Agenda and minutes

1.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 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.

2.1       There were none.

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

3.1       There were none.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

5.2       Councillor Amanda Jobson, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to make 20mph a default on residential streets in Hastings and St Leonards spoke to highlight safety concerns in hot-spot residential areas in Hastings and St Leonards and the benefits of a lower speed limit in those areas.

DECISIONS

5.3       The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise petitioners that:

1) East Sussex County Council each year introduces a range of road safety improvements, which can include 20mph schemes, traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, through the multi-faceted approach as set out in the report;

2) The Council is committed to working with all stakeholders to improve road safety across East Sussex, including partners from the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership;

3) The Council has a finite amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and needs to ensure that resources are targeted to those schemes which will be of greatest benefit to local communities. A potential scheme to introduce a default 20mph speed limit for residential roads across Hastings and St Leonards has been assessed through the approved scheme prioritisation process and is not a priority for the Council at the present time;

4) A potential scheme to introduce a default 20mph speed limit for residential roads across Hastings and St Leonards would not comply with the revised national guidance on setting local speed limits as it would be a blanket measure; and

5) The East Sussex County Council Speed Management Programme has assessed the potential for lower speed limits across all A and B class roads within the county and will now identify a programme of improvements, which will include reductions in speed limits or measures that will increase the effectiveness of existing speed limits.

REASONS

5.4       East Sussex County Council is committed to working with all stakeholders to improve road safety across East Sussex, and each year introduces a range of road safety improvements, which can include 20mph schemes, traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, through the multi-faceted approach as set out in the report.

5.5       The Council has a finite amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and needs to ensure that resources are targeted to those schemes which will be of greatest benefit to local communities.

5.6       A potential scheme to introduce a default 20mph speed limit for residential roads across Hastings and St Leonards would not comply with the revised national guidance on setting local speed limits as it would be a blanket measure.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

6.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Approve that East Sussex County Council charges fees for Registration services in line with legislation Regulation 5(1) of The Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Fees and Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2024; and

2) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve any future changes in fees payable for Registration services in line with legislation.

REASONS

6.3       The cost to East Sussex County Council of providing Registration services increases each year and many of the current statutory fees are now significantly out of line with the cost of providing these services.

6.4       For fairness and transparency reasons, customers who have already pre-paid for services, such as Certificates, Statutory Marriage/Civil Partnerships, and Notice appointments for their upcoming Marriage/Civil Partnerships, will not be asked to pay the difference in fees; so only new customer bookings and orders will be levied at the new statutory fee rates.

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.

DECISIONS

7.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to adopt the High Weald Management Plan 2024 – 2029, as approved by the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee.

REASONS

7.3       Adoption of the latest review of the High Weald Management Plan 2024-29, will enable the County Council to meet its statutory duty to ensure the preparation and publication of a Management Plan for those parts of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that lie within the administrative boundary.