Agenda and minutes

24.1     The Leader and Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2016.

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.

25.1     Councillor Simmons declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 in that he is a Director of Sea Change Sussex.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

27.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with an amendment to Recommendation (3) to include a reference to Recommendation (2).

DECISIONS

27.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to: (1) approve grant funding, to the value of £16.6m to Sea Change Sussex, subject to planning permission being granted, to fund the delivery of the North Bexhill Access Road; 

(2) approve grant funding to the value of £1.7m to Sea Change Sussex, subject to approval of the business case by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Accountability Board, to fund the delivery of site infrastructure at the Sovereign Harbour, North Queensway and North Bexhill employment sites; and

(3) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve the terms of any agreements and to take all other necessary actions in respect of recommendations (1) and (2) above.

Reasons

27.3     The North Bexhill Access Road is one of the Local Growth Deal schemes to come forward in East Sussex and its delivery will help unlock employment space and create jobs in the A21/A259 Bexhill/Hastings Growth Corridor.  Equally the improvement of site infrastructure at Sovereign Harbour, North Queensway and North Bexhill as a Local Growth Scheme will help unlock employment space and create jobs in the A21/A259 and the A22/A27 Eastbourne/South Wealden growth corridors.

27.4     Sea Change Sussex is a key delivery partner for the County Council in achieving its ambitions for driving economic growth in the county. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

28.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) approve grant funding to the value of £1.4m to Westcott Leach Ltd to fund the delivery of the site infrastructure associated with the Swallow Business Park;

(2) agree to enter into a supplemental legal agreement to the grant agreement to ensure the delivery, at no cost to the County Council, of the first phase of speculative business space on Swallow Business Park by Westcott Leach Ltd; and 

(3) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve the terms of any agreements and to take all other necessary actions in respect of recommendation (1). 

Reasons

28.3     Swallow Business Park is one of the Local Growth Deal schemes to come forward in East Sussex and its delivery will help unlock employment space and create jobs in the A22/A27 Eastbourne/South Wealden corridor.

28.4     Westcott Leach Ltd are a well established SME with a focus and extensive experience in local property development in Sussex.  The award of funding will allow Westcott Leach Ltd to bring forward the enabling infrastructure to unlock the Swallow Business Park. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

29.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) approve grant funding of £1.5m to the Environment Agency to fund the delivery of the Newhaven Flood Alleviation Scheme; and

(2) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve the terms of any agreements and to take all other necessary actions in respect of recommendation (1).

Reasons

29.3     The Newhaven Flood Alleviation Scheme is one of the Local Growth Deal schemes to come forward in East Sussex and its delivery will help unlock new housing and employment space and create jobs across the Newhaven Clean Tech and Maritime Growth corridor.

29.4     The Environment Agency is a key delivery partner for the County Council in achieving its ambitions for driving economic growth in Newhaven.  The awarding of the £1.5m grant will enable the Environment Agency to deliver the package of flood alleviation measures, subject to the approval of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Accountability Board, bringing forward greater viability towards unlocking key strategic sites in Newhaven for commercial and housing opportunities.