Agenda item

13.1     The Chair introduced the report which outlines future items for the Place Scrutiny Committee. The Committee discussed potential areas of interest for addition to the work programme.

13.2     The Committee discussed an approach to the scrutiny of the Queensway Gateway Road project, noting the challenges and delays to construction, and the need to learn lessons from the project to inform future major projects, including the planned construction of the new Exceat Bridge. The Committee noted the considerable public interest in the issue, but that the road had not yet opened and that scrutiny could not begin until after it had. The Committee agreed to discuss an approach to scrutinising the issue at its awayday in the afternoon.

13.3    Cllr Hilton made the following points in relation to Queensway Gateway Road:

·         in her view there had been no proper independent challenge or scrutiny of the whole decision making process, in particular the risk register/assessment and the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process which to her view should have been completed before any further funding was awarded, and asked what lessons there were for future oversight and scrutiny of major projects to ensure rigorous challenge of business cases at an early stage. She suggested that there appeared to have been no proper independent scrutiny of decisions throughout the whole project from 2015 onwards with South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) not providing any serious scrutiny, and asked how the Committee could ensure this for future projects, such as the Exeat Bridge replacement.

·         whether the Council had demonstrated sufficient duty of care not to be sued for negligence by local businesses who have suffered major financial losses from the ongoing delays

·         A shorter scrutiny review should take place, covering the process, timeline, project management, traffic management, communication and engagement plans since ESCC decided to complete the QGR itself and how a project timeline of 16 weeks turned into one covering 52 weeks and still counting.

13.4     The Committee discussed its approach to scrutinising major projects and commented that it should be able to have a role in scrutinising ongoing projects for assurance that they are progressing as planned and to understand challenges that emerge during them. The Committee agreed that scrutiny should not add unnecessary delay to what can be complex schemes and should therefore be considerate and proportionate in its approach to scrutinising major projects, and would not be able to make decisions regarding the project.

13.5     The Committee noted the upcoming contract award for the on-street electric vehicle (EV) charge point contract and requested a report to the next meeting on the approach to the rollout of on-street EV charging.

13.6     The Committee requested a briefing to be added to the work programme on the work undertaken by the trading standards team to combat illicit trading of cigarettes and vapes, including through the use of recently acquired powers.

13.7     The Committee discussed the inclusion of verge cutting policy in the future scoping of a footway maintenance review, noting concerns about the impact of grass cutting on pavements. It was noted that town and parish councils may have the option to fund additional cuts, although this is not possible in all areas such as Eastbourne and Hastings.

13.8     The Committee requested a progress report on the updated strategic highways policies and asset management plans adopted following the Lead Member for Transport and Environment meeting on 8 September 2025.

13.9     The Committee RESOLVED to:

1)         amend the work programme in line with paragraphs 13.2, 13.5, 13.6 and 13.8.

2)         confirm the membership of the street works scoping board.