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Lewes and Eastbourne
Councils

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Court Room at Eastbourne Town Hall, Grove Road, BN21 4UG

Contact: Committee Services on 01323 415021 

Items
No. Item

69.

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2019 pdf icon PDF 167 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held of 6 February 2019 were submitted and approved and the Chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

70.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

None were reported. The Chair welcomed Brian Mew, Deputy Chief Finance Officer to his first meeting of the Cabinet.

71.

Declaration of members' interests

Minutes:

None were declared.

72.

Corporate performance - quarter 3 - 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Part A - Corporate Performance

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Colin Swansborough

 

Part B - Financial Performance

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Stephen Holt

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Non-key decision):

 

(1) To note the achievements and progress against Corporate Plan priorities for 2018/19, as set out in Part A of the report.

 

(2) To agree the General Fund, HRA and Collection Fund financial performance for the quarter ended December 2018 as set out in part B of the report

 

(3) To agree the virements and transfer to/from reserves as set out at appendix 4 to the report.

 

(4) To agree the amended capital programme as set out at appendix 5 to the report.

 

(5) To agree the Treasury Management performance as set out in section 5 in part B of the report

 

(6) To approve the write offs as set out in the exempt appendix.

 

(7) To authorise officers, in consultation with the Leader and relevant Portfolio holder to accelerate the supply of suitable properties by Eastbourne Housing Investment Company Limited (EHICL) to mitigate the use of temporary and emergency accommodation, subject to business case. Any decisions/action taken by officers would be reported to the next available Cabinet meeting.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning updating members on the Council’s performance against Corporate Plan priority actions, performance indicators and targets over quarter three period for 2018/19 (1 October to 31 December 2018).

 

Significant achievements reported during the quarter included the opening of the Beacon on 30 November, waste mobilisation, rough sleeping initiative with Hastings Borough Council and project to reduce single use plastics in council buildings. Further details were contained in the report.

 

4.2 of the report detailed two areas where the Council had missed their targets for the quarter three period, including housing (emergency accommodation) and call handling.

 

Councillor Swansborough provided up to date statistics to the Cabinet on the average time to answer customer calls (29 seconds as at 15 March 2019) and praised the Customer Contact Centre team for their significantly improved performance.

 

The Cabinet discussed the national issue of homelessness and the steps the Council were taking to tackle the number of households living in emergency accommodation. The Director of Service Delivery advised the Cabinet that last week, the Council had reduced the number by 19, leaving 110 households in emergency accommodation.

 

The Housing Needs team set weekly targets on the number of households leaving emergency accommodation within 28 days, number of households under investigation and the average number of days in emergency accommodation. A landlord liaison scheme had been launched to incentivise private landlords. Unfortunately the private sector market was buoyant with professional tenants that was not only increasing rental cost but impacting on families most at need.

 

Alternative solutions were sought to assist in the supply of properties both for temporary accommodation and affordable homes. The Cabinet unanimously agreed an additional recommendation to tackle the scale and level of demand and this was detailed below.

 

Part B of the report detailed the Council’s financial performance for the same quarter. The Deputy Chief Finance Officer reported that the general fund and housing revenue account were scheduled to be on target by the end of the financial year. Councillor Holt and the Cabinet expressed their thanks to staff at the Bandstand for their outstanding work and being above target for income.

 

Resolved (Non-key decision):

 

(1) To note the achievements and progress against Corporate Plan priorities for 2018/19, as set out in Part A of the report.

 

(2) To agree the General Fund, HRA and Collection Fund financial performance for the quarter ended December 2018 as set out in part B of this report

 

(3) To agree the virements and transfer to/from reserves as set out at appendix 4 to the report.

 

(4) To agree the amended capital programme as set out at appendix 5 to the report.

 

(5) To agree the Treasury Management performance as set out in section 5 in part B of the report

 

(6) To approve the write offs as set out in the exempt appendix.

 

(7) To authorise officers, in consultation with the Leader and relevant Portfolio holder to accelerate the supply of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

73.

Equality and fairness annual report 2018 and action plan 2019 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Report of Chief Executive

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Swansborough

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To note the Annual Report of activities carried out in 2018, set out at appendix A to the report.

 

(2) To approve the Action Plan proposed at appendix B to the report.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive setting out progress against the Council’s current equality objectives and 2018/19 action plan and sought approval of an action plan for 2019/20. The Head of Business Planning and Performance was in attendance to present the report.

 

Councillor Swansborough expressed his thanks to the Head of Business Planning and Performance and Devan Briggs, Policy and Engagement Co-ordinator for their work in co-ordinating and bringing together members from a range of protected groups across Eastbourne and Lewes to attend the Equality and Fairness Stakeholder Group.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To note the Annual Report of activities carried out in 2018, set out at appendix A to the report.

 

(2) To approve the Action Plan proposed at appendix B to the report.

 

Reason for decisions:

 

To promote equality and fairness and eliminate discrimination, ensuring fair access to services and opportunities and comply with the Council’s duties under the Equality Act 2010.

74.

Acquisition of land in Old Orchard Road pdf icon PDF 298 KB

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Alan Shuttleworth

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration & Planning in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Housing and the Chief Finance Officer to take all steps to complete the purchase of Magistrates Court site and 35 Old Orchard Road, Eastbourne on terms equivalent or better than set out in this report.

 

(2) To approve a corresponding EBC general fund or housing revenue account fund allocation in the 18/19 capital programme as set out in the exempt appendix to the report.

 

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning setting out proposals for the acquisition of land currently in the ownership of Homes England and Ministry of Justice. The land consisted of the former Magistrates Court and adjoining property at 35 Old Orchard Road.

 

The Director of Regeneration and Planning recommended a slight revision to officer recommendation two, including the option to allocate from the housing revenue account fund and this was detailed below.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Housing and the Chief Finance Officer to take all steps to complete the purchase of Magistrates Court site and 35 Old Orchard Road, Eastbourne on terms equivalent or better than set out in the report.

 

(2) To approve a corresponding Eastbourne Borough Council general fund or housing revenue account fund allocation in the 2018/19 capital programme as set out in the exempt appendix to the report.

 

Reason for decisions:

 

To enable the acquisition of land to deliver new homes and facilities for the town.

75.

Exclusion of the public

The Chief Executive considers that discussion of the following items is likely to disclose exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and may therefore need to take place in private session.  The exempt information reasons are shown beneath the items listed below.  Furthermore, in relation to paragraph 10 of Schedule 12A, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. (The requisite notices having been given under regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.)

 

(Note: Exempt papers are printed on pink paper).

 

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as otherwise there was a likelihood of disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The relevant paragraph of schedule 12A and a description of the exempt information was shown below. (The requisite notice having been given under regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.)

76.

Acquisition of land in Old Orchard Road - Appendix 1

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Alan Shuttleworth

 

Exempt information reason 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the exempt appendix to agenda item 11.

 

Resolved (Non-key decision):

 

That the appendix be noted.

 

Reason for decision:

 

As detailed in minute 74 above

 

Notes: (1) The appendix remained exempt. (2) Exempt information reason 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

77.

Corporate performance - quarter 3 - 2018/19 - Write-off of irrecoverable debts

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Stephen Holt

 

Exempt information reason 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Minutes:

As detailed in minute 72 above.

 

Notes: (1) The appendix remained exempt. (2) Exempt information reason 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

78.

Vote of thanks

Minutes:

As this was the last Cabinet meeting of the municipal year, Councillor Tutt expressed his thanks and appreciation to fellow members and officers for their work over the last 12 months.