Agenda and minutes

Eastbourne Borough Council Full Council - Wednesday, 21st July, 2021 6.00 pm

Venue: Shackleton Hall in the Welcome Building, Devonshire Quarter, Compton Street, Eastbourne BN21 4BP

Contact: Committee Services on 01323 410000 

Note: This meeting is open to the public - but public seating is limited and all attending will be requested to provide their contact details, and to wear a face mask. To assist with management of places, if you do plan to attend the meeting please email: committees@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk. 

Items
No. Item

30.

Minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2021 pdf icon PDF 244 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 May 2021 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

 

31.

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).

Minutes:

The following Councillors declared interests in relation to the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 July 2021, Minute 15 ‘Provisional Revenue and Capital Outturn 2020/21’ which had been called for discussion under agenda item 9 and all remained in the room and participated in the discussion:

 

-       Councillor Tutt declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in the item as a Non-Executive Director of Eastbourne Housing Investment Company Limited and as a member of the Aspiration Homes LLP Executive Committee.

-       Councillor Bannister declared a personal, non-prejudicial interests in the item as a Non-Executive Director of Eastbourne Housing Investment Company Limited.

-       Councillor Shuttleworth and Councillor Taylor declared personal, non-prejudicial interests in the item as members of the Aspiration Homes LLP Executive Committee.

 

32.

Mayor's announcements. pdf icon PDF 243 KB

A list of the Mayor’s announcements in respect of his activities since the last meeting is attached for information.

Minutes:

The Mayor drew Council’s attention to the list of activities undertaken by the him and the deputy mayor since the last meeting.   He extended his thanks to everyone who supported his charity walk on Sunday 18 July 2021.

 

33.

Notification of apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors di Cara, Murray and Whippy.

 

34.

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 members of the public had registered to speak.

 

35.

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:

The Mayor confirmed the order of business would be as set down on the agenda.

 

36.

Matters referred from Cabinet or other council bodies.

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

36a

Treasury management annual report 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 268 KB

Report of Councillor Holt on behalf of the Cabinet.  To be referred from the meeting of Cabinet on 14 July 2021.

Minutes:

Councillor Holt (as Cabinet Member for Finance) moved and Councillor Tutt seconded the recommendation made by Cabinet on 14 July 2021 to approve the annual Treasury Management Report for 2020/21 and the 2020/21 prudential and treasury indicators included in the Cabinet Report.

 

In speaking to the recommendation, Councillor Holt advised that the External Assurance Auditors were currently carrying out their review and had thanked the Council for its openness and transparency in relation to the work.

 

Resolved (unanimously):

1.    To approve the annual Treasury Management Report for 2020/21; and

2.    To approve the 2020/21 prudential and treasury indicators included in the Cabinet Report.

 

37.

Motions.

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

37a

Motion - Engagement in Planning

Motion submitted by Councillor Smart:

 

“This Council believes planning works best for residents when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes and related infrastructure.

 

The Council therefore resolves to support the right of communities to be able to engage easily in the planning process by: the full use of digital technology, participation in the making of neighbourhood plans, and maintaining the right to object to individual applications.”

 

Minutes:

Councillor Smart moved and Councillor Lamb seconded the following motion, as set out on the agenda paper, subject to the inclusion of the words ‘local and’ before neighbourhood plans: 

 

“This Council believes planning works best for residents when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes and related infrastructure.

 

The Council therefore resolves to support the right of communities to be able to engage easily in the planning process by: the full use of digital technology, participation in the making of local and neighbourhood plans, and maintaining the right to object to individual applications.”

 

The motion was debated and received support from across the Council.  Councillor Smart expressed his wish that, if approved, this position be communicated to the Government.

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

Resolved that (unanimously) –

This Council believes planning works best for residents when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes and related infrastructure.

 

The Council therefore resolves to support the right of communities to be able to engage easily in the planning process by: the full use of digital technology, participation in the making of local and neighbourhood plans, and maintaining the right to object to individual applications.

 

37b

Motion - Deregulation of Planning

Motion submitted by Councillor Swansborough:

 

"This Council is concerned that Government proposals to deregulate planning will remove the rights of residents to influence or object to inappropriate development where they live.

 

Also, that the Government's proposals will decimate the character of our Borough and give carte blanche to developers to build what they please across large areas without needing planning permission.

 

The Council believes that residents have the right to a say over development that will change the area in which they live and that local councils, in consultation with businesses and residents, are best placed to understand the issues in their area and to respond with a strategy tailored to that area.

 

This Council calls on the Government to scrap its Planning White Paper and instead:

 

·        to undertake a wholesale review of Permitted Development Rights,

 

·        to make the national Planning Inspectorate more accountable to local people;

 

and

 

·        to implement stronger controls to ensure Ministers making decisions on planning applications are not connected either financially or personally with Developers or related parties to the application."

 

Minutes:

Councillor Swansborough moved and Councillor Diplock seconded the following motion as set out on the agenda paper:

 

"This Council is concerned that Government proposals to deregulate planning will remove the rights of residents to influence or object to inappropriate development where they live.

 

Also, that the Government's proposals will decimate the character of our Borough and give carte blanche to developers to build what they please across large areas without needing planning permission.

 

The Council believes that residents have the right to a say over development that will change the area in which they live and that local councils, in consultation with businesses and residents, are best placed to understand the issues in their area and to respond with a strategy tailored to that area.

 

This Council calls on the Government to scrap its Planning White Paper and instead:

 

·        to undertake a wholesale review of Permitted Development Rights,

 

·        to make the national Planning Inspectorate more accountable to local people; and

 

·        to implement stronger controls to ensure Ministers making decisions on planning applications are not connected either financially or personally with Developers or related parties to the application."

