Decisions

Recommendations on the recipient organisation for the transfer of Seven Sisters Country Park, and feedback from the public notice. 

10.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item, and correspondence received following publication of the Agenda.  The Lead Member also took into account the comments of the Countryside Access Review Board of the Place Scrutiny Committee.

DECISIONS

10.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED 1) To approve the publication of Notices in relation to the following transfers: 

(a)  Ditchling Common Country Park to be leased to the Sussex Wildlife Trust for a peppercorn rent through a long lease with the S106 funds for the Ditchling Common Management Contribution (c £400k) also transferred;

(b)  The freehold of Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve to be transferred to Newhaven Town Council subject to the final terms being agreed for this and Riverside Park;

(c)  Riverside Park to be leased to Newhaven Town Council for a peppercorn rent and for the lease to be subject to appropriate restrictions in relation to the history of the site as a former landfill site. 

2) To award South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) preferred bidder status with a view to transferring the freehold of Seven Sisters Country Park subject to the completion of an agreement regarding the terms of the transfer.  To delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (CET) to agree the terms of any transfer and to publish notices in relation to the transfer. These terms will include (a) reference to the preliminary negotiation and offer from SDNPA submitted in December 2018 and (b) negotiation of a clawback clause such that the County Council would benefit from the proceeds from any future sale, transfer or development.

3) To delegate authority to the Director of CET to agree the terms of any transfer of East Sussex County Council land at Broomhill and Camber to Rother District Council and to publish notices in relation to the transfer.

4) To delegate authority to the Director of CET to agree the transfer, and the terms of any transfer, of management responsibility for:

(a) Chailey Common Local Nature Reserve to another party considered appropriate by the Director of CET; 

(b) Weir Wood Local Nature Reserve to another party considered appropriate by the Director of CET, and;

(c) Any changes to the terms of the Local Nature Reserve agreements (other than the names of the parties) be reserved to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment for decision.

5) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive to take any action he considers appropriate to give effect to or in consequence of, the above recommendations including determining the terms of, and entering into, any  further agreements necessary.

Reasons

10.3     The Countryside Access Strategy approved by Cabinet in June 2017 contained the recommendation that the County Council explore the transfer of its countryside sites to suitable external organisations that may be able to manage these in the future.

10.4     It is clear that doing nothing is not an option – if this were to happen, the County Council’s countryside management service would continue to incur a £50k cost per year and the countryside sites would not benefit from much needed investment. The evaluation, options analysis and preliminary negotiations have demonstrated that the proposed transfers can deliver all of the benefits of a transfer in line with the Countryside Access Strategy.

10.5     The transfer of interests of at least four and potentially up to seven of the eight countryside sites has been identified as feasible and is considered the best means of the achieving the objectives of the Countryside Access Strategy.

To provide an update on the future of the Partnership

6.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive.

DECISION

6.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) agree to the proposed direction of travel for the partnership as set out in the report;

(2) delegate authority to the Chief Executive to amend or enter in any agreements necessary to give effect to this; and

(3) approve the dissolution of the Joint Committee. 

Reasons

6.3       The enhanced collaborative arrangement will require an amendment to the Inter Authority Agreement.  As there is no longer an intention to integrate the services and each authority will retain its own service, the Joint Committee can be dissolved and the services are overseen by the arrangements within the sovereign bodies as previously.

To report the outcomes of the outcomes of the traffic signals and 20mph speed limit trial scheme carried out in September/October 2018, and to recommend next steps for traffic management in Alfriston High Street

7.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with correspondence submitted after publication of the agenda. 

7.2       The following people spoke on behalf of the following interested parties:

·         Cllr Stephen Rabagliati – Alfriston Parish Council

·         Mr Neil Parkinson – Conserve Alfriston

·         Dr June Goodfield – Safe Afriston for Everybody (SAFE)

DECISIONS

7.3       The Lead Member RESOLVED to: (1) consider the outcomes of the traffic signals and 20mph speed limit trial schemes;

(2)                    agree the recommendation not to take forward a permanent traffic signal scheme; and

(3)        agree the recommendation to consult on a package of village-wide traffic calming measures.

Reasons

7.4       Whilst the results of the traffic signal trial indicate there was a reduction in vehicles overrunning the footway in the High Street between Star Lane and Weavers Lane junction, this was to the detriment of other parts of the village where footway incursions and queueing traffic was observed. The findings of the proposed consultation will be reported back to Lead Member for Transport and Environment for further consideration as part of the decision making process.

To consider the results of the  local consultation on the proposed pedestrian and cycle crossing facility along Friday Street, Eastbourne and recommend how the scheme will be taken forward.

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

DECISIONS

8.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to: (1) note the comments of the local consultation; and

(2)        approve the proposal for the pedestrian crossing in Friday Street as set out in this report to be taken forward to construction as part of the 2019/20 Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements. 

