Agenda and minutes

Eastbourne Borough Council Full Council - Wednesday, 20th February, 2019 6.00 pm

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

Contact: Committee Services on 01323 410000 

Items
No. Item

42.

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018 were presented and the Mayor was authorised to sign them as a correct record, subject to a correction to Minute 40 to state that ‘Councillor Wallis moved and Councillor Holt seconded the notice of motion’.

43.

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.

Minutes:

There were none.

44.

Mayor's announcements. pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Minutes:

The Mayor took the opportunity to thank former councillor Gordon Jenkins for his service to the Council, following his retirement from his post in November 2018.  Gordon had been elected to Eastbourne Borough Council in 2011 and had previously served at the London Borough of Bromley.

 

A list of the Mayor’s announcements in respect of her activities since the last meeting, and forthcoming charity events were tabled at the meeting.   The Mayor’s activities during December and January had included:

 

·         Opening the Christmas market in the town centre and attending Christmas concerts and dinners.

·         Attending award ceremonies organised by the Guides, the Scouts, the Military Preparation College and the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

·         Meeting with twelve local women who all contributed to the war effort during World War 2.

·         Seeing two excellent pantomimes, attending the Eastbourne Lions 51st Anniversary Dinner, hosting afternoon tea at the Town Hall for Fountain Digital Ltd, and helping to prepare and serve about 80 ploughman suppers at a fundraising quiz. 

·         Assisting Simon Rooksby, Chairman and founder of Computers for Charities to help him celebrate its 25th birthday on 22 January. The Mayor encouraged Councillors to contact Simon through the website if they could donate equipment or had need of their services.

·         Attending the Holocaust Memorial Day event at the International Lawn Tennis Centre on 24 January. This was an emotional evening but one that the Mayor was privileged to attend.

·         A visit from the Mayor’s Rambling Club to the parlour.

 

The Mayor invited Councillors to join her on upcoming Mayor’s Charity events including a walking netball tournament, a folk night, inspirational women cream teas, quiz night and the Mayor’s Charity Tudor Banquet.  For any enquiries regarding these events, Members were invited to contact the Mayor’s Office.

45.

Notification of apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Councillors Ballard, Dow and Sabri.

46.

Public right of address.

The Mayor to report any requests received from a member of the public under council procedure rule 11 in respect of any referred item or motion listed below.

Minutes:

No public speakers had been registered.

47.

Order of business.

The Council may vary the order of business if, in the opinion of the Mayor, a matter should be given precedence by reason of special urgency.

Minutes:

Business proceeded in accordance with the summons.

48.

Council budget and setting of the council tax for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Report of Councillor Holt on behalf of the Cabinet.

 

Please note that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 require named votes to be taken and recorded when setting the annual budget and council tax, this to include substantive motions and any amendments.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This matter was reported and proposed by Councillor Holt on behalf of the Cabinet and seconded by Councillor Tutt.  The Council considered the reports to Cabinet, the minutes and resolutions from Cabinet held on 6 February 2019, and the updated report of the Chief Finance Officer.  The Scrutiny Committee had considered the proposals on 4 February 2019 and made no recommendations for change.

 

Councillor Holt made his budget speech setting out the proposals within the budget.  He advised that this included the proposal for a 2.96% increase in Council tax (Band D), no cuts to front line services, continued investments into the town, and support for local communities including £400-£500k in housing grants.  Councillor Di Cara responded on behalf of the opposition to the budget, expressing her disappointment that she did not feel that the Group had had sufficient information to put forward an opposition budget, and expressing concern as to the extent of borrowing set out in the budget and the overrun of some of the Capital projects.  The budget was debated by members from across the Council.  As part of this debate, Members thanked the Chief Finance Officer and her team for the preparation of the budget.

 

The motion was put to a recorded vote.

 

Resolved (By 15 votes to 7 with 1 abstention).That approval be given to the following:

 

1.

The recommendations as detailed in the reports from the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Service Delivery to Cabinet on 6 February 2019, including an amended recommendation (i):

 

 

 

(i)

The General Fund net expenditure for 2019/20 of £13,065,300 and the growth and savings proposals.

 

 

 

(ii)

The charge for council tax for Eastbourne Borough Council Band D change to £246.77; an increase of 2.96%.

 

 

 

(iii)

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) income and expenditure proposals, including revised HRA budget for 2018/19 and the budget for 2019/20, rents and service charges and the arrangements for finalising Eastbourne Homes’ management fee.

 

 

 

(iv)

General Fund capital programme as set out in the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

 

 

 

(v)

The Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators.

 

 

2.

To note the finalised Business Rates return to the Government (NNDR1) and the levy figures for the Business Rate pilot pool which had been confirmed by the lead authority (Wealden District Council).  To note Appendix 1(a) to the report including updates in respect of these figures and in the light of feedback from the Scrutiny Committee in the interests of greater clarity and transparency to more clearly show the financing of the Council’s budget.  To note the updated Appendix 1(b) showing the revised Reserves position.

 

 

3.

That consequent upon a General Fund budget of £13,065,300 and other matters, the basic amount (Band D) of Council Tax for the Borough Council's functions will be £246.77 calculated as follows:

 

 

£'000

£'000

Gross Expenditure:

 

  General Fund

 

97,039

  HRA

 

15,333

  Business Rates tariff payable

 

13,096

 

 

125,405

 

 

 

Less Income:

 

 

  Service Income

(97,348)

 

  Contribution from Reserves

(1,959)

 

  Other Government Grants

(2,053)

 

  Business Rates income

(15,468)

 

  Collection  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

49.

