Agenda and draft minutes

56.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 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

57.1     There were none.

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

58.1     There were none.

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

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

60.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Declare Site 6, Eastbourne shown in Appendix 1 of the report (“the Site”) to be surplus to the requirements of the Council;

2) Approve the disposal of the Site in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972;

3) Approve that East Sussex County Council enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) whilst the ownership of the Site is held jointly and to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to agree the terms of it;

4) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to agree the terms of the sale, jointly with Eastbourne Borough Council, to achieve best value for the Site in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972, including proceeding with the next best offer(s) in the event of the transaction(s) not completing within the expected timelines; and

5) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report.

REASONS

60.3     East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has no ongoing operational use for the Site. It is therefore surplus to the Council’s requirements. The disposal of the Site will reduce revenue liabilities relating to the management and holding costs of this surplus asset, as well as providing the Council with a capital receipt.

60.4     A Memorandum of Understanding is to be agreed between both Councils, settling out the joint management strategy whilst the Site remains in joint ownership. Delegation of approval of the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding to the Chief Operating Officer will ensure that the Site can be efficiently managed.

60.5     Delegation to the Chief Operating Officer authority to agree the terms of the sale, jointly with EBC, to achieve the best consideration for the Site in accordance with s.123 of the Local Government Act 1972, including authority to proceed with the next best offer(s) in the event of the transaction(s) not completing within the expected timelines and to take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report will facilitate the effective disposal of the Site.

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 Schedule 12A to 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).

61.1     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 Schedule 12A 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

62.1     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

62.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the exempt information contained in this report in support of an earlier agenda item.

REASONS

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

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

63.2     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.