Agenda and minutes

22.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2023.

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 Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

26.2     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve the draft East Sussex Integration Plan set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

(2) Note it is proposed that, subject to Government Guidance, Team East Sussex will continue to operate after 31 March 2024 in an advisory capacity as the recognised business-led strategic economic growth board for East Sussex; and

(3) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to:

a) Take all required actions to implement the East Sussex Integration Plan;

b) Update the East Sussex Integration Plan as required following the release of further government guidance on the transfer of Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) functions to Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLAs);

c) Negotiate and agree terms of any required agreements with Essex County Council and / or central government to give effect to the transfer of LEP functions to East Sussex County Council; and

d) Take all other actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report.

REASONS

26.3     The government has made the decision to allocate non-statutory LEP responsibilities to UTLAs by 31 March 2024. The Council has a successful track record in developing, delivering and evaluating impactful economic growth initiatives in the county and a proven ability to convene partners and stakeholders to work together for the benefit of local businesses and residents. However, to ensure the smooth transfer of LEP functions within the required timescales, it is imperative the Council works with SELEP to plan the transition arrangements.

26.4     Delegation of authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to update the Integration Plan as required will ensure that the plan reflects any requirements set out in government guidance as well as the updated Assurance Framework which is anticipated to be published by government prior to the end of the financial year.

26.5     The LEP transition will give the Council the opportunity to build on the existing management and oversight of the capital programme, through which it has successfully met ongoing financial, legal and reporting requirements since SELEP was formed, whilst enabling a more localised oversight and decision-making process through the introduction and maintenance of additional governance and programme management functions. To achieve this, a number of legal agreements are anticipated to be required, both with Essex County Council and the Government.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

27.2     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the final 2022/23 spend for the Local Growth Fund programme and the amount of funds re-profiled into the East Sussex County Council Capital Programme;

(2) Note the final 2022/23 spend for the Getting Building Fund programme and the amount of funds re-profiled into the East Sussex County Council Capital Programme;

(3) Note the final 2022/23 spend for the Growing Places Fund programme and the amount of funds re-profiled into the East Sussex County Council Capital Programme;

(4) Agree the confirmed scheme spend profiles for the Local Growth Fund programme for the 2023/24 financial year;

(5) Note that no spend took place for the Getting Building Fund programme for the 2023/24 financial year; and

(6) Agree the confirmed scheme spend profiles for the Growing Places Fund programme for the 2023/24 financial year.

REASONS

27.3     Taking into consideration the ongoing challenges to the delivery of capital infrastructure programmes, East Sussex County Council have continued to be successful in securing over £127m of funding across the Local Growth Fund, Getting Building Fund and Growing Places Fund projects by the end of the 2022/23 financial year.