Agenda item

Paragraph 1 – Annual Progress report for Looked After Children’s Services.

48.1     Councillor Bowdler introduced the reserved paragraph in the Cabinet’s report.

48.2     The paragraph was noted after the debate.

Paragraph 2 – Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources.

48.3     Under Standing Order 23, the Council agreed that the speeches of the Leaders of the 5 Groups (or their nominees) on paragraph 2 of the Cabinet’s report be extended beyond 5 minutes, but not exceed 10 minutes.

48.4     In moving this paragraph of the Cabinet’s report, Councillor Bennett also moved an amendment to the Cabinet recommendations which was duly seconded (see minute number 48.6)

48.5     The County Council agreed that the vote on the Cabinet recommendation and the amendment (recommendation 12), moved by Councillor Bennett, should be taken together.

48.6     The following motion was moved by Councillor Bennett, to adopt paragraph 2 of the Cabinet report as amended:

              (1)     approve in principle the draft Council Plan 2024/25 at Appendix 2 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

       (2)     approve the net Revenue Budget estimate of £538.1m for 2024/25 set out in Appendix 3 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and Appendix 4 (Budget Summary)and authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Leader and Deputy Leader, to make adjustments to the presentation of the Budget Summary to reflect the final settlement and final budget decisions;

       (3)     in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to agree that:

(i)     the net budget requirement is £538.1m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 6) for the year 2024/25 is £371m;

(ii)    the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as the basic amount of council tax (i.e. for a band D property) for the year 2024/25 is £1,778.31 and represents a 4.99% (2% of which relates to the Adult Social Care precept) increase on the previous year;

(4)         advise the District and Borough Councils of the relevant amounts payable and council tax in other bands in line with the regulations and to issue precepts accordingly in accordance with an agreed schedule of instalments as set out at Appendix 6.

(5)   agree the Reserves Policy set out in Appendix 7;

(6)   approve the Capital Strategy and Programme at Appendix 9;

(7)         note progress with the Council Plan and Budget 2023/24 since quarter 2 set out in paragraphs 2.36 to 2.42;

(8)        note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for 2024/25 to 2026/27, set out in Appendix 3;

(9)         note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness, as set out in Appendix 7;

(10)      note the comments from engagement exercises set out in Appendix 8;

(11)     note the schedule of fees and charges that have increased above 4% at Appendix 10; and

(12)     agree to welcome the indication of the additional social care grant which would reduce our need to draw on reserves, and that, once the final amount has been confirmed and the Council’s end of year financial position ascertained, a report be brought to Cabinet to consider further investment in highway maintenance to support our initiative for visibly better roads.

48.7     A recorded vote was taken the motion moved by Councillor Bennett. The motion was CARRIED with the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE MOTION

Councillors Adeniji, Azad, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bowdler, Clark, Cross, di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Fox, Galley, Geary, Glazier, Hay, Hollidge, Howell, Kirby-Green, Liddiard, Lunn, Marlow-Eastwood, Maynard, Milligan, Pragnell, Redstone, Standley, and Taylor.

AGAINST THE MOTION: NONE

ABSTENTIONS Councillors Collier, Daniel, Denis, Field, Hilton, Holt, Lambert, Maples, Murphy, Robinson, Rodohan, Scott, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Tutt, Ungar and Wright.

Paragraph 4 - (Scrutiny Review of School Exclusions)

48.8     The Chairman reminded the Council that he was taking paragraph 4 of the

Cabinet report with the report of the People Scrutiny Committee

Paragraph 5 - (Scrutiny Review of Pothole Management)

48.9     The Chairman reminded the Council that he was taking paragraph 5 of the

Cabinet report with the report of the Place Scrutiny Committee