Agenda and minutes

22.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 August 2025.

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 Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

26.2        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;

2) Approve that the site is to be marketed on the open market by an appointed marketing agent; and

3) Approve the exercise of the Landlord’s option to break the lease relating to the site at an appropriate time.

REASONS

26.3        The Council has considered the outcome of the responses from members of the public concerning the intention to dispose of the site, as summarised in the report. The feedback on the proposal to dispose of the site is balanced in terms of the numbers for and against.

26.4     In the absence of consent from the Secretary of State, the Council is obliged under s.123 of the Local Government Act 1972 to dispose of assets at the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained. In addition, the disposal of the land will support the likely provision of housing in the local area.

26.5     In order to dispose of the Site, it is necessary to exercise the Landlord’s option to break the existing lease relating to the site at a time that is considered to be appropriate.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

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

DECISIONS

27.2        The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Approve the award of a building contract to Willmott Dixon to construct new secondary school accommodation at Acre Wood Academy adjacent to the primary school accommodation; and

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

REASONS

27.3     The Acre Wood Academy capital project, Crowborough is an important part of the Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) place planning strategy. The new secondary school accommodation will deliver additional specialist provision to meet the needs of children with SEND requirements.

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).

28.1     It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press from the meeting 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 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).

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 relation to an earlier item on the agenda.

REASON

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