 

Councillor Smart moved and Councillor Lamb moved an amendment to the motion (which was tabled at the meeting):

 

1. To erase the whole of the second paragraph and the final bullet point.

2. In the fourth paragraph to change "scrap" to "amend" and erase "instead".

 

The motion and the amendment were debated in full.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and declared as lost (by 8 votes to 16 with one abstention). 

 

The original motion was put to the vote and declared as carried (by 16 votes to 8 with one abstention).

 

Resolved that (by 16 votes to 8 with 1 abstention):

This Council is concerned that Government proposals to deregulate planning will remove the rights of residents to influence or object to inappropriate development where they live.

 

Also, that the Government's proposals will decimate the character of our Borough and give carte blanche to developers to build what they please across large areas without needing planning permission.

 

The Council believes that residents have the right to a say over development that will change the area in which they live and that local councils, in consultation with businesses and residents, are best placed to understand the issues in their area and to respond with a strategy tailored to that area.

 

This Council calls on the Government to scrap its Planning White Paper and instead:

 

·        to undertake a wholesale review of Permitted Development Rights,

 

·        to make the national Planning Inspectorate more accountable to local people; and

 

·        to implement stronger controls to ensure Ministers making decisions on planning applications are not connected either financially or personally with Developers or related parties to the application.

 

37c

Motion - Honorary Alderman (John Joseph Ungar)

Motion submitted by Councillor Tutt:

 

“That a special meeting of the Council be convened at which the Council consider a motion to be put before it to exercise its powers under Section 249 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1972 and confer the title of Honorary Alderman upon John Joseph Ungar, who has in the opinion of the Council rendered eminent service as a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council from May 1991 – May 1998 and May 2011 until his retirement on 2 May 2019.”

Minutes:

Councillor Diplock moved and Councillor Belsey seconded the following motion as set out on the agenda paper:

 

“That a special meeting of the Council be convened at which the Council consider a motion to be put before it to exercise its powers under Section 249 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1972 and confer the title of Honorary Alderman upon John Joseph Ungar, who has in the opinion of the Council rendered eminent service as a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council from May 1991 – May 1998 and May 2011 until his retirement on 2 May 2019.”

 

The motion received support from across the Council and it was agreed that full speeches in support would be made at the special meeting.

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

Resolved (unanimously):

That a special meeting of the Council be convened at which the Council consider a motion to be put before it to exercise its powers under Section 249(1) of the Local Government Act, 1972 and confer the title of Honorary Alderman upon John Joseph Ungar, who has in the opinion of the Council rendered eminent service as a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council from May 1991 – May 1998 and May 2011 until his retirement on 2 May 2019.

 

37d

Motion - Honorary Alderman (Sandie Howlett)

Motion submitted by Councillor Belsey:

 

“That a special meeting of the Council be convened at which the Council consider a motion to be put before it to exercise its powers under Section 249 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1972 and confer the title of Honorary Alderman upon Sandie Howlett, who has in the opinion of the Council rendered eminent service as a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council from 2 May 2002 until her retirement on 11 May 2015.”

 

Minutes:

Councillor Belsey moved and Councillor Tutt seconded the following motion as set out on the agenda paper:

 

“That a special meeting of the Council be convened at which the Council consider a motion to be put before it to exercise its powers under Section 249 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1972 and confer the title of Honorary Alderman upon Sandie Howlett, who has in the opinion of the Council rendered eminent service as a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council from 2 May 2002 until her retirement on 11 May 2015.”

 

The motion received support from across the Council and it was agreed that full speeches in support would be made at the special meeting.

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

Resolved (unanimously):

That a special meeting of the Council be convened at which the Council consider a motion to be put before it to exercise its powers under Section 249 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1972 and confer the title of Honorary Alderman upon Sandie Howlett, who has in the opinion of the Council rendered eminent service as a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council from 2 May 2002 until her retirement on 11 May 2015

 

38.

Discussion on minutes of council bodies. pdf icon PDF 157 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 Head of Democratic 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:

 

Licensing Committee – 24 May 2021

Planning Committee – 26 May 2021 and 29 June 2021

Cabinet – 2 June 2021 and 14 July 2021

Scrutiny Committee – 12 July 2021

 

Councillor Smart raised for discussion, Minute 12 ‘Reset and Recovery Programme’ from Cabinet on 14 July, and asked questions in relation to the certainty of the £6.6m shortfall.  Councillor Tutt gave assurance of the figures and offered to answer any detailed questions outside the meeting.

 

Councillor Smart raised for discussion, Minute 15 ‘Provisional Revenue and Capital Outturn 2020/21’ from Cabinet on 14 July, and asked about the final costs in relation to the Devonshire Quarter Project and confirmation that the £4.6m of savings last year were correctly calculated.  Councillor Holt gave assurance of the figures and advised that he understood the Chief Finance Officer was in the process of providing the detailed breakdown requested by Councillor Smart at the Cabinet meeting and he would follow up the response. 

 

Councillor Freebody raised for discussion, Minute 17 ‘Housing development update’ from Cabinet on 14 July, and his disappointment that the points raised by the Scrutiny Committee on 12 July 2021 in relation to concerns about costs of the project had not been take on board. Councillor Wallis as deputy chair of Scrutiny Committee supported his concerns about the volatility of the market and cost of materials.  Councillor Shuttleworth responded that the Cabinet had heard the concerns and gave assurance as set out in the resolutions that the project would only go ahead if there was a sound and financially viable business case, which would take account of these considerations.

 

39.

Date of Next Meeting

Minutes:

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting of Full Council was 17 November 2021 at 6 pm.