Decisions

The Integrated Lifestyle Service (ILS) contract commenced in August 2017 and, following an agreed extension, is due to end on 7th August 2023.

As part of Public Health’s review of its core offer in 2019 and associated prioritisation of resources, it was agreed that funding for the ILS should be reduced at the start of the new contract in August 2023.      Since this decision the COVID19 pandemic and revised financial profile for Public Health has required a strategic review of priorities and associated deployment of resources.

In order to undertake this review, we are seeking approval to extend the current contract for a period of eight months to April 2024 to enable us to engage with service users and explore and evaluate all of the costs and options for the delivery of this service in the future.

24.1   The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health regarding an extension of the current Integrated Lifestyle Service (ILS) contract.

DECISIONS

24.2  The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the Modification Request Form to extend the current ILS contract for a further eight months with the existing provider, at a value of £1,377,009.

Reasons

24.3   The rationale for extending the current ILS contract, and the reasons for extending it with the existing provider are clear and represent best value for East Sussex County Council.

Decision as to the scheme the Council will implement to distribute the extension of the Household Support Fund grant which was announced on 26 May 2022.

21.1   The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health regarding the Household Support Fund (Three)

DECISIONS

21.2  The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1. approve the proposed use of £2,216,783 of the Household Support Fund, to provide support to households with pensioners, households with a disabled person and other vulnerable households as set out in paragraph 2 of the report; and

2. delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health to take all action necessary to implement the scheme.

Reasons

21.3   Household Support Fund 3 provides a further opportunity to extend the support to households with children, households with pensioners, households with a disabled person and other vulnerable households within East Sussex who are experiencing financial challenges.

To approve the retender of the direct payments support services, that actively shape the market to support quality, choice, market resilience and enabling, person-centred care.

To approve the recommendation to delegate contract award to the Director of ASC&H.

22.1   The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health regarding Direct Payments Support Service (DPSS) Provision.

DECISIONS

22.2  The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1. approve a commissioning exercise for DPSS which will ensure the new service is in place by 1 April 2024; and

2. delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health to take all necessary actions to give effect to the implementation of the above recommendation.

Reasons

22.3   DPSS offer vital provision to support eligible individuals with their management of their Direct Payments and in turn to meet their care and support needs. As such, it is important that future DPSS promote personalised care and self-directed support and the commission will enable the development of the future model.

To approve the procurement of the online sexual health service for East Sussex residents.

23.1   The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health regarding the procurement of the online Sexual Health service.

DECISIONS

23.2  The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1 agree to proceed to procurement with a contract for online sexual health services which covers all divisions in East Sussex; and

2 agree to delegate authority to the Director of Public Health to take all necessary actions to give effect to the implementation of the procurement of the online sexual health service and to finalise the service specification.

Reasons

23.3   The proposed contract covers all divisions in East Sussex and it was agreed to proceed to procurement with a contract for online sexual health services.

3.1  The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding the Children’s Services Supported Accommodation Framework Call-Off Contract extensions.

3.2  The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve 9-month extensions for 2 Call-Off Contracts under the Children’s Services Supported Accommodation Framework as set out the report.

Reason

3.3  The nine-month extensions to Call-Off Contracts under the Supported Accommodation Framework will ensure continuity of provision and stability of placement for care leavers and young people in placement with them at the time the current Call-Off Contracts expire, without any increase in the price per placement, until new contracts can be awarded under a new Approved List (CSAAL).

4.1  The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding the Independent Fostering Agency Placement Recommissioning.

4.2  The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1. approve the re-commissioning of the provision of Independent Providers of Foster Care Services through a regional Approved List (which is a hybrid between a framework agreement and DPS agreement); and

2. delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Children’s Social Care to award providers a place on the Approved List, including all future provider applications that pass the minimum criteria.

Reason

4.3  It is necessary to re-tender these services as the current framework agreement for foster care placements will expire on 31 March 2023. In order to benefit from collaborative working with regional partners, and to build in sufficient time to carry out a fair and transparent procurement process, the process must commence as soon as possible.

Decision as to the scheme the Council will implement to distribute the extension of the Household Support Grant which was announced on 26 May 2022.

7.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding the Household Support Fund.

7.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1. approve the proposed use of £1,680,000 of the Household Support Fund, to provide support to households with children as set out in paragraph 2 of the report; and

2. delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to take all action necessary to implement the scheme

Reason

7.3       Household Support Fund 3 provides a further opportunity to extend the support to households with children, households with pensioners, households with a disabled person and other vulnerable households within East Sussex who are experiencing financial challenges.

To note the outcome of the Heathfield Leisure Centre public consultation which concludes on 8 August 2022. To agree next steps for the future operation of Heathfield Leisure Centre. The Council own the freehold of this asset.

33.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

33.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to

(1) Note the findings of the public consultation on the future community leisure provision at Heathfield Leisure Centre that took place between 28 June 2022 and 9 August 2022.

(2) Approve to cease provision of non-college community use of the leisure facilities at Heathfield Leisure Centre from 17 October 2022.

