Agenda and minutes

24.1     The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2019 as a correct record.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

26.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport. 

26.2     The Lead Petitioner, Ms Julia Hilton, spoke about the petition, including references to a carbon reduction pathway and representatives on the Environment Board.  

DECISION

26.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners (1) that the majority of the actions requested by the petition are already being implemented/planned for by the County Council; and

(2) why the County Council has set a target for achieving carbon neutrality from its activities by 2050, but not 2030.

Reasons

26.4     The County Council did not set a target for 2030 because the Committee on Climate Change, which provides independent advice to government, concluded in May 2019 that a commitment to reaching net zero emissions earlier than 2050 is not credible.

26.5     The County Council is a partner on the East Sussex Environment Board, which has set a long term aim for the county to be carbon neutral by 2050 or earlier.  The Board includes the environmental regulators, the two universities, and representatives of land managers, farmers, local authorities and businesses. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

27.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISION

27.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) note the details of the iChoosr and Warmer Sussex energy schemes; and

(2)  agree that the County Council supports and promotes the iChoosr and Warmer Sussex schemes.

Reasons

27.3     The ‘Sussex Solar Together’ and ‘Warmer Sussex’ schemes are timely, in view of the County Council’s recent declaration of a Climate Change Emergency.  They provide a low and no-cost means for the County Council to support local residents to take practical action to cut their energy bills and carbon footprint, and build on our partnership work with other Local Authorities across Sussex to deliver measurable change. 

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISION

28.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to endorse the County Council’s revised Strategic Asset Plan for the period 2020-25 and approve its publication.

Reasons

28.3     The revised Strategic Asset Plan provides a refresh and a new set of actions to support operational activities and service improvement.  It remains a “live” document so will continue to be updated as targets and actions plans are met. 

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

29.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services, together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

29.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) enter into a  Deed of Variation of the existing 125 year school lease with Beacon Academy to incorporate the Children’s Centre building under the same terms as the rest of the site; and.

(2) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to conclude terms in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Reasons

29.3     Beacon Academy have agreed in principle to take on management of the building and to become the landlords to Tiddlers Nursery.  Tiddlers nursery remaining on site should be strong evidence to the Department for Education that the continued early years offer is reasonable.  This proposal has the potential of securing the continuation of the service whilst removing an ongoing duty on the County Council.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

30.1     The Lead Member considered a request to defer consideration of the report, in the light of correspondence received from Lewes District Council and Ringmer Parish Council. 

DECISIONS

30.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to defer consideration of the matter until the Lead Member meeting scheduled to be held on 3 March 2020.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

31.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services, together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

31.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) enter a Deed of Variation of the existing 125 year school lease with Rye Academy Aquinas Trust to incorporate the Children’s Centre building under the same terms as the rest of the site; and

(2) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to conclude terms in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972. 

Reasons

31.3     Aquinas Trust have expressed interest in taking on the management of the Children’s Centre building with a plan to augment their early years offer.  The proposal has the potential of securing the continuation of the service while removing an ongoing duty on the County Council.

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).

32.1     RESOLVED to exclude the public and press 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 Director of Children’s Services

33.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services.

DECISION

33.2     RESOLVED to note the information.

Reasons

33.3     The information supported earlier agenda items.