Agenda and minutes

18.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2022.

19.1     Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health

20.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

Decisions

20.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1)        agree that the County Council should join the Keep it Local Network;

2)         agree to sign an endorsement, with the Chief Executive, to support the Council’s commitment;

3)         nominate himself as the Cabinet Keep it Local Champion;

4)         nominate the Director of Adult Social Care and Health as the senior officer management champion; and

5)         delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health to take all steps necessary to implement the recommendation.

Reason

20.3     Many of the six Keep it Local principles are already embedded within the Council’s core business, including our approach to commissioning and procurement and our whole systems approach to partnership working with the NHS and VCSE. The Keep it Local Network provides ESCC with the opportunity to publicly endorse the six principles, and continue towards creating collaborative public services, and invest in the local economy.

20.4     It will provide ESCC with a further opportunity to frame our approach to commissioning and procurement that takes account of existing conversations with our local partners, including fora such as the VCSE Partnership Plus meeting.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

21.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

Decision

21.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1)            approve the proposed lease terms of Cavendish House and Muriel Matters House, Hastings (the Properties), contained in the exempt report at a later agenda item (including the revised heads of terms for Muriel Matters House); and

2)            delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to approve the final lease negotiations and the signing and completion by the Council of the leases to the Properties and any related licences and other documents and take any other actions considered appropriate to give effect to the above recommendation, and to secure best value in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999.

Reason

21.3     As the landlord of Ocean House seeks to re-develop the site, alternative office accommodation needs to be found in Hastings. The proposed alternatives provide the required floor space, within current budgets, whilst reducing ESCC’s carbon footprint.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

22.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information contained in a later report on the agenda.

Decision

22.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1)            approve the disposal of part of the site known as the Ridgeway (“the site”) shown in Appendix 1 in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1992 and the Localism Act 2011;

2)            declare surplus part of the asset known as Ridgeway (“the property”) in Appendix 2;

3)            delegate authority to Chief Operating Officer to take all actions necessary to secure the disposal of the site, at best value in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Localism Act 2011; and

4)            to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to proceed with the next best offer in the event of the sale not completing within the expected timelines.

Reason

22.3     The disposal of the asset will reduce revenue liabilities relating to the management and holding costs of this surplus asset.

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).

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

24.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided exempt information in support of an earlier item on the agenda together with revised heads of terms for Muriel Matters House.

24.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the report.

Reason

24.3     The report contained exempt information in relation to an earlier item on the agenda.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

25.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided exempt information in support of an earlier item on the agenda.

25.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the report and approve disposal of the site to the preferred bidder.

Reason

25.3     The report contained exempt information in relation to an earlier item on the agenda.