Agenda and minutes

36.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 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.

37.1     Councillor Stephen Shing declared a personal interest in item 6 as someone who is personally acquainted with the applicants Messrs Peter and Robert Vine and as a serving councillor and school governor at the same time as the applicants. He did not consider this to be prejudicial.

37.2     Councillor Peter Pragnell declared a personal interest in item 7 as a Member of Hastings Borough Council. He 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.

38.1     There were none.

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

40.2     Mr David Davies, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to consider a safe crossing to Hartfield Square on the Avenue, Eastbourne spoke to highlight the number of vulnerable people who use the current traffic island to cross the Avenue to Hartfield Square and safety concerns relating to pedestrians using the current traffic island including the size of the island, visibility when dark and speed of traffic at this location.

DECISIONS

40.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that a potential scheme to implement pedestrian crossing facilities to Hartfield Square on The Avenue has been assessed through the approved High Level Sift process and has met the necessary criteria to be taken forward to detailed appraisal.

REASONS

40.4     A scheme to improve pedestrian crossing facilities to Hartfield Square on The Avenue has met the necessary benchmark score to be considered for detailed appraisal and for possible inclusion within the Capital Programme.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

41.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the comments of the public consultation; and

(2) Approve the proposal for the traffic management improvements as set out in the report to be taken forward to detailed design and construction as part of the Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements.

REASONS

41.3     The proposed package of traffic management improvements for Alfriston village are designed to provide greater comfort and safety for those walking and cycling in the village, and to encourage drivers and riders to respect the historic environment through which they are travelling.

41.4     The proposed build-outs at either end of the village will serve as speed-reducing features and support the proposed 20mph speed limit; address congestion by giving priority to vehicles exiting the village; as well as provide a gateway on the entry points into the village.

41.5     The proposed improvements to HGV route signing will help address inappropriate use of the C39 by lorries.

41.6     Following the stakeholder consultation in autumn 2022 and public consultation in early 2023, there is a significant level of support locally for the proposed traffic management measures in Alfriston village, with only limited concerns highlighted around congestion and journey times which are outweighed by the benefits that the scheme will provide.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

42.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Tranpsort.

DECISIONS

42.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Agree to East Sussex County Council becoming a joint applicant in the application already submitted by Messrs Peter and Robert Vine to the Secretary of State under Section 16 of the Commons Registration Act 2006 for the de-registration and replacement of a section of Common Land 57 (CL57) and Common Land 96 (CL96), known as Foulride Green, Lower Willingdon Eastbourne, to provide access to and egress from a proposed mixed-use development of land from the A2270 Eastbourne Road at Mornings Mill Farm (granted outline planning approval under WD/2021/0174/MEA); and

(2) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to take all necessary steps in connection with the application, including but not limited to, signing the application form, providing evidence in support of the application and any further requirements of the Secretary of State.

REASONS

42.3     Planning permission was granted for the proposed development in September 2022. The release of the sections of CL57 and CL96 is necessary to provide access to and egress from a proposed mixed-use development of land from the A2270 Eastbourne Road at Mornings Mill Farm.

42.4     The de-registered sections of Common Land will be replaced with a larger area of Common Land with greater amenity value.

42.5     Due to the existence of a Public Footpath East Sussex County Council is required by the Planning Inspectorate to be a ‘joint-applicant.’ However, the public footpath rights are unaffected by the proposal.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

DECISIONS

43.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve East Sussex County Council, as the scheme delivery partner, entering into a grant funding agreement with Hastings Borough Council in relation to the £9,754,458 of Town Fund allocated for the delivery of the Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project: and

(2) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Chief Executive, to negotiate and agree the terms of the grant funding agreement between Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council.

REASONS

43.3     In 2019 Hastings Borough Council successfully secured £24.4m from the Government’s Towns Fund programme towards driving the economic regeneration of Hastings to deliver long term economic and productivity growth, through investment in urban regeneration, infrastructure, and connectivity.

43.4     The Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections project builds on the character of Hastings and will deliver a high-quality public realm improvement that will support revival of its centre whilst also bringing nature into the town and promoting active travel.

43.5     The County Council, acting as the scheme delivery body, will enter into a grant funding agreement with Hastings Borough Council to defray the funding allocation to the County Council, progress the consultation, detailed design and construction by the end of the Towns Fund period on 31 March 2026.

43.6     A grant funding agreement will also reiterate precisely what the body is being asked to do and provide reasons for proposed course of action.