Agenda and draft minutes

22.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 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

23.1     There were none.

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

24.1     There were none.

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

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

26.2     Mr Peter Bailey, a local resident, spoke to highlight concerns regarding the potential future development of the site including flooding risks, biodiversity impacts and increased traffic flow and congestion.

DECISIONS

26.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Note the summary of the responses to the public notice of the Council’s intention to dispose of the site as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report;

2) Agree to the Council entering into a Promotion Agreement;

3) Approve the disposal of the site in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972; and

4) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to:

(a) agree the terms of any future sale to achieve best value for the site in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972; and

(b) take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

REASONS

26.4     The Council has considered the outcome of the responses from members of the public concerning the intention to dispose of the site. These are summarised in the report.

26.5     Entering into the Promotion Agreement provides the best opportunity to bring forward housing development sites locally, in accordance with the Local Plan. In addition to this, there will be an improvement upon the existing open space provision, with an area of at least 0.635ha in size to be designated for use as amenity land and/or open space and/or woodland and/or sustainable urban drainage as part of any development of the site.

26.6     Delegation of authority to the Chief Operating Officer to agree the terms of the Promotion Agreement and then to comply with and give effect to the provisions set out therein including but not limited to agreeing the terms of any future sale of the East Sussex County Council-owned site to achieve best value in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and to take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report will facilitate an effective and efficient process.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

27.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) approve the proposed new lease terms of St Mary’s House, Eastbourne; and

2) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to approve the final lease negotiations, the signing and completion by the Council of the new lease, the surrender of the existing lease and any related documentation and to take any other actions considered appropriate to give effect to the above decision.

REASONS

27.3     The Council is seeking to secure a longer lease term for St Mary’s House, Eastbourne, given that it is now the sole corporate office hub in Eastbourne following the closure of St Mark’s House.

27.4     Delegation of authority to the Chief Operating Officer to approve the final lease negotiations, the signing and completion by the Council of the new lease, the surrender of the existing lease and any related documentation and to take any other actions considered appropriate to give effect to the above decision will facilitate the timely completion of the lease documentation

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).

28.1     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

29.1     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

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

REASON

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

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

30.1     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

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

REASON

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