Agenda and minutes

Previously circulated.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2014 were presented and the Mayor was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

1.        On 20 November the Mayor attended the Eastbourne Youth Radio Hospitality evening at Sussex Downs College.  Now in its 14^th year, this year’s Eastbourne Youth Radio featured over 50 hours of programming from 26 local schools and youth groups, with over 2,000 participants.  Airing from 19-21 November on 87.7FM and online at eyr.org.uk, EYR was made possible by the support of local businesses that sponsored the shows that aired from Sussex Downs College, Eastbourne.

2.        The Mayor held a Thank You Reception at the Town Hall on 27 November for representatives of the Emergency Service organisations that assisted with the recent fire on Eastbourne Pier.  Pier staff that were on duty at the time of the fire and the MP also attended.  The Mayor and MP both passed on their grateful thanks to all involved in the rescue efforts.

3.        The Mayor spent a day visiting very well attended events held by local organisations and individuals participating in the Cupcake for Carers Day on 28 November.

4.        On 7 December the Mayor attended the St Wilfrid’s Hospice Lights of Love service which has been taking place for over 30 years.

5.        The Mayor made a festive visit to the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Upperton Road on 8 December to thank all the staff for their hard work during the busiest time of year.

6.        In the run up to Christmas the Mayor attended a number of Christmas events including the Johnny Spice Christmas Ball at the Winter Garden, the Royal Hippodrome Theatre’s Christmas Cracker Civic Night and the Victoria Baptist Church Carol Service.  On Christmas Day the Mayor made a visit to the Rotary Club’s Alone at Christmas event at Our Lady of Ransom Church Hall.

7.        The Mayor started off the New Year by attending the Halifax Giving Extra Awards Judging on 7 January and was very pleased to be part of the judging panel. 

8.        On 8 January the Mayor attended the Sussex Downs College Student Awards Dinner at the Kings Restaurant and was pleased to meet some of the award winners during the evening.

9.        The annual Beachy Head Marathon cheque presentation took place on 26 January at the International Lawn Tennis Centre.  The Mayor was very happy to present the cheques to a number of local charities that assisted with the event, as well as receiving a donation of £300 for her chosen charity, Care for the Carers.

10.     On 1 February the Mayor’s Charity held an indoor Boot Fair at the International Lawn Tennis Centre which raised over £400.

11.     The Lions Clubs International District 105SE recently held their 44^th Convention at the Winter Garden.  On 14 February the Mayor attended their plenary meeting in the morning and the banquet and ball in the evening.

12.     The Mayor also attended a number of concerts and celebrations over the last few months.

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillors Belsey, Cooke and Heaps.

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 (please see note at end of agenda).

None declared.

Report of Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance.

The Council considered the proposed calendar of meetings for 2015/2016 submitted by the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance.

It was proposed by Councillor Tutt, seconded by Councillor Elkin and;

Resolved: That the calendar of meetings for 2015/16 be approved subject to the amendment that the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 3 June 2015 be moved to 1 June and to final ratification at the annual meeting to be held on 27 May 2015.

Report of Councillor Mattock 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.

This matter was reported and proposed by Councillor Mattock on behalf of the Cabinet and seconded by Councillor Tutt.The Council considered the reports to Cabinet, as included in the draft budget book and also the Cabinet minutes and resolutions from the meeting held on 4 February 2015. The budget proposals were also reported to the Scrutiny Committee on 2 February 2015 where no comments or proposals for change were made.

The Council expressed its thanks and appreciation for the work undertaken by the Chief Finance Officer and his team in the preparation of the draft budget.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Elkin and seconded by Councillor West:

“We propose that a budget (Fund) is set up to enable bids from Eastbourne residents to support either the setting up of their own small business or expanding an existing one with the purpose of creating jobs in Eastbourne, with priority being given to existing empty properties.  The Fund to be ring fenced to Eastbourne post codes. We propose to fund that budget by reducing the General Reserves by £1m from £4m to £3m.  The Fund therefore being £1m.”

This amendment was lost by 13 votes to 10 with 1 abstention. The named voting record was as follows:

For: Councillors Ansell, Ede, Elkin, Howlett, Jenkins, Liddiard, Murdoch, Taylor, Warner and West.

Against: Councillors Bannister, Harris, Hearn, Mattock, Miah, Murray, Shuttleworth, Stanley, Tester, Thompson, Tutt, Ungar and Wallis.

Abstentions: The Mayor

Resolved: (By 21 votes to 0 with 3 abstentions) That approval be given to the following:

1.        The recommendations as detailed in the reports from the Chief Finance Officer and the Senior Head of Community to Cabinet on 4 February 2015:

(i)                      The General Fund net expenditure for 2015/16 of £15,245,200 and the growth and savings proposals.

(ii)                     No change to the council tax for Eastbourne Borough Council to a Band D charge of £224.19.

(iii)                    Housing Revenue Account (HRA) income and expenditure proposals, including revised HRA budget for 2014/15 and the budget for 2015/16, rents and service charges, arrangements for finalising Eastbourne Homes’ management fee and annual plan.

(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.        That consequent upon a General Fund budget of £15,245,200 and other matters, the basic amount (Band D) of council tax for the Borough Council’s functions will be £224.19 calculated as follows:

The statutory resolutions relating to this matter are given at paragraphs 3 and 4 below.

3.        That it be noted that at its meeting on 10 December 2014 the Cabinet (in exercise of powers delegated to them by the Council) delegated the final determination  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Report of Councillor Tester on behalf of the Cabinet.

This matter was reported and proposed by Councillor Tester on behalf of the Cabinet and seconded by Councillor Howlett.

Resolved: That the redundancy and re-deployment policy be approved and adopted as a replacement to the alternative employment procedure.

Report of Councillor Mattock on behalf of the Cabinet.

This matter was reported and proposed by Councillor Mattock on behalf of the Cabinet and seconded by Councillor Elkin.

Resolved: That the treasury management strategy and annual investment strategy; the methodology for calculating the minimum revenue provision; the prudential and treasury indicators and the specified and non-specified investment categories, as set out in the report to Cabinet, be approved.

This matter was reported and proposed by Councillor Wallis on behalf of the Cabinet and seconded by Councillor West.

Resolved: That the charging schedule be approved and adopted from 1 April 2015.

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 the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance no later than 10.00 am on Wednesday 18 February 2015. A list of such items (if any) will be circulated prior to the start of the meeting.

The following are appended to this agenda:-

The minutes of the following Council Bodies were submitted to this meeting.

Further to Council Procedure Rule 14.3 it was,

Resolved: That the minutes of the above Council Bodies be accepted.

Councillor Tutt reported that this would be the last Council meeting for those members not seeking re-election in the forthcoming 2015 Borough elections.  He expressed the Council’s appreciation for the service they had given to the Council and the Borough of Eastbourne.