Statement of Community Involvement pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Report of Councillor Dow on behalf of the Cabinet.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered for adoption the Eastbourne Statement of Community Involvement following public consultation on revisions required by the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.  Councillor Tutt moved and Councillor Shuttleworth seconded the recommendations of the report.

 

Resolved (Unanimously) That the Statement of Community Involvement as set out at appendix 1 to the report be adopted by Full Council.

50.

Matters referred from Cabinet or other Council bodies.

The following matters are submitted to the Council for decision (council procedure rule 12 refers):-

50a

Local Development Scheme 2019-2022 pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Report of Councillor Dow on behalf of the Cabinet.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Tutt moved and Councillor Shuttleworth seconded the recommendations of Cabinet to approve the Local Development Scheme 2019-2022. 

 

Resolved (Unanimously)  

(1) To adopt the Eastbourne Local Development Scheme 2019-2022 as set out at appendix 1 to the Cabinet report.

(2) To grant delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place Services to make minor and technical updates to timetables within the Local Development Scheme where necessary.

50b

Treasury management and prudential indicators 2019/20, capital strategy and investment strategy pdf icon PDF 107 KB

Report of Councillor Holt on behalf of the Cabinet.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Holt moved and Councillor Tutt seconded the recommendations of the Cabinet. 

 

Resolved (15 votes to 7)  

(1) To approve the treasury management strategy and annual investment strategy as set out in the Cabinet report and at appendix 4 to the report.

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

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

(4) To approve the specified and non-specified investment categories listed at appendix 5 to the Cabinet report.

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

50c

Review of Eastbourne Borough Council’s Gambling Statement of Principles pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Report from Councillor Tester on behalf of the General Licensing Committee

Minutes:

Councillor Tester moved and Councillor Tutt seconded the recommendations of the General Licensing Committee. 

 

Resolved (unanimously) To approve the reviewed and revised Statement of Gambling Principles.

 

51.

Motions.

The following motions have been submitted by members under council procedure rule 13:-

51a

Tree Stump Removal

Motion submitted by Councillor Ungar:-

This Council calls on East Sussex County Council to fully fund the removal of the tree stumps that remain following the removal of trees on the highway in Eastbourne.  Additionally to fully fund the making good of the highway.  This work should include the replacement of the tree stumps with a suitable type of tree which will not disturb the pavements but will act to cut pollution from traffic.

Minutes:

Councillor Ungar moved and Councillor Wallis seconded the motion:

 

This Council calls on East Sussex County Council to fully fund the removal of the tree stumps that remain following the removal of trees on the highway in Eastbourne.  Additionally, to fully fund the making good of the highway.  This work should include the replacement of the tree stumps with a suitable type of tree which will not disturb the pavements but will act to cut pollution from traffic.

 

Councillor Smart moved and Councillor Freebody seconded an amendment to the motion so that it reads as follows:

 

“This Council commits to work actively with East Sussex County Council on a programme to remove all tree stumps on pavements in Eastbourne.

 

Where appropriate, these should be replaced with a suitable type of tree which will not disturb the pavements and will act to cut pollution from traffic.”

 

The amendment was voted upon and declared lost (7 votes to 15).

 

The original motion was put to the vote and declared carried (15 votes to 0).

52.

Discussion on minutes of council bodies. pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Members of the Council who wish to raise items for discussion (council procedure rule 14) on any of the minutes of the meetings of formal council bodies listed below must submit their request to Committee Services no later than 10.00 am on the day of the meeting. A list of such items (if any) will be circulated prior to the start of the meeting.

 

The following are appended to this agenda:-

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the following Council bodies were submitted to the meeting.

 

Committee

Date

Planning Committee

20 November 2018, 11 December 2018, 22 January 2019

Conservation Area Advisory Group

27 November 2018, 8 January 2019

Audit and Governance Committee

28 November 2018

Scrutiny Committee

3 December 2018, 17 January 2019, 4 February 2019

Cabinet

12 December 2018, 6 February 2019

General Licensing Committee

7 January 2019

 

In accordance with Council procedure 14, the following items were raised for discussion.

 

Special Scrutiny Committee – 17 January 2019 – Minute 40 – Performance Management 2018/19 – Quarter 2 (Part B – Financial Performance) – raised by Councillor Smart.

 

Planning Committee – 22 January 2019 – Minute 88 – College Conservation Area Appraisal – raised by Councillor Smart.

 

Resolved (Unanimously):

 

That the minutes of the above council bodies be accepted.

52a

Minutes of Conservation Area Advisory Group, 27 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

52b

Minutes of Scrutiny Committee, 3 December 2018 pdf icon PDF 132 KB

52c

Minutes of Cabinet, 12 December 2018 pdf icon PDF 145 KB

52d

Minutes of Conservation Area Advisory Group, 8 January 2019 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

52e

Minutes of Planning Committee, 22 January 2019 pdf icon PDF 170 KB

52f

Minutes of Scrutiny Committee, 4 February 2019 pdf icon PDF 144 KB

52g

Minutes of Cabinet, 6 February 2019 pdf icon PDF 167 KB