Hub, Official switching on Ceremony of SUDwell's new manufacturing equipment (with Lord McLean), Mayor Making Ceremony with Rye Town Council and Mayor (Elect), VE Day Celebrations and Anniversary Tea with Bexhill Town Council, VE Day Celebrations with the Chair of Wealden District Council, Grand Opening of Collington Park Lodge, and a quiz hosted by the Chair of Rother District Council.

PETITIONS

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

PRAYERS

5.4       The Chairman thanked Right Revered William Hazlewood, Bishop of Lewes, for leading the prayers before the meeting.

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.

6.1       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.

7.1       Councillor Holt declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in Item 15 on the agenda, as Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council.

8.1       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 1 (Appointment of Members to Committees, Sub-committees, Panels and other bodies).

Cabinet report – paragraph 1 – (Area Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Inspection of East Sussex Local Area Partnership)

People Scrutiny Committee report – paragraph 1 (Call-in: decision made by Cabinet regarding the proposal to close the Linden Court Day Service for people with a learning disability and merge it with Beeching Park day service), paragraph 2 (Call-in: decision made by Cabinet regarding the proposal to reduce the funding for the Housing-Related Floating Support Service)

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

Paragraph 1 (Appointment of Members to Committees, Sub-committees, Panels and other bodies).

9.1       Councillor Glazier moved the reserved paragraph, including the revised allocations circulated, of the Governance Committee’s report.

9.2       The motion was 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     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 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 motion was CARRIED.

[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     A copy of the questions from members of the public and the answers from Councillor Claire Dowling, Lead Member for Transport and Environment, and Councillor Carl Maynard, Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health are attached to these minutes. Five supplementary questions were asked and responded to.

Paragraph 1 – Area Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Inspection of East Sussex Local Area Partnership

16.1     Councillor Standley moved the reserved paragraph of the Cabinet’s report.

16.2     The paragraph was noted after the debate.

Paragraph 1 - Call-in: decision made by Cabinet regarding the proposal to close the Linden Court Day Service for people with a learning disability and merge it with Beeching Park day service

17.1     Councillor Howell moved paragraph 1 of the People Scrutiny Committee report.

17.2     The following amendment was moved by Councillor Tutt and seconded:

The People Scrutiny Committee recommends the County Council to -    

Y consider the matter in relation to the decision made by Cabinet on 25 February to reduce the funding for Linden Court and (delete the following wording) what action if any to take [add the following words] refer the matter back to the Cabinet setting out the Council’s views as set out below.

The council’s views are: Council wishes to thank the parents and carers of the Linden Court community for the work that they have done in surveying the families of the users of this facility and for presenting their findings to Councillors.  In light of this information and the possible increase in costs to the Authority should Linden Court close, Council resolves this facility should be kept open pending work with the families, to assess the costs implications and that the outcome of these be reported to Cabinet as part of its reconsideration.

17.3     The amended motion was CARRIED.

Paragraph 2 - Call-in: decision made by Cabinet regarding the proposal to reduce the funding for the Housing-Related Floating Support Service

17.4     Councillor Howell moved paragraph 2 of the People Scrutiny Committee report.

17.5     The following amendment was moved by Cross and seconded.

            The People Scrutiny Committee recommends the County Council to -    

Y consider the matter in relation to the decision made by Cabinet on 25 February to reduce the funding for the Housing-Related Floating Support Service and (delete the following wording) what action, if any, to take [add the following words] refer the matter back to the Cabinet setting out the Council’s views as set out below.

The council’s views are:

• Since the call in by People Scrutiny in March, District’s & Boroughs have engaged in dialogue with BHT Sussex regarding contributing towards contract funding – Cabinet should examine these proposals before making a final decision.
• Cabinet should give adequate consideration to proposals from BHT Sussex for a reduced service at £2m 

(BHT Sussex who currently provide the service suggested an alternative proposal to reduce the contract value by £2 million (46% reduction) instead of the proposed 88.4%. They have indicated that this would enable 3,500 people to be supported based on the current commissioned service model and noted that further remodelling of the service could further increase the number of people supported and safeguard service quality and successful outcomes.)

• Given that it is counterproductive to close services that will have to be restarted by the future unitary councils, Cabinet is asked to find funding from reserves to make up the £1m shortfall. (500k already committed by ESCC to continue + 5000k being committed by Ds&Bs + 1m shortfall to make £2m  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Paragraph 1 – Annual report of the Standards Committee

18.1     Councillor Belsey moved the reserved paragraph of the Standard Committee’s report.

18.2     The paragraph was noted after the debate.

a) Oral questions to Cabinet Members

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

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

20.1     The Chairman informed the Council of two urgent decisions taken by the Cabinet at its meeting on 20 March, and 22 April 2025 under urgency provisions.

20.2     The report was received and noted.