Reasons

8.3       There are currently limited pedestrian crossing facilities on Friday Street. The County Council has previously received requests for a controlled pedestrian crossing to be introduced and these have been considered through the County Council’s scheme prioritisation process for assessing requests for local transport schemes. The requests scored sufficiently for a scheme to be included in the Capital Programme for local transport improvements. Subsequent survey and design work have identified the most appropriate location for a controlled pedestrian crossing to be introduced on Friday Street was between the junctions of Oak Tree Lane and Shinewater Lane. A local consultation exercise undertaken in February 2019 identified significant support for the scheme albeit with a number of objections

8.4       In light of the significant support for the scheme, it is therefore considered that these objections are outweighed by the road safety and accessibility improvements that the proposed crossing will bring to the local community.

4.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISION

4.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) agree to banning the release of balloons on Council owned and leased land and buildings; and

(2) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take any action they consider appropriate to give effect to or in consequence of (1) above.

Reasons

4.3       Several organisations, such as the Marine Conservation Society, RSPCA and the National Farmers Union support a ban.  In October 2014 the Council agreed to ban the release of sky lanterns on Council owned land, and has recently received a query from the RSPCA regarding balloons.  Lewes District Council, among others nationally, have introduced a ban on the release of balloons on their estates.

5.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISION

5.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) declare the property known as Isabel Blackman Centre, Hastings, surplus to the County Council’s operational requirements; and

(2) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to secure best value terms for a disposal, in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972.   

Reasons

5.3       The Property offers no future operational use and whilst vacant would continue to incur costs for security and maintenance.  The County Council is not in a position to lease the flat above the centre separately without incurring security of tenure and right to buy, and would require refurbishment.  The capital receipt will contribute to the funding for the Capital Programme.

7.1       The Lead Member considered an update on the progress of 2018/19 savings in relation to Adult Social Care and Health.

7.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Note the report;

2) commend staff for delivering the challenging scale of savings as planned and  showing great adaptability during a challenging time;

3) agree that no further update reports are necessary now that the savings have been delivered in full; and

4) note that People Scrutiny Committee may wish to consider if further monitoring is required.

Reason

The savings proposals agreed by Cabinet on 26th June 2018 are proceeding in line with the decisions made by Cabinet, to deliver the required savings from the Adult Social Care budget in full in 2019/20.

5.1       The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

5.2       It was RESOLVED to – note the report and the Ashdown Forest Trust Fund income and expenditure account for 2018/19 and Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2019

Reason

5.3       To note the financial accounts for the Ashdown Forest Trust for 2018/19

4.1       The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive.

4.2       It was RESOLVED to:

1)    note the end of year monitoring position for the Council and the significant progress made towards the Council’s four priority outcomes; and

2)    agree the transfer of £4.6m of the revenue budget underspend to the Capital Programme and to note the transfer of £3.4m of the revenue budget underspend to the Financial Management Reserve as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report

Reason

4.3       The report set out the Council’s position and year end provisional outturns for the Council Plan targets, revenue budget, capital programme, savings plan together with strategic risks for 2018/19  

8.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding a review of rural primary schools in East Sussex.

8.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to –

1)            agree that the local authority takes forward a statutory process to consult on the closure of Broad Oak Community Primary School by 31 August 2020;

2)            agree that the Local Authority  takes forward a statutory process to consult on the closure of Fletching CE Primary School by 31 August 2020; and

3)            agree that the consultations on the proposed changes would begin on 5 July 2019 and run until 11 October 2019

Reason

8.3             The Local Authority has a statutory duty, included as part of its Core Offer, to ensure there is the right number of school places in the right areas. It also has a duty to ensure that schools can offer a viable, high quality education to their pupils. An increasing number of small schools in East Sussex face uncertainty in terms of their ability to deliver a high quality education that meets the needs of their local community and that is financially viable. As the body responsible for school organisation the Local Authority has a duty to take a strategic view of the school landscape. The number of schools facing financial challenges, and coming to the Department and Orbis for support means that it cannot ignore the issues they

are facing. Taking action now to rationalise provision in a number of areas would provide the remaining schools with more certainty over their pupil numbers, enabling them to operate more effectively and efficiently in terms of financial performance and with less surplus places.

7.4       Taking action at Broad Oak and Fletching now will reduce the risk to the Local Authority of managing financial deficits and quality of education provision in these very small schools which impacts directly on children and their families. Doing nothing at this time is not an option – it would simply exacerbate the situation and place more small schools at risk of closure in the coming years as a greater number of schools would become unviable. There is a reputational risk to the Local Authority if appropriate action is not taken in a timely, controlled manner now which is then required at a future date.

7.5       The area review has been a thorough process, fully supported by the Diocese of Chichester, and has involved engagement and dialogue with a number of rural schools. The Children’s Services Department has listened carefully to what schools have told it throughout the process and, in some cases, this has resulted in changes to its proposals and in other cases confirmed its initial thinking. For some schools the review has generated opportunities which provide them with a potential solution to the challenges they face.

7.6       The proposals would ensure the Local Authority is able to fulfil its statutory obligations and ensure a sustainable network of rural schools in East Sussex that offer the highest quality of education