Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillors Belsey, Blakebrough and Dow.

The Mayor reported on a request that an emergency motion be brought before the meeting on the subject of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

It was proposed by Councillor Tutt and seconded by Councillor Murdoch:

“(1) That Council procedure rules be suspended in order that an emergency motion can be moved on the subject of the management of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

(2) That with regard to the urgency provisions of Section 100 B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the reason for urgency is the unanimous vote of ‘no confidence’ in relation to the management of East Sussex NHS Hospitals Trust at the East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting last Friday, 22 May 2015 (after the publication of the agenda for this meeting) which warrants a response by the Council at the earliest possible opportunity and that the Mayor be requested to allow an emergency motion to be brought before this meeting.”

Resolved: That this procedural motion be approved.

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).

Councillors Bannister and Murray both declared disclosable pecuniary interest and withdrew in respect of item 21 below by virtue of their spouse’s employment with the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Report of Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance.

Council considered the report of the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance. This report focused on proposals for future Council size. As required by the Boundary Commission, consideration of ward boundaries and numbers were required to be done as a second part of the process. Full details of the considerations and consultations in respect of council size were set out in the report.

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

Resolved:  (1) That submission of the proposal for Council size to the Boundary Commission, as recommended in the report, be approved.

(2) That the creation of a working group comprising the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance and 3 Councillors (politically proportioned) to consider and produce the subsequent proposal for wards (names, number and boundaries), as approved by Annual Council, be noted.

(3) That a further report be received from the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance on behalf of the member working group on ward proposals at the next Council meeting.

Report of Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance.

Council considered the report of the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance proposing changes to these rules in order to remain compliant with recent updates to the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001.

It was proposed by Councillor Tutt, seconded by Councillor Tester, and:

Resolved:  That the amended Officer Employment Procedure Rules be approved and the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance be authorised to publish them in the Council’s constitution.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive.

Council considered the report of the Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance which sought approval for updates to the Pay Policy Statement produced in accordance with the requirement in the Localism Act 2011

It was proposed by Councillor Tester, seconded by Councillor Mattock, and;.

Resolved:  That the revised pay policy statement be approved for publication on the Council’s website.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Tutt, seconded by Councillor Murdoch and allowed by the Mayor as a matter of urgency.

“That in light of the unanimous vote of "no confidence" in the Chief Executive and Chairman of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust by the East Sussex Health Overview Scrutiny Committee, Eastbourne Borough Council calls upon the Chief Inspector of Hospitals to place the Trust into special measures and write to the Secretary of State to make him aware of this action.  We also call upon the individuals concerned to take the honourable course of action by resigning their posts and allowing the Trust to rebuild.”

Honorary Freeman Liz Walke, the Council’s Hospitals Champion, addressed the meeting in support of the motion. She summarised some of the key specific findings and ratings from the CQC report, in particular, highlighting those services that had been single-sited and were now being rated as inadequate.

In debating this motion, all members indicated their praise for the front line staff at both the hospitals, noting that the level of care to patients was rated as good by the CQC inspectors. This was indicative of committed, caring and professional front line staff despite the difficult environment in which they were expected to work and the clear lack of effective management and leadership.

Resolved: That this motion be approved.

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 Head of Corporate Development no later than 10.00 am on Wednesday [date]. 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:-

The following items for discussion were raised on the above minutes

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14, it was;

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