Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the annual and ordinary meetings held on 8 May 2013 were presented and the Mayor was authorised to sign them as correct records.

1        In May the RAF Association held their 70^th Anniversary Annual Conference in the town and the Mayor was pleased to be invited to attend a number of their events including a parade and service at the Bandstand.

2        The Mayor’s chosen charity for 2012/13, Lark in the Park Charitable Trust, recently purchased a mobile home at Coombe Haven Holiday Park using the funds raised by the Mayor.  This would provide a holiday location for local youngsters with disabilities.  The Mayor officially opened the caravan on 17 May.

3                   The second Sunshine Carnival took place along the seafront on 25 May and the Mayor was pleased to help judge the floats and entries before taking part in the carnival, travelling in a vintage car from Fisherman’s Green to the Wish Tower.

4                   The Aegon International Tennis event took place in Eastbourne recently and the Mayor was pleased to present the trophies to the Finals winners at Devonshire Park on 22 June.

5        Armed Forces Day, now in its fifth year, was held on 29 June.  At the start of that week the Mayor attended the raising of the Armed Forces Day flag at the Redoubt Fortress.  On Armed Forces Day the Mayor attended the Drumhead Service at the Redoubt in the morning and the Deputy Mayor attended the Cadet Tattoo in the evening.  The Mayor thanked Eastbourne Combined Ex-Services Association for organising all of the Armed Forces Day events.

6        The annual 999 Emergency Services Display was held at the Western Lawns on 6 and 7 May and the Mayor attended the opening ceremony as well as visiting the Community Responders tent to see the work they do.

7                   Langney Shopping Centre recently re-opened following the roof collapse before Christmas.  On 12 July the Mayor visited the centre and officially opened the newly revamped Tesco Metro store. Tesco thanked the Mayor by donating £500 to his chosen charities for 2013/14, Chloe’s Fight for Sight and Matthew 25 Mission.

8        The Mayor also attended a number of AGMs, concerts, open days and exhibitions in the last few months.

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillors Mattock and Warner.

Councillor Tester declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of the motion at item 26 below, due to the close proximity of premises owned by his employer, and withdrew from the meeting during this item.

Distinct from disclosable pecuniary interests,Councillors Ungar, Jenkins, Harris, Miah, Hearn, Murray and Taylor all elected to withdraw from the meeting during the debate and decision on the motion at item 26 on the grounds that, as members of the planning committee, they were likely to be required to consider current planning applications in respect of the premises in question and remaining in the meeting could result in their predetermination of the issue.

Councillor Liddiard, as a member of the planning committee, declared the same risk of pre-determination as the seven councillors above in respect of the motion at item 26 but elected to remain and participate in the item on the understanding that he would withdraw from any subsequent planning committee consideration on applications relevant to this matter.

Report of Councillor Troy Tester on behalf of the Cabinet.

The Council received the report of Councillor Tester on behalf of the Cabinet. It was moved by Councillor Tester, seconded by Councillor Tutt, and;

Resolved:  That the refreshed corporate plan and the delegation arrangements for senior heads of service to agree any outstanding matters of detail on performance indicators and final formatting in consultation with lead Cabinet members be approved.

Report of Councillor Patrick Warner on behalf of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Council received the report of Councillor Shuttleworth on behalf of the Scrutiny Committee. It was moved by Councillor Shuttleworth, seconded by Councillor Cooke, and;

Resolved:  That the Scrutiny