Decisions

The Council is currently in the course of legal proceedings and a decision is required at the earliest opportunity.

The report will consider the options available to the Council to enforce a ban on releasing Chinese/sky lanterns and/or balloons on Council owned land and further.

(Non-key decision)

(1) That Cabinet grants the Director of Service Delivery delegated power to introduce a new condition into the Council’s event hire licences, banning the release of lighted sky lanterns and the release of helium filled balloons.

(2) That the Director of Service Delivery monitors the level of complaints relating to the use of sky lanterns and helium balloons in the Lewes District and, if necessary, reports back to Cabinet in six months’ time or at such other future date as might be warranted having regard to the level of complaints received, with a recommendation for any further or alternative regulatory measures that may be required.

(3) That the Council utilise its Customer Communications and Engagement team to communicate with Town and Parish Councils and external organisations, including landowning country Estates, through the Council’s website, District News and other means to consider their own position on the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons.

A report for noting only, pursuant to a motion carried at Full Council on 26 November 2018.  The report will consider the main issues for LDC stemming from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, based on the permutations available to the UK Government at the time of writing (e.g. leaving the EU in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement or under a No Deal scenario).

(Non key decision):

(1) To note the report.

(2) To require the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Services to provide further updates as the national situation over Brexit, and its effect on the Council, becomes more certain.

(3) In the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit or further details being known in advance of 29 March 2019, that an emergency Cross-Party Working Group be formulated to look in detail at implications for the Council and Lewes District. Legal advice would be sought for any meetings that take place during the pre-election period of purdah.

To approve a Discretionary Funding Policy for Disabled Facilities Grants in light of additional allocation of funding from Central Government.

(Key decision):

To approve the disabled facilities grant policy.

Report following approval of notice of motion at Full Council meeting in November 2018.

The report will give options on how to broaden the Exceptional Hardship Policy to make it more accessible to those self-employed and to include those self-employed who do not qualify for a Council Tax Reduction due to the application of the minimum income floor.

Cabinet asked to decide which, if any, of the options to adopt.

(Key decision):

(1) That the proposed changes to the policy be adopted

(2) That Cabinet delegate authority to the Director of Service Deliver in consultation with the Lead Member to make alterations to the policy.

To seek Cabinet approval for an additional one year Contract Procedure Rule waiver prior to review of services in 2020.

To seek Cabinet approval for a five year Contract Procedure Rule waiver in order to maintain consistency of service, align services with ESCC via an existing supplier and reduce charges.

Central government announced in the Budget, a new two year Business Rate relief scheme for retail properties that have a rateable value of below £51,000. Under the scheme, eligible ratepayers will receive a one third reduction in their 2019/20 rate bill. The Government expects local authorities to have in place arrangements to administer and award reliefs for the new financial year.  As granting the reliefs falls under the Council’s Discretionary powers it is necessary to have a local policy for each of the reliefs.

(Key decision):

(1) To approve the business rate retail discount policy as set out at appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To grant the Director of Service Delivery delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance, to review and, if necessary, amend the retail discount policy following the consultation period and at the end of year one of the scheme.

(3) To grant the Director of Service Delivery delegated authority to implement and enforce the retail discount policy, including any measures necessary for or incidental to its management and administration.

Review of future management options for Newhaven Enterprise Centre.

(Key decision):

(1) To authorise the Director of Regeneration & Planning, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to settle the appropriate route to procure a suitable workspace provider to operate the Newhaven Enterprise Centre and to run a legally compliant process to appoint a contractor or concessionaire.

(2) To note the importance of the provision of flexible, managed small business workspace to the Council’s wider ambitions on Growth and Prosperity.

Report on the performance of those voluntary organisations funded by the Council and for Cabinet to agree the Council’s policy on grants to voluntary organisations and the levels of grant funding for the coming year

(Key decision):

(1) To approve the proposed policy on grant funding, as set out at appendix A to the report.

(2) To approve an extension to the grant awarded to BHT in 2018/19 for their support to Lewes District residents needing to claim Universal Credit.

(3) To agree the allocation of funding to voluntary organisations for 2019/20 as set out in paragraph 2.24 of the report, subject to the grant conditions set out at appendix A to the report.

Report will contain Capital Investment Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy.

(Non-key decision):

(1) To note the extended role of the Chief Finance Officer as set out at appendix 7 to the report.

Recommended to Council (Budget and policy framework):

(2) To approve the treasury management strategy and annual investment strategy as set out in the report and at appendix 5 to the report.

(3) To approve the methodology for calculating the minimum revenue provision as set out at paragraph 2.3 of the report and at appendix 2 to the report

(4) To approve the prudential and treasury indicators as set out in the report.

(5) To approve the investment categories, limits and creditworthiness policy, set out at appendix 6 to the report.

(6) To approve the Capital Strategy as set out at appendix 1 to the report.

To recommend to Council, the general fund revenue budget for 2019/20.

Recommended to Council: (Budget and policy framework):

(1) To approve the general fund budget for 2018/19 (Revised) and 2019/20 (original), set out at appendix 1 to the report including growth and savings proposals for 2019/20 as set out at appendix 2 to the report.

(2) To approve an increase in the Council Tax for Lewes District Council of 1.99% resulting in a Band D charge for general expenses of £187.08 for 2019/20.

(3) To approve the revised general fund capital programme 2018/22 as set out at appendix 3 to the report.

(4) To note the section 151 Officer’s sign off as outlined in paragraph 1.6 of the report.

Recommendations to full Council in February 2019 in respect of the housing revenue account for 2019/20.

Recommended to Council (Budget and policy framework):

(1) To approve the HRA budget for 2019/20 and revised 2018/19 as set out at appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To approve that social and affordable rents (including Shared Ownership) are decreased by 1% in line with government policy.

(3) To approve that private sector leased property rents are increased by 3.3%.

(4) To grant delegated authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet portfolio holders for Finance and Housing, to take measures in the management of the Week 53 rent year.

(5) To approve that the revised service charges are implemented.

(6) To approve that garage rents are increased by 3.30%.

(7) To approve the HRA capital programme as set out at appendix 2 to the report.

Proposed business rate pilot.

(Non-key decision):

(1) To agree that Wealden District Council be nominated as the lead authority.

(2) To agree that Lewes District Council pilots 75% business rates retention, resulting in an additional anticipated gain of £0.1m over current pooling arrangements.

(3) To agree the basic principle that no authority would receive a lower level of funding than they would have received without the pool.

(4) To agree to split resources gained on the growth in business rates on the basis of the split being 26% to East Sussex County Council, 5% to the Fire authority and the remaining 44% split amongst the District/Borough Councils;

(5) To agree the financial stability and economic development split of funding.

(6) To agree that the finalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding is delegated to the Chief Finance Officer.

The Lewes District Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule came into force on 1 December 2015 and CIL money has been collected ever since. Infrastructure providers will be invited to bid for CIL funding for 6 weeks from 10 September 2018. The report will present the recommendations of the CIL Management and Executive Boards following the assessment of infrastructure project bids by Members and officers.

(Key decision):

To agree the release of funds from the CIL governance pots as recommended by the CIL Executive Board.