Agenda and draft minutes

22.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2025.

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     Councillor Daniel declared an interest in items 4, 5 and 6 as a member of the County Council’s Planning Committee and noted that his views on these items demonstrate a predisposition but not a predetermination having regard to the possibility that the proposals under each of these items may be considered by the Planning Committee at a future date.

23.2     Councillor Hilton declared a personal interest in item 4 as the Shaping Places and Local Government Reorganisation cabinet portfolio holder at Hastings Borough Council which includes assets within the portfolio. She did not consider this to be prejudicial.

23.3     Councillor Maples declared a personal interest in item 5 as the Neighbourhood Wellbeing cabinet portfolio holder at Lewes District Council which includes recycling and waste within the portfolio. She did not consider this to be prejudicial.

23.4     Councillor Maples declared a personal interest in item 5 as the deputy chair of the LGA Fire and Rescue Authority Committee. She did not consider this to be prejudicial.

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

DECISIONS

26.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) approve the proposal to move Hastings Register Office (“the Service”) to Hastings Library, subject to planning permission, to facilitate service delivery improvements and deliver revenue savings of £100K. The savings that would be delivered through the relocation of the Service would contribute to the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) savings in 2026/2027 and 2027/2028;

(2) note that the Service would refocus the current Council ceremony venues offer to meet customer demands and continue to provide a ceremony room at Hastings Library. In addition, the Register Office would continue to support the local economy through the licensing of approved marriage premises in Hastings; and

(3) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve the detailed scheme of works for the proposal.

REASONS

26.3     This proposal offers value for money and will deliver an improved and enhanced library and Registration Office. The proposal can be delivered within the existing budget, due to forecast additional ceremony and citizenship income for this financial year and will achieve on-going revenue saving. The proposals will make the best use of library buildings.

26.4     The proposal allows the Service to refocus the current Council ceremony venues offer to meet customer demands and establish a ceremony room at Hastings Library. In addition, the Service will continue to support the local economy through the current 34 approved marriage premises in Hastings.

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.

DECISIONS

27.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) note the previous development work that has been undertaken in relation to Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project;

(2) note that Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) will be advertised prior to construction in relation to cycle access to Hastings Town Centre and speed limitation on Havelock Road and Harold Place;

(3) note that Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) will be advertised post construction in relation to vehicular access and timings on Havelock Road, Harold Place and Wellington Place, Hastings; and

(4) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, to take any actions necessary to progress the scheme to the construction phase including but not limited to the award of any construction contract required.

REASONS

27.3     Since November 2023, the County Council, as the project deliverer for the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project, has been moving forward with the development and detailed design phases of the delivery programme.

27.4     Based on continued stakeholder engagement and feedback received and to ensure the County Council meet its statutory duties for consultation on Traffic Orders, Traffic Regulation Orders will be advertised for the project from November 2025 in relation to cycle access to Hastings Town Centre and speed limitation on Havelock Road and Harold Place, along with Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders being advertised on completion of construction in relation to vehicular access on Havelock Road, Harold Place and Wellington Place, Hastings to seek a view on the proposed timings and access restrictions.

27.5     Delegation of authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, to take any actions necessary to progress the scheme to the construction phase including but not limited to the award of any construction contract required will allow for delivery timescales for the project to be met.

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 together with exempt information in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

28.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) note the heightened increasing risk of fires at the Council’s household waste transfer stations and the proposal to install fire suppression systems;

(2) subject to approval by Council to the variation of the Capital Programme to include this proposal, agree a 50% contribution towards the installation of fire suppression systems at Maresfield and Pebsham waste transfer stations; and

(3) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to finalise the written agreement relating to fire suppression systems between the Councils and Veolia.

REASONS

28.3     The proposal to install fire suppression systems is supported by the East Sussex Fire Service, the Environment Agency and insurers, and is considered industry good practice. It will help mitigate the risk of a major business continuity event impacting waste collection services across the county and increase the resilience of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) waste management facilities through the current waste PFI contract and beyond.

28.4     There is an ongoing risk of a qualifying change in the law and tipping away claims against the County Council, should there be a major fire at one of the transfer stations. This proactive approach will align mitigations consistently across sites and stabilise the ongoing risk.

28.5     Veolia has agreed to a contribution towards infrastructure which could otherwise be an ESCC cost. This provides ESCC with reduced financial liability and supports wider commercial contract arrangements.

28.6     The Council’s waste team will continue efforts to support residents in safe recycling; however, the increasing risk of fires is likely to remain as demand for electronic products grows. The Council must therefore protect its assets and service operations effectively to mitigate both service and financial risks.

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 paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to 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) and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

29.1     It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press from the meeting 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 paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to 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) and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

30.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport which provided exempt information in support of an earlier item on the agenda.

DECISIONS

30.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the exempt information which supports an earlier agenda item.

REASONS

30.3     The report contained exempt information in relation to an earlier item on the agenda.