Agenda and draft minutes

12.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2024.

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

13.1     Councillor di Cara declared a personal interest in item 4 as her husband is one of the trustees for the West Hill and District Community Association. She did not consider this to be prejudicial.

13.2     Councillor Redstone declared a personal interest in item 5 as the vice chair of governors and member of the finance committee for two schools. He did not consider this to be prejudicial.

13.3     Councillor Bennett declared an interest in item 10 as a Council appointed director of Sea Change Sussex and left the room for this item. The Leader delegated the decision at item 10 to Councillor Standley to take on behalf of the Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

14.1     There were none.

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

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

16.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Agree to grant a new 25-year lease to West Hill and District Community Association, in relation to West Hill Community Centre, Hastings; and

2) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take all actions considered appropriate to give effect to the above decision including, but not limited to, agreeing the final terms of the lease.

REASONS

16.3     Granting a new 25-year lease to West Hill District Community Association will facilitate West Hill District Community Association’s plans to further invest in the site and continue to provide a community space for the benefit of the residents in the West Hill area.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

17.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Approve East Sussex County Council continuing to purchase electricity and gas via the Crown Commercial Services Energy Framework following an energy market review;

2) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take all actions considered appropriate to give effect to the above decision including, but not limited to, agreeing the contract for purchase of electricity and gas; and

3) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to undertake a further review within 24 months to ensure the Council is securing value for money.

REASONS

17.3     The Council needs to provide value for money and a secure supply of gas and electricity for its assets and properties, including schools. On its own, the Council does not have the appropriate demand and leverage to gain an optimum price and value for this supply independently. It will benefit from continuing to purchase with Crown Commercial Services, who undertake aggregated buying of approximately £51 billion of public sector energy to achieve this.

17.4     Due to the nature of the energy markets, to obtain best value, the Council procures energy in advance via an energy strategy. The supply of gas and electricity are subject to wider geo-political factors as seen with the energy crisis in 2022.

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).

18.1     It was 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 Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

19.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the exempt information in the report which relates to an earlier item on the agenda.

REASON

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

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

20.2     The Lead Member RESOVLED to note the exempt information provided in support of an earlier agenda item.

REASONS

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

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

21.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

21.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the recommendations in the report, for the reasons set out in the report. The decision and reasons are set out in an exempt minute.