Agenda and minutes

Eastbourne Borough Council Full Council - Wednesday, 14th November, 2018 6.00 pm

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

Contact: Committee Services on 01323 410000 

Items
No. Item

30.

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2018 pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2018 were presented and the Mayor was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

31.

Declarations of interests by members

Minutes:

There were none.

32.

Mayor's announcements

Minutes:

The Mayor thanked all Members of the Council who attended and supported her at the extremely moving Service of Remembrance on Sunday, a particularly poignant occasion this year, the centenary of the Armistice. The Mayor went on to attend a further service of Remembrance at Chichester Cathedral, and ended a reflective day at the beacon lighting ceremony at Butts Brow.  She particularly thanked her Deputy, Cllr Kathy Ballard, for standing in so ably during the many Remembrance events to which she was invited.

 

She paid tribute to the Heritage team, led by Jo Seaman, for their Eastbourne Remembers project which brought to life the stories of ordinary people in extraordinary times in several innovative ways, most particularly the pavement posters which elicited a comment from a friend living in Suffolk.

 

The Mayor also mentioned Danny Negus, Tom Bacon, Andy Bacon, Henry Dunn and Andy Meed, members of the Devonshire Park Ground staff, who recently won the Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year award at the prestigious Institute of Groundsmanship Industry Awards. She congratulated them on their well-deserved success.

 

Looking back to the summer, the Mayor was delighted to host a special Thank You lunch for her Charity Committee and several specially nominated local charity volunteers, at the Airbourne Departure Lounge. Despite the weather preventing many real aircraft from flying, a hastily assembled Mayor’s Squadron bravely put on an alternative paper aeroplane display for other guests, to the hummed accompaniment of the Dambusters.

 

The Mayor had continued to enjoy a number of varied engagements, supporting local charities and organisations. She had been serenaded by a local meningitis fundraising group and a Singing Waiter, played sound tennis with blind sportspeople, found herself stranded in a broken down lifeboat, and had lunch with HRH the Duchess of Gloucester.

 

The presentation of trophies had been a regular and enjoyable fixture in the Mayor’s diary, including those of the County Cup tennis tournament, the Beachy Head Marathon, and indeed to her own chauffeur at the Eastbourne Bowls Tournament.

 

The Mayor's love of walking was well known and she had joined a number of sponsored walks including a Beat the Streets Celebration walk along the seafront. She was apparently now referred to by some as “The Walking Mayor”, an epithet which she embraced when she and some of the more daring members of her Charity Committee undertook a sponsored twilight clamber over the roof of the O2 Arena. The group lived to tell the tale, and were delighted to raise over £2000 for the Mayor’s Charities.

 

The Mayor would be dusting off her sari for her Bollywood Extravaganza on Friday, to which all were cordially invited. The evening promised to be a colourful celebration of all things Bollywood, with fabulous food, dancing, the opportunity to win some very exciting raffle and auction prizes, and a special musical performance by our own former Deputy Mayor, Cllr Miah.

 

The Charity Committee was also working on a second rebranded version of the Mayor’s Ball, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

Chief Finance Officer

Minutes:

The Mayor and the Council welcomed Homira Javadi, Chief Finance Officer to her first meeting of the Council.

34.

Notification of apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was reported from Councillor Swansborough.

35.

Scrutiny annual programme 2018-2019 pdf icon PDF 44 KB

Report of Councillor di Cara on behalf of the Scrutiny Committee

Minutes:

The matter was proposed by Councillor di Cara on behalf of the Scrutiny Committee and seconded by Councillor Sabri.

 

Councillor di Cara addressed the Council and advised that the item relating to the A27, that was scheduled for the Scrutiny Committee on the 3 December would remain on the programme but be deferred to a later date.

 

Resolved: (Unanimously)

 

That the Scrutiny Committee’s annual work programme be approved for 2018/19.

 

Reason for decision:

 

Decision is in accordance with scrutiny procedure rule 7.1.

36.

Polling districts and polling places review pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Report of Electoral and Print Services Manager

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The matter was proposed by Councillor Tutt and seconded by Councillor Shuttleworth.

 

Resolved: (Unanimously)

 

(1) That the Acting Returning Officer’s proposals as set out at appendix 1 of the report be approved.

 

(2) That the Electoral and Print Services Manager, on behalf of the Acting Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, be authorised to implement the Council’s decision in respect of the review.

 

Reasons for decision:

 

To fulfil the statutory duty in respect of periodic review of polling districts and polling places.

37.

Standards - Appointment of independent persons pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Report of Monitoring Officer

Minutes:

The matter was proposed by Councillor Sabri and seconded by Councillor Tutt.

 

Resolved: (Unanimously)

 

(1) That Mr Neal Robinson and Mr Vic Kempner be confirmed as interim Independent Standards Persons across both Eastbourne Borough and Lewes District Councils until July 2019.

 

(2) That an updated recruitment be held in 2019 to confirm two appointments for the next 4 years with aligned job descriptions and remuneration packages across both Councils.

 

(3) That the specific remuneration of the Independent Persons appointed by the Councils be delegated to the Monitoring Officers.

