Agenda and minutes

11.1     Councillor Elkin approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2015. 

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct

12.1     Councillor Hodges declared a personal interest in Item 4 as a Member of Hastings Borough Council, but he did not consider this to be prejudicial.

12.2     Councillor Lambert declared a personal interest in Item 4 as a consultant on social enterprises including advice on asset portfolios, but she did not consider this to be prejudicial.  

13.1     Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

14.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

14.2     RESOLVED to (1) recommend to the County Council to agree the motion as set out in paragraph 1.1 of the report; and

(2) agree the revision of the Disposal Policy, as detailed in paragraph 2.7 of the report, subject to the motion being agreed by the County Council. 

Reasons

14.3     Meanwhile use is a recognised method of enabling best use of resources while reducing costs for both the building landlord and the community or voluntary group using it.  Vacant property can incur costs through empty business rates, maintenance and ensuring insurance policy compliance.  In addition, vacant properties offer little to local economies and present a risk through vandalism.

14.4     A condition of any Meanwhile use of a council property will be that occupation will not be at the Council’s cost.  

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

15.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

15.2     RESOLVED (1) to agree the level of Council participation and committing funding to an investment of up to £100,000 to the Municipal Bonds Agency (the Local Capital Finance Company Ltd);

(2) to note that the Cabinet approved participation and the amendments to the Treasury Management strategy on 29 June 2015; and

(3) to delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to take any action considered appropriate to give effect to or in consequence of recommendations 1 and 2  including determining the terms of and entering into any agreements considered necessary to be entered into including the Subscription Agreement.

Reasons

15.3       The Municipal Bonds Agency is an independent company with the sole aim of reducing financing costs for councils through arranging lending at competitive interest rates. The agency would be able to raise finance in bulk from the capital markets by issuing bonds and lending on to other local authorities.  Taking part in the setting up of the agency does not commit the Council to borrowing, but would give early access to potentially cheaper borrowing if required. 

15.4     There is an entry window now, which will not be open for too much longer, so we may not be able to reap the full benefits of European Investment Bank rates or bonds in the future, and the company is much more viable than previously thought due to the commitment of other councils. 

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting for the remaining agenda item on the grounds that if the public and press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

16.1     RESOLVED to exclude the public and press from the meeting for the remaining agenda items on the grounds that if the public and press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). 

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

17.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

17.2     RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to negotiate and agree terms necessary to effect amendments to leases at:

1)     Gilda Crescent Centre, 32 Gilda Crescent, Polegate BN26 6AW

2)     508 Seaside (formerly known as St Anthony’s Court), Eastbourne BN23 6NU

3)     Warwick House, Warwick Road, Seaford BN25 1RG

Reasons

17.3     The reasons are set out in the report.