(3) Approve the Council working with the College to ensure a smooth transition to exclusive college curriculum use of the leisure facilities.

(4) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive to carry out all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

REASONS

33.3     In reaching a decision on the future of non-college community use of the leisure centre at Heathfield, the Lead Member carefully considered the consultation feedback; the equality implications set out in the Equality Impact Assessment as well as the wider financial implications.

33.4     The consultation responses provided a number of suggestions relating to changes to the operating model; however, none of these offered a financially sustainable model for continued non-college community use. Even with the proposed changes, significant financial resources would be required to maintain non-college community use of the Centre.

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Renewal of lease with East Sussex College of rooms in the Performing Arts Centre for 20 years and underletting some parts back to the College to facilitate use by the music services, also on a similar lease for 20 years.

32.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

32.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) approve the surrender of the existing head lease of parts of the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) between East Sussex College Group and East Sussex County Council (as Trustee of East Sussex Music Trust). 

2) approve East Sussex County Council (as Trustee of East Sussex Music Trust) to take a new 20-year lease of the same accommodation at the Performing Arts Centre from East Sussex College Group on similar terms to the existing lease.

3) approve the grant of an underlease for 20 years (less one day) from East Sussex County Council (as Trustee of East Sussex Music Trust) to East Sussex College.

4) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to determine the detailed terms of the head lease and underlease and take any other legal agreements considered appropriate to give effect to these decisions.

REASONS

32.3     The Council, as Trustee for the East Sussex Music Trust, to the lease arrangements set out in the report will enable East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to work with partner organisations to put in place the future arrangements for the PAC. These arrangements ensure continued delivery of the current service at no additional cost to ESCC.

Grant of 21 year lease to Forest Row Sports Ground Association to allow continuance of use of sports ground land for team games, tennis etc and to allow continued use of Memorial Pavilion building.

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

DECISIONS

31.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Review and consider the surveyor`s report (Appendix 1 of the report) made under section 119 of the Charities Act 2011 in relation to the proposed lease as trustee of the Ashdown Forest Trust (the Charity).

(2) Approve the granting of a 21-year lease to Forest Row Sports Ground Association for land forming part of Ashdown Forest on the basis that, having considered the Surveyors Report, the Council is satisfied that the terms of the proposed lease are the best that can reasonably be made for the Charity.

(3) Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to determine the detailed terms of the lease and take any other actions considered appropriate to give effect to the decision.

REASONS

31.3     The current occupancy agreements between The Forest Row Sports Ground Association (the Association), Forest Row Parish Council and the Conservators of Ashdown Forest which expire in January 2023 need to be revised. They currently prevent the Association from improving and investing in the facilities. The Conservators support the continued provision of sports facilities by the Association.

31.4     The lease will be at a peppercorn rental and subject to restrictions imposed by the Ashdown Forest Act and subject to the Association continuing to pursue charitable objectives. The Parish Council have agreed that there is no requirement for their continued involvement in the site and have no objection to the granting of a lease direct to the Association.

31.5     The Association is a registered charity; its objectives are the provision of facilities for recreation and leisure time for the benefit of inhabitants of Forest Row and surrounding areas.

31.6     The County Council, on behalf of the Trust, advertised in a local newspaper, the Sussex Express, seeking any comments on the proposed letting. The closing date was 8 August 2022 and no comments were received.

To approve the new Social Value Policy, which will embed the ESCC approach to social value into the culture of the council. It will help council officers to be clear of their roles and responsibilities in this regard.

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

DECISIONS

30.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve the East Sussex Social Value Policy.

(2) Authorise the Chief Operating Officer to make, if necessary, minor modification to the Policy after finalisation.

REASONS

30.3     A draft policy for social value was created to fulfil the need for a formalised and consistent approach to social value across all departments and services within ESCC.

30.4     The policy has been reviewed at the Place Scrutiny Committee, giving committee members the opportunity to comment and provide input to the document and to see how it relates to and supports the Council’s strategic objectives and Buying Local initiatives.

Approval to be a partner in a bid led by Kent County Council (KCC) for the Create Growth Programme (CGP), delivered by the Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Agreement to enter into partnership / grant agreement with lead authority KCC. Agreement to commission and procure services as described in the bid and delegated authority to the Director of CET for all the above.

12.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

12.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve the proposed Create Growth Programme bid (Appendix 1 of an exempt report detailed in a later agenda item); and

(2) Delegate responsibility to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport for ensuring that the County Council’s roles and responsibilities as a Consortium partner for the Create Growth programme are met.

REASONS

12.3     The programme meets the East Sussex Cultural Strategy priorities, East Sussex Growth Strategy and East Sussex County Council strategic priorities.

12.4     The programme will support local pre-scale up Creative businesses to grow, increase employment opportunities for residents, make available a proportion of the £7m additional funding to our creative businesses and start to build a South East investment community with an appetite to invest in creative businesses to the benefit of East Sussex businesses and residents.