 

Reasons for decision:

 

(1) To provide each Council with sufficient Independent Person cover.

 

(2) To align the terms, across both Councils, on which Independent Persons are engaged.

38.

Draft calendar of meetings 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 112 KB

To agree the proposed draft calendar of meetings for 2019/20.

 

Please note: The calendar will be subject to final approval at the annual meeting of the Council on 22 May 2019.

Minutes:

The Council considered the draft calendar of meetings for 2019/20. It was proposed by Councillor Tutt and seconded by Councillor Metcalfe.

 

Resolved: (Unanimously)

 

That the draft calendar of meetings for 2019/20 be approved, subject to final ratification at the Council’s next annual meeting.

 

Reason for decision:

 

To facilitate the running of the Council’s business in the municipal year 2019/2020.

 

39.

Pavements

Motion submitted by Councillor Rodohan:-

 

“Given the deplorable state of pavements in Eastbourne which have continued to deteriorate over many years this Council calls on East Sussex County Council to allocate at least 50% of the surplus funds from Eastbourne Controlled Parking Scheme to a rolling Annual Programme of Improvements to pavements in Eastbourne commencing in 2019/20”.

Minutes:

Councillor Rodohan moved and Councillor Ballard seconded a notice of motion:

 

“Given the deplorable state of pavements in Eastbourne which have continued to deteriorate over many years this Council calls on East Sussex County Council to allocate at least 50% of the surplus funds from Eastbourne Controlled Parking Scheme to a rolling Annual Programme of Improvements to pavements in Eastbourne commencing in 2019/20”

 

Marie Hennelly addressed the Council in support of the motion.

 

Resolved: (By 25 votes with 1 abstention)

 

That the motion be approved.

 

 

40.

People's Vote

Motion submitted by Councillor Wallis:-

 

“This council respects the result of the 2016 referendum and acknowledges that there was a small majority in favour of leaving the European Union. However, this council also acknowledges that the terms of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union did not form part of the 2016 campaign. Therefore this council calls upon the government to hold a ‘People’s Vote’ on the final terms and agreement on the UK leaving the EU.

 

We urge this ‘People’s Vote’ for the following reasons:

 

(1) There is now a greater understanding of the consequences of the UK leaving the EU.

 

(2) There is clear, cross political party, cross community support for a ‘People’s Vote’ on the final terms of the UK’s departure from the EU in March 2019.”

Minutes:

Councillor Wallis moved and Councillor Wallis seconded a notion of motion:

 

“This council respects the result of the 2016 referendum and acknowledges that there was a small majority in favour of leaving the European Union. However, this council also acknowledges that the terms of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union did not form part of the 2016 campaign. Therefore this council calls upon the government to hold a ‘People’s Vote’ on the final terms and agreement on the UK leaving the EU. We urge this ‘People’s Vote’ for the following reasons:

 

(1) There is now a greater understanding of the consequences of the UK leaving the EU.

 

(2) There is clear, cross political party, cross community support for a ‘People’s Vote’ on the final terms of the UK’s departure from the EU in March 2019.”

 

Paula Welch and Martin Jones (both in support) and Jane Lamb (against) addressed the Council on the motion.

 

Councillors Wallis and Taylor requested a named vote on the motion, in accordance with the council procedure rules.

 

Named voting record for the proposed motion:

 

For: Councillors Bannister, Choudhury, Coles, Dow, Hearn, Holt, Miah, Murray, Robinson, Rodohan, Sabri, Shuttleworth, Tester, Tutt, Ungar and Wallis (16)

 

Against: Councillors Belsey, di Cara, Freebody, Jenkins, Metcalfe, Murdoch, Smart and Taylor (8)

 

Abstentions: Councillors Ballard and Mattock (2)

 

Resolved: (By 16 votes to 8, with 2 abstentions)

 

That the motion be approved.

 

41.

Discussion on minutes of council bodies pdf icon PDF 121 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 the Committee and Civic Services Manager 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

24 July 2018, 28 August 2018, 25 September 2018, 23 October 2018

Audit and Governance Committee

25 July 2018, 19 September 2018

Conservation Area Advisory Group

21 August 2018, 2 October 2018

Scrutiny Committee

3 September 2018

Cabinet

12 September 2018, 24 October 2018

General Licensing Committee

1 October 2018

 

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

 

Audit and Governance Committee – 25 July 2018 – Minute 8 – Audit completion report – raised by Councillor di Cara

 

Planning Committee – 28 August 2018 – Minute 41 – Wish Tower Café, King Edwards Parade – raised by Councillor Taylor.

 

Scrutiny Committee – 3 September 2018 – Minute 11 – Minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2018 – raised by Councillor Smart.

 

Cabinet – 12 September 2018 – Minute 30 – Corporate performance – quarter 1 2018/19 – raised by Councillor Freebody.

 

Cabinet - 24 October 2018 – Minute 40 – Joint transformation programme update – raised by Councillor di Cara

 

Resolved (Unanimously):

 

That the minutes of the above council bodies be accepted.