Agenda and draft minutes

6.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 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.

7.1       There were none.

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

8.1       There were none.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

10.1     The Leader and Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

10.2     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the revised Local Growth funded Eastbourne and South Wealden Walking and Cycling Package comprising Eastbourne Cycle Parking Phase 2; Eastbourne town centre to seafront cycle route and Horsey cycle route phase 1b for progression to detailed design and construction in 2024/25 and 2025/26 through the County Council’s Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements.

REASONS

10.3     Since the County Council secured £6.6m of Local Growth Fund monies from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership towards the development and delivery of the Eastbourne and South Wealden Walking and Cycling Package in 2015/16, significant progress has been made in progressing each of the schemes towards delivering walking and cycling improvements, aimed at supporting economic growth across Eastbourne and South Wealden.

10.4     Due to significant increases in costs across the construction sector because of high inflation, the cost to deliver the remaining schemes in the initial Local Enterprise Partnership approved package exceeded the £1.929m remaining funding.

10.5     A comprehensive cost estimate, prioritisation and business case review exercises as well as engagement with key stakeholders, as set out in paragraphs 2.5 to 2.17 of the report, have been undertaken to identify a revised package which is affordable within the remaining Local Growth Fund monies and deliverable by the current Local Growth Fund spend deadline of March 2026.

Report by the Chief Executive

11.1     The Leader and Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Executive.

DECISIONS

11.2     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Note the invitation from Government to submit a devolution proposal; and

2) Approve the draft letter (Appendix 3 of the report) and Expression of Interest (Appendix 4 of the report) which respond to the invitation from Government.

REASONS

11.3     Government recently wrote to all upper tier authorities in England without devolution deals to invite them to consider a devolution proposal for their area, with the opportunity to submit an Expression of Interest by the end of September.

11.4     Whilst devolution has been progressed by previous Governments, new legislation will allow local areas to formally request additional powers, replacing the previous deal-based approach.

11.5     It is proposed that the County Council, with the support of the district and borough councils, submits an Expression of Interest for devolved powers based on the existing East Sussex geography.

11.6     Devolution provides opportunities to support medium and long term local economic growth through opportunities for funding and new powers in areas including transport, adult education, planning and economic development. However it is not anticipated that it would help to overcome the severe financial constraints faced by the County Council in the short term.