Agenda and minutes

4.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2019. 

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.

5.1       Councillor Alan Shuttleworth declared a personal interest in Item 6, as the holder of a parking permit, but he did not consider this to be prejudicial.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

7.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with correspondence submitted after publication of the agenda. 

7.2       The following people spoke on behalf of the following interested parties:

·         Cllr Stephen Rabagliati – Alfriston Parish Council

·         Mr Neil Parkinson – Conserve Alfriston

·         Dr June Goodfield – Safe Afriston for Everybody (SAFE)

DECISIONS

7.3       The Lead Member RESOLVED to: (1) consider the outcomes of the traffic signals and 20mph speed limit trial schemes;

(2)                    agree the recommendation not to take forward a permanent traffic signal scheme; and

(3)        agree the recommendation to consult on a package of village-wide traffic calming measures.

Reasons

7.4       Whilst the results of the traffic signal trial indicate there was a reduction in vehicles overrunning the footway in the High Street between Star Lane and Weavers Lane junction, this was to the detriment of other parts of the village where footway incursions and queueing traffic was observed. The findings of the proposed consultation will be reported back to Lead Member for Transport and Environment for further consideration as part of the decision making process.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

8.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to: (1) note the comments of the local consultation; and

(2)        approve the proposal for the pedestrian crossing in Friday Street as set out in this report to be taken forward to construction as part of the 2019/20 Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements. 

Reasons

8.3       There are currently limited pedestrian crossing facilities on Friday Street. The County Council has previously received requests for a controlled pedestrian crossing to be introduced and these have been considered through the County Council’s scheme prioritisation process for assessing requests for local transport schemes. The requests scored sufficiently for a scheme to be included in the Capital Programme for local transport improvements. Subsequent survey and design work have identified the most appropriate location for a controlled pedestrian crossing to be introduced on Friday Street was between the junctions of Oak Tree Lane and Shinewater Lane. A local consultation exercise undertaken in February 2019 identified significant support for the scheme albeit with a number of objections

8.4       In light of the significant support for the scheme, it is therefore considered that these objections are outweighed by the road safety and accessibility improvements that the proposed crossing will bring to the local community.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

9.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to: 1) note the proposals on increasing parking pay & display charges and the proposed changes to permit charges; and

2) approve that a six week consultation should be undertaken on the proposals outlined in this report.

Reasons

9.3       Each of the three Controlled Parking Areas were set up some years apart and with varying types of parking provision to satisfy the particular needs of the local community. There are similarities between the three areas, however, there are different levels of charging in each area and the difference is particularly noticeable in the different charges for permits.

9.4       The effective control of parking is a crucial element of wider transport strategies as set out in the Local Transport Plan (LTP). It supports the local economy by assisting with the management of congestion and the availability and demand for parking spaces as well as encouraging greater use of more sustainable forms of transport.

9.5       The consultation will seek to understand people’s views on the Council’s proposed approach to the management of parking demand across the county through the increase in on-street pay & display parking tariffs and parking permit charges. The consultation will also look to better understand whether these proposed changes will encourage drivers to use sustainable forms of transport and/or to use vehicles that emit lower levels of pollutants.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

10.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item, and correspondence received following publication of the Agenda.  The Lead Member also took into account the comments of the Countryside Access Review Board of the Place Scrutiny Committee.

DECISIONS

10.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED 1) To approve the publication of Notices in relation to the following transfers: 

(a)  Ditchling Common Country Park to be leased to the Sussex Wildlife Trust for a peppercorn rent through a long lease with the S106 funds for the Ditchling Common Management Contribution (c £400k) also transferred;

(b)  The freehold of Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve to be transferred to Newhaven Town Council subject to the final terms being agreed for this and Riverside Park;

(c)  Riverside Park to be leased to Newhaven Town Council for a peppercorn rent and for the lease to be subject to appropriate restrictions in relation to the history of the site as a former landfill site. 

2) To award South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) preferred bidder status with a view to transferring the freehold of Seven Sisters Country Park subject to the completion of an agreement regarding the terms of the transfer.  To delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (CET) to agree the terms of any transfer and to publish notices in relation to the transfer. These terms will include (a) reference to the preliminary negotiation and offer from SDNPA submitted in December 2018 and (b) negotiation of a clawback clause such that the County Council would benefit from the proceeds from any future sale, transfer or development.

3) To delegate authority to the Director of CET to agree the terms of any transfer of East Sussex County Council land at Broomhill and Camber to Rother District Council and to publish notices in relation to the transfer.

4) To delegate authority to the Director of CET to agree the transfer, and the terms of any transfer, of management responsibility for:

(a) Chailey Common Local Nature Reserve to another party considered appropriate by the Director of CET; 

(b) Weir Wood Local Nature Reserve to another party considered appropriate by the Director of CET, and;

(c) Any changes to the terms of the Local Nature Reserve agreements (other than the names of the parties) be reserved to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment for decision.

5) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive to take any action he considers appropriate to give effect to or in consequence of, the above recommendations including determining the terms of, and entering into, any  further agreements necessary.

Reasons

10.3     The Countryside Access Strategy approved by Cabinet in June 2017 contained the recommendation that the County Council explore the transfer of its countryside sites to suitable external organisations that may be able to manage these in the future.

10.4     It is clear that doing nothing is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

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 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).

11.1     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 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 Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

12.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the report. 

Reasons

12.3     The information supports an earlier agenda item