Decisions

The Department for Education has ringfenced an allocation of £2,523,000 for ESCC to deliver the new Multiply Programme to improve the numeracy skills of adult residents. A decision from the Lead Member is sought to approve the proposals for spend laid out in the Council’s proposed Investment Plan, and to delegate responsibility for spend to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

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

DECISIONS

5.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve the proposed County Council Investment Plan bid (Appendix 1 of the report) for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Multiply programme which was submitted by the deadline of 30 June 2022; and

(2) Delegate responsibility to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport for overseeing the Multiply programme in line with the Investment Plan (Appendix 1 of the report) and financial spend proposal (Appendix 1 of an exempt report detailed in a later agenda item) as necessary to ensure the County Council’s roles and responsibilities as local lead Authority for the UKSPF Multiply programme are met.

REASONS

5.3       The County Council has undertaken work to develop its Multiply Investment Plan to outline how it will deliver interventions to improve the numeracy of the county’s adult residents.

5.4       Approval and endorsement of the submission of the Multiply Investment Plan which includes the proposed management framework for the project (paragraph 2.7 of the report) and delegation of responsibility for programme oversight to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport will ensure the County Council’s roles and responsibilities as local Lead Authority for UKSPF Multiply are met.

14.1     It was agreed that item 7 should be reported to the County Council.

[Note: the item being reported to the County Council refers to minute 13]

We require the EP Plan and Scheme (EP P&S) to be approved in principle prior to proceeding to the next stage of statutory consultation to allow the ‘making’ of the EP P&S. The EP plan is a high-level vision and objectives and closely follows or replicates relevant sections of the BSIP. The EP schemes set out the detail of how the BSIP vision and objectives will be achieved, including any commitments made by the local authority or by bus operators.

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

DECISIONS

20.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve the high level apportionment of the Government’s indicative Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) allocation as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

(2) Approve the draft Enhanced Partnership (EP) Plan and Schemes to allow the County Council to proceed in to the statutory process to ‘make’ the EP Plan and Scheme as detailed in Appendix 2 and 3 of the report;

(3) Approve that the underspend from the Transport Hub budget can be used to fund the early implementation of some of the BSIP fare reduction proposals and to delegate to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport the authority to finalise these proposals; and

(4) Agree to delegate to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport the authority to finalise the apportionment and amendments to the Draft EP Plan and Scheme following further technical work and from feedback from the Department for Transport.

REASONS

20.3     East Sussex County Council’s mission as a local transport authority is to ensure that East Sussex residents and visitors enjoy the highest possible quality bus services that provide a frequent and comprehensive choice, reduce congestion, and make a positive contribution to better air quality and decarbonisation.  This mission is supported by the authority’s bus operators who will play a key role in its delivery.

20.4     The East Sussex BSIP is a highly ambitious plan that seeks to stimulate and drive significant improvements to bus services across the local authority area and the wider region.  The proposed apportionment of East Sussex’s indicative allocation intends to deliver as much of the ambitious proposals as possible, provide value for money and:

•     Recover bus usage from the Covid-19 pandemic, taking account of consequential changes in travel patterns

•     Increase bus usage significantly in the next few years and to eventually deliver a transformational change in bus usage.

•     Deliver a step change in bus provision to both current and new bus users.

20.5     The implementation of the BSIP fare reduction proposals will have greatest impact if introduced in the busier summer months. Use of the existing underspend from the Transport Hub budget will fund the early implementation of the BSIP fare reduction proposals for Young Persons and General fare reductions.  As well as providing benefits to users, this will assist East Sussex’s bus operators in maintaining a high quality bus network in East Sussex.  The early implementation of the fare reduction scheme will also be viewed in a very positive manner by both operators and the DfT and is likely to stimulate passenger recovery post pandemic.  It is estimated that the current projected underspend of £515k would be sufficient to fund these fare reductions until East Sussex County Council receive grant funding from DfT in the Autumn.

To consider responses to the stakeholder and public consultation exercises on the proposed relocation of the zebra crossing on Sea Road in Bexhill and seek approval to progress the scheme to detailed design and construction.

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

DECISIONS

19.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

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

(2) Approve the proposal for the relocation of the pedestrian crossing in Sea Road, Bexhill as set out in this report with the scheme to be taken forward to detailed design and construction as part of the 2022/23 Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements.

REASONS

19.3     The results from both the stakeholder and public consultation show that there is overall support for the repositioning of the existing Sea Road zebra crossing situated just south of Endwell Road to further south, halfway between Endwell Road and Jameson Road. 

19.4     The loss of any on street parking, as a result of the relocation of the zebra crossing would be subject to the advertisement of a change to the existing Traffic Regulation Order and any unresolved objections would need to be reported and considered by the County Council’s Planning Committee. The repositioned crossing would also be constructed to enable its future conversion to a parallel zebra crossing which will incorporate a running lane for cyclists, to be used in parallel with the zebra crossing as part of proposals being developed for a cycle route between Bexhill station and the existing NCN2 route as well as the Ravenside Retail and Leisure Park.

Lead Member will be asked to give permission to the Ashdown Forest to charge for parking in the Millbrook Car Park. The reason this decision is needed is due to the fact the land is ESCC owned.

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

DECISIONS

18.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to: agree the introduction of parking charges on East Sussex County Council land at Millbrook Hill, Ashdown Forest.

REASONS

18.3     The Board of Conservators explored the potential for introducing parking charges and have deemed that these charges are necessary for the long-term preservation, use and enjoyment of the Ashdown Forest as an amenity space for the public.

18.4     The introduction of parking charges at the Millbrook Car Parks will provide a consistent approach to managing parking across the Ashdown Forest. The ESCC share of revenue generated by the tariffs will contribute towards to maintenance of the Millbrook car parks.

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

17.2     Councillor Kathryn Field as the Local Member and Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council requesting a 40mph speed limit extension on the A2100 London Road, Battle, spoke to highlight safety concerns along the stretch of road from the new Lillybank development to Canadia Road.

DECISIONS

17.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to: advise the petitioners that an extension of the 40mph speed limit on the A2100 London Road beyond that agreed for the Lillybank development is not a priority for investigation by the County Council at the present time.

REASONS

17.4     An extension of the 40mph speed limit on the A2100 London Road beyond that which has been agreed for the Lillybank development is not a priority for further investigation by the County Council at the present time due to its lack of visible frontage development and good safety record.

9.1       An apology was received from Councillor Simmons.

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

11.2     It was RESOLVED to:  

            1)         agree the East Sussex County Council’s first Modern Slavery Statement;

2)         authorise the Chief Operating Officer to make, if necessary, minor modifications to the Statement Prior to publication.

Reason:

11.3     Surrey County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council have agreed that the responsibility for implementing approaches to responding to modern slavery in their operations and supply chains will rest with Orbis Procurement - a shared partnership service between the three authorities.

11.4     As this is the Council’s first statement, it demonstrates how we have started responding to modern slavery risks in our operations and supply chains and some of our planned actions. Statutory guidance acknowledges that “Organisations will need to build on what they are doing year on year. Their first statements may show how they are starting to act on the issue and their planned actions to investigate or collaborate with others to effect change.”

11.5     While the Council’s first statement has touched on some of its planned actions, statements are primarily retrospective, focusing on the actions that have already been taken in the last financial year to tackle modern slavery in its organisation and supply chains.  It is not a policy or a strategy document, but rather an annual reporting mechanism.  

11.6     The aim is to have the statement signed and published by 30 September 2022 as required by Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. 

To approve the draft Conservators of Ashdown Forest budget for the financial year 2021/22 and to consider the contribution from the Trust Fund.

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

13.2     It was RESOLVED to:

            1.         note the 2021/22 Outturn for the Conservators’ Core and Countryside                    Stewardship budgets.

2.         approve the contribution of £19,546 to fund the deficit on the Conservators’ Core budget for 2021/22.

Reason

13.3     To note the final accounts for the Ashdown Forest Trust for 2021/22 and a financial contribution from COVID 19 grant funding was agreed to offset the 2021/22 Core budget outturn deficit.

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

12.2    It was RESOLVED to note the internal audit service’s opinion on the Council’s control environment.

Reason

12.3    The report gives an opinion on the adequacy of East Sussex County Council’s control environment as a contribution to the proper, economic, efficient and effective use of resources. The report covers the audit work completed in the year from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 in accordance with the Internal Audit Strategy for 2021/22. Substantial assurance can be provided that East Sussex County Council had in place an adequate and effective framework of governance, risk management and internal control for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

8.1       The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 27 June 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

To seek the Lead Member’s s approval to revise the payment arrangements to Borough and District Councils in respect of the activities they are undertaking to support the Homes for Ukraine scheme in East Sussex.

6.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care to revise the payment arrangements to Borough and District Councils in respect of the activities they are undertaking to support the Homes for Ukraine scheme in East Sussex.

6.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1)  agree to continuing to pay District and Borough Councils for ‘host’ payments under the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme upon receipt of an invoice;

2)  agree to continuing to pay District and Borough Councils for ‘guest’ payments under the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme upon receipt of an invoice;

3)  approve upfront grant funding being provided to each of the District and Borough Councils, with the amount of each grant calculated in accordance with paragraph 2.7 of this report;

4)  delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care to agree the terms of the grant agreements and to take all other steps necessary to implement the recommendations in this report.

Reasons

6.3 District and Borough Councils are incurring cost due to administering payment systems to hosts and guests, managing homelessness cases and supporting rematching.

6.4 Significant delays have been experienced in setting up payments systems due to a lack of capacity and resilience within their staffing model.

6.5 Workload is increasing, and it is anticipated will continue to increase, given the current issues with relationship breakdown, rematching activity and homelessness applications. In order to be able to respond in a timely way moving forward, it is vital that the Borough and District Councils have the necessary capacity required to fulfil their part of the whole system response.