The minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2017 were submitted and approved and the chairman was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

An apology for absence was reported from Councillor Ungar.

Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) by members as required under Section 31 of the Localism Act and of other interests as required by the Code of Conduct and regulation 12(2)(d) of the 2012 Access to Information Regulations.  (Please see note at end of agenda).

On the basis that all Cabinet members could be affected by the insurance and indemnities from the proposal detailed in agenda item 9, the Monitoring Officer had granted dispensations made under S33 of the Localism Act 2011 to all members of the Cabinet, in order to enable due debate and decision to take place.

No further declarations were made.

Report of Director of Service Delivery.

Lead Cabinet members:  Councillor Alan Shuttleworth.

(BPF) (1) That full Council be recommended to adopt Eastbourne Borough Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017/18 as the equivalent scheme for 2018/19. (2)That the Exceptional Hardship fund continued for 2018/19, subject to continued support by the major preceptors.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery, regarding the proposed local council tax reduction scheme for 2018/19, outlined in the report.

It was recommended that the current 2017/18 scheme be adopted again for 2018/19.  The scheme was similar to schemes adopted by Lewes, Rother and Wealden councils. Information relating to the Exceptional Hardship Fund and Council Tax Collection Rate were detailed in the report.

It was a legal requirement that full Council approve the scheme annually, once recommended by Cabinet.

Resolved:

(1) That full Council be recommended to adopt Eastbourne Borough Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017/18 as the equivalent scheme for 2018/19.

(2) That the Exceptional Hardship fund continued for 2018/19, subject to continued support by the major preceptors.

Reason for decision:

It is a legal requirement that full Council approve the scheme annually.

Report of Director of Service Delivery.

Lead Cabinet members:  Councillor Alan Shuttleworth.

(KD) (1) That the Discretionary Business Rate Revaluation Support Policy as set out in Appendix 1 be approved. (2) That the Director of Service Delivery, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Community be granted delegated authority, to review and, if necessary, amend the Business Rate Revaluation Support Policy at the end of March 2018 and each subsequent year during the operation of the scheme.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery regarding the proposed discretionary business rate revaluation support policy, appended to the report.

The policy would support those ratepayers that were adversely affected by the government’s 2017 business rates revaluation.

A consultation with major precepting authorities and local ratepayers was undertaken for a period of 8 weeks and closed on 8 October. A summary of the outcome was circulated to the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet prior to the meeting. The outcome indicated a broad agreement on the key principles of the scheme and it was proposed that no further changes were required to the policy.

The Cabinet were advised that recommendation two in the report should be amended to read “Grant the Director of Service Delivery, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet member for Community delegated authority, to review and, if necessary, amend the Business Rate Revaluation Support Policy at the end of March 2018 and each subsequent year during the operation of the scheme”. This was unanimously agreed.

Resolved:

(1) That the Discretionary Business Rate Revaluation Support Policy as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

(2) That the Director of Service Delivery, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Community be granted delegated authority, to review and, if necessary, amend the Business Rate Revaluation Support Policy at the end of March 2018 and each subsequent year during the operation of the scheme.

Reason for decision:

To support ratepayers adversely affected by the 2017 business rates relief revaluation.

Report of Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Dean Sabri.

(1) That the Council reviews the scope of its insurance provision and, if necessary, extend it to provide cover for those members and officers who are nominated or appointed by the Council to outside bodies, both currently and in the future. (2) That the Council should provide a comprehensive indemnity in the terms permitted by the Local Authorities (Indemnities for Members and Officers) Order 2004 for members and officers who are nominated or appointed by the Council to outside bodies, both currently and in the future.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services relating to insurance provisions and indemnities around members and officers appointed to outside bodies.

Agreeing to the recommendations would ensure that members and officers were fully protected against personal liabilities when properly carrying out roles to which they had been appointed for the Council’s benefit.

Resolved:

(1) That the Council reviews the scope of its insurance provision and, if necessary, extend it to provide cover for those members and officers who are nominated or appointed by the Council to outside bodies, both currently and in the future.

(2) That the Council should provide a comprehensive indemnity in the terms permitted by the Local Authorities (Indemnities for Members and Officers) Order 2004 for members and officers who are nominated or appointed by the Council to outside bodies, both currently and in the future.

Reason for decision:

To ensure that members and officers are fully protected against personal liabilities when properly carrying out roles to which they have been appointed for the Council’s benefit.

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning.

Lead Cabinet members:  Councillor Jonathan Dow.

(KD) (1) That the future lease of the Royal Hippodrome Theatre on the broad lease terms outlined in para 5.2 of this report be agreed. (2) That the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance be given delegated authority to take all steps necessary to complete the lease.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning regarding the granting of a long lease to the Royal Hippodrome Theatre (RHT).

Attempts had been made over the last ten years to put a firm management in place for the RHT and these were detailed in the report.

The grade two listed theatre was being run on a licence from the council by the Community Interest Company (CIC), set up in 2015. The company had recently secured external grant funding of £100,000 for improvement works to the façade of the theatre.

A local family had approached the council with a request to take over the management of the RHT, which required at least £1.4 million investment to restore the building.

Should Cabinet grant a long lease, the CIC would continue to manage the RHT and the local family would be appointed as Directors of the CIC. Retaining the freehold of the building would protect the building’s use as a theatre for future generations.

The Cabinet were advised that recommendation two in the report should be amended to read “To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance to take all steps necessary to complete the lease.” This was unanimously agreed.

Resolved:

(1) That the future lease of the Royal Hippodrome Theatre on the broad lease terms outlined in paragraph 5.2 of the report be agreed.

(2) That the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance be given delegated authority to take all steps necessary to complete the lease.

Reason for decision:

To endorse new leaseholder arrangements for the Royal Hippodrome Theatre at Devonshire Park and new contractual agreement with operator.