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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

41.

Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2018 pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2018 were submitted and approved and the chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

42.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

None were reported.

43.

Declaration of members' interests

Minutes:

None were declared.

44.

Corporate performance - quarter 2 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning and Chief Finance Officer

Lead Cabinet members: Councillors Colin Swansborough and 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 September 2018 as set out in part B of the report.

 

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

 

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

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) and Director of Regeneration and Planning, updating them on the Council’s performance against Corporate Plan priority actions, performance indicators and targets over the quarter two period for 2018/19.

 

Visiting member, Councillor di Cara addressed the Cabinet and enquired about why the Sovereign Harbour Community Centre performance indicator had been flagged as green. The Chief Executive responded that all work to the building had been completed and the project was just awaiting finalisation of important documentation that was currently with third parties. Officers were continuing to chase and had indicated that this would be completed by Christmas. Any updates would be communicated to Councillors. Thanks were expressed to Lisa Rawlinson, Head of Business Planning and Performance and Annie Wills, Head of Tourism and Enterprise for their continuous work and efforts.

 

Councillor Swansborough gave an update to the Cabinet on significant improvements that had been made to the call handling times and abandonment figures. Thanks were conveyed to all members of the Customer Contact Team.

 

Part B of the report detailed the Council’s financial performance for the same quarter. It included that based on current projections, an additional net expenditure of £129,000 was projected.  Further actions were being taken to ensure the final outturn position was within the approved budget.

 

Councillor Holt expressed his thanks to the council tax collection team for their significant work in achieving a surplus of £456,000 for the collection fund. The Council’s share of the surplus was expected to be £58,000.

 

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 September 2018 as set out in part B of the report.

 

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

 

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

 

Reason for decision:

 

To enable Cabinet members to consider specific aspects of the Council’s progress and performance.

45.

Draft budget proposals 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Stephen Holt

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To agree the draft budget proposals for consultation.

 

(2) To agree that subject to there being no material change in the government settlement that Cabinet is minded to propose a council tax rise of 2.99% for 2019/20 to make a Band D charge £246.84, in line with the current cap.

 

(3) To note the updated medium term financial strategy.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer (CFO), summarising the main elements of the emerging 2019/20 revenue budget that had arisen from the corporate and service financial planning process. The CFO added that faced with the lasting effects of the recent economic climate and subsequent reduction in core funding by the Government, the Council had identified the potential for further efficiencies, innovative working and sought commercial opportunities.

 

The report proposed a 2.99% increase in the Council tax to make a Band D charge of £264.84.

 

The Cabinet expressed thanks to officers for their forward thinking as the Council continued its journey towards self-sufficiency, identifying sources of income and reducing the reliance on diminishing central government funding.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To agree the draft budget proposals for consultation.

 

(2) To agree that subject to there being no material change in the government settlement that Cabinet is minded to propose a council tax rise of 2.99% for 2019/20 to make a Band D charge £246.84, in line with the current cap.

 

(3) To note the updated medium term financial strategy.

 

Reason for decision:

 

The Council is required by legislation to set a balanced budget. The report forms part of the process that will culminate in the Council Tax setting by the Council in February.

46.

Council tax base and non-domestic rates income for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 26 KB

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Stephen Holt

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To agree the provisional Council Tax Base of 34,765.3 for 2019/20.

 

(2) To agree that the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, determine the final amounts for the Council Tax Base for 2019/20.

 

(3) To agree that the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, determine net yield from Business Rate income for 2019/20.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer, seeking approval for the council tax base and net yield from Business Rate Income for 2019/20, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended in 2018/19.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To agree the provisional Council Tax Base of 34,765.3 for 2019/20.

 

(2) To agree that the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, determine the final amounts for the Council Tax Base for 2019/20.

 

(3) To agree that the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, determine net yield from Business Rate income for 2019/20.

 

Reason for decision:

 

Cabinet is required to approve the Tax Base which will be used for the purposes of calculating the 2019/20 Council Tax.

47.

Community safety partnership annual report pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor John Ungar

Decision:

(Non key decision):

 

That Cabinet note the achievements and activities of the Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership during 2017/18 and future risks/opportunities to performance.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning, considering the current performance of the Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership.

 

Section 3.1 of the report detailed that the number of crimes reported in Eastbourne had increased in the last two years; however Eastbourne continued to be a low crime area compared with similar towns.

 

The report detailed the importance of working positively in partnership, highlighted by the multi-agency work with street communities.

 

The Cabinet expressed concerns about drug dealing in the Sussex area and a meeting was arranged with the Police and Crime Commissioner to request further funding to tackle the issues.

 

The Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership had also benefitted from an increase of funding and had been allocated £37,901 for its work in 2018/19 and £40,733 in 2019/20.

 

As they would be retiring in the New Year, the Cabinet expressed their sincere thanks to Pat Taylor, Strategy and Partnership Lead for Thriving Communities for all their work for the Council and wished her all the best for the future.

 

Resolved (Non key decision):

 

That Cabinet note the achievements and activities of the Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership during 2017/18 and future risks/opportunities to performance.

 

Reason for decision:

 

To consider progress on delivery of the current Community Safety Plan.

48.

Sustainability policy pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Jonathan Dow

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

To approve the Sustainability Policy for adoption.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning, introducing a sustainability policy for Eastbourne.

 

Scrutiny Committee considered and commented on the policy at its meeting on the 3 December 2018. These comments included potential clarifications and additions to the policy and were made available to the Cabinet in a briefing note submitted at the meeting.

 

Thanks were conveyed to Jane Goodall (Strategy and Partnership Lead for Quality Environment) and Kate Tradewell (Strategy and Corporate Projects Officer for Quality Environment) for their work in formulating the policy.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

To approve the Sustainability Policy for adoption.

 

Reason for decision:

 

To provide a policy frame work for Eastbourne Borough Council.

49.

Sustainable energy investment feasibility pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Jonathan Dow

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer and Director of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place Services to fund up to £25,000 for the commissioning of Clear Sustainable Futures to undertake the feasibility study of deploying sustainable energy generation at the Sovereign Leisure Centre

 

(2) To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with CMT and the Cabinet Member for Place Services, to proceed with the recommended sustainable energy solution for the Sovereign Leisure Centre if this is demonstrated to be a viable investment up to a value of £1.45m.

 

(3) To note that a similar request is being made to Lewes District Council to progress viability analysis on their projects at Avis Way depot and Sutton Road and that the work is being conducted concurrently with knowledge being shared.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning, seeking approval for funding to commission Clear Sustainable Futures to determine if there is an investable business case for the deployment of sustainable energy generation technology at the Sovereign Leisure Centre.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer and Director of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place Services to fund up to £25,000 for the commissioning of Clear Sustainable Futures to undertake the feasibility study of deploying sustainable energy generation at the Sovereign Leisure Centre

 

(2) To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with CMT and the Cabinet Member for Place Services, to proceed with the recommended sustainable energy solution for the Sovereign Leisure Centre if this is demonstrated to be a viable investment up to a value of £1.45m.

 

(3) To note that a similar request is being made to Lewes District Council to progress viability analysis on their projects at Avis Way depot and Sutton Road and that the work is being conducted concurrently with knowledge being shared.

 

Reason for decision:

 

To reduce the carbon emissions of council developments; to enable the site to become a prosumer (a producer and consumer) of electricity and heat to reduce ongoing utility costs whilst also enabling income generation through provision of emerging grid flexibility services; to mitigate the impact of the development on the electrical grid and reduce utility costs.

50.

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.)

51.

Community and housing grants - Major grants

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).

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To agree the allocation of the major and housing grant budgets as set out in the exempt report.

 

(2) To approve the additions to the Community and Housing Grants Policy as set out in the exempt report.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning regarding the allocation of the major and housing grants budgets 2019/20 to 2021/22 and to approve amendments to the Community and Housing Grants Policy covering State Aid and data protection.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To agree the allocation of the major and housing grant budgets as set out in the exempt report.

 

(2) To approve the additions to the Community and Housing Grants Policy as set out in the exempt report.

 

Reason for decision:

 

The proposed allocation of budgets is in line with the Council’s Community and Housing Grants policy and the council’s strategic priorities for Thriving Communities

 

The proposed amendments to the Community and Housing Grants Policy ensured that allocations of funding complied with current regulations.

 

Notes: (1) The report 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).