Agenda and draft minutes

43.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2026.

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.

44.1     There were none.

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

45.1     There were none.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

47.2     Councillor Becky Francomb, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to improve road safety measures around Chyngton Primary School spoke to highlight safety concerns for pedestrians crossing near the junctions with Hillside Avenue and Walmer Road, enquired about potential match funding which could be available to take forward a road safety scheme and emphasised the local support for a School Streets scheme, requesting that the County Council prioritises Chyngton Primary School along with other schools who meet the criteria and have previously expressed an interest in implementing a School Streets scheme.

DECISIONS

47.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise petitioners that:

(1) a potential scheme to install a new zebra crossing on Hillside Avenue, has been assessed through the approved Local Transport Plan 4 prioritisation process but has not met the benchmark score to be considered for detailed appraisal and possible inclusion for funding within the Capital Programme;

(2) a new School Street Scheme assessment framework is currently under review and once this is finalised, Chyngton Primary School will be assessed alongside all other schools for a School Street Scheme; and

(3) once an assessment for all schools has been completed through the approved School Streets Scheme assessment framework, officers will share the outcome for Chyngton Primary School with the Lead Petitioner and Local Member.

REASONS

47.4     The County Council has considered a petition calling on the Council for the installation of a zebra crossing on Hillside Avenue and the request has been assessed through the approved prioritisation process and has not met the necessary benchmark score to be considered for detailed appraisal and possible inclusion for funding within the Capital Programme.

47.5     The School Streets schemes assessment framework is still being tested and reviewed ahead of finalisation. Chyngton Primary School will be assessed against the new School Streets Scheme assessment framework when it has been finalised. The result of the assessment will be shared with the Lead Petitioner.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

48.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) approve the pre-publication version of the East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Local Nature Recovery Strategy as set out at Appendices 1 to 4 of the report;

(2) approve that the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is provided to neighbouring and supporting authorities, in accordance with Regulations 13 and 14 of The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations); and

(3) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to fulfil the requirements of Regulations 15 to 19, of The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023, to ensure that the final version of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is duly published.

REASONS

48.3     The production and implementation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies across the whole of England represents a key element of the Environment Act. The County Council has a statutory responsibility for producing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. Following extensive engagement and consultation through a wide range of stakeholders and the public, a pre-publication version of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy has now been prepared.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

49.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with written comments from Councillor Bennett, the Local Member for the Ripe and Chalvington Community Match scheme.

DECISIONS

49.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) agree that £60,000 of match funding is allocated towards the Ripe and Chalvington Community Match signing and lining scheme and traffic calming features for detailed design work and construction in 2026/27;

(2) agree that £15,000 of match funding is allocated towards the Wivelsfield Community Match signing and lining scheme for detailed design work and construction in 2025/26; and

(3) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve the 50% match funding contribution for the schemes in resolutions 1 and 2, up to a maximum contribution of £60,000 per scheme once the design and construction costs are known.

REASONS

49.3     The Community Match programme provided the opportunity for town or parish councils, local resident groups and organisations to secure match funding to enable local priority schemes to be delivered which otherwise would not come forward using County Council funding alone through the capital programme of local transport improvements.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

50.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) approve the proposed indicative allocation of Bus Grant revenue funding 2026/27 to 2028/29 set out in Table 5 of the report;

(2) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to implement and make future changes to the Bus Grant Allocations, including amending bus service provision as necessary in accordance with the available funds in the revenue budget and future ticketing opportunities noting that delegated fare revisions will have regard to the key decision process; and

(3) note that a separate proposal for remaining capital Bus Grant allocations will be presented to the Lead Member for approval at a decision-making meeting in March 2026 to meet the latest Department for Transport (DfT) requirements for consolidated local transport funding.

REASONS

50.3     The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding has delivered strong passenger growth putting East Sussex County Council as an authority in the top 10 in the last 2 years for passenger numbers (when comparing to pre-Covid passenger numbers).

50.4     East Sussex County Council has been awarded £16,561,590 revenue funding over 3 years by the Department for Transport. The proposed allocations as set out in the report build upon the strengths of the BSIP1 and BSIP2 delivery, which continue to deliver East Sussex County Council’s strategy and ambitions for bus services, with over 90% funding proposed to be allocated to bus service provision, in line with the funding available.