Agenda, decisions and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2021 were submitted and approved and the Chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

None were reported.

None were declared.

Report of Chief Executive

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor David Tutt

(Key decision):

(1) To note the progress made with the Recovery and Reset Programme

(2) To agree the Priority Based Budget proposals, set out at Appendix A to the report.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive, updating them on progress of the Recovery and Reset Programme.

To ensure that the Council achieved a balanced budget in future years, savings of £6.7 million would be required. The budget planning process for 2022/23 was underway and an updated position would be reported to Cabinet in December.

The proposed savings set out at Appendix A were critical in delivering a balanced budget for 2021/22 and delivering the reductions needed for 2022/23. It was confirmed that future reports containing the programme savings table would illustrate if the target savings rating for a specific area had changed since it was last reported.

A range of key outcomes and benefits had already been delivered through the programme and these were set out in the report. This included the council agreeing a 5-year lease with the Department for Works and Pensions for the vacated space at 1 Grove Road. The arrangement would generate income of £2.37 million for the council over the life of the lease. Thanks were conveyed to officers for their achievements detailed in the report. The Business Rates team were given special mention for their recent “excellence in innovation” award for the online system they developed to ensure a fast and efficient distribution of business grants during the height of the pandemic.

Visiting members, Councillors Shore and Smart, addressed the Cabinet on this item.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To note the progress made with the Recovery and Reset Programme

(2) To agree the Priority Based Budget proposals, set out at Appendix A to the report.

Reason for decisions:

The Recovery and Reset Programme provides a structured and accountable approach for delivering the level of significant organisational change needed to respond to current and future challenges.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Jonathan Dow

(Key decision):

(1) To approve the ‘Eastbourne Carbon Neutral 2030’ Annual Update as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, for publication on the Council’s website.

(2) To note progress to date on the strategy action plan as contained within Appendix 1 to the report.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, noting progress to date of the Climate Emergency Strategy and to seek approval to publish the Annual Update, set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

If approved, the report would be published in November and coincide with the UN Climate Summit, COP26, being hosted in Glasgow. The report detailed a 15% reduction on the council’s carbon footprint and 6.8% reduction in the borough’s carbon footprint.

The Strategy contained 68 actions that were being closely monitored and the Council would continue to implement changes to work towards hitting its target of being carbon neutral by 2030.

Visiting members, Councillors Shore and Smart, addressed the Cabinet on this item.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To approve the ‘Eastbourne Carbon Neutral 2030’ Annual Update as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, for publication on the Council’s website.

(2) To note progress to date on the strategy action plan as contained within Appendix 1 to the report.

Reason for decisions:

To progress toward the aims of achieving Eastbourne Carbon Neutral 2030, as resolved in July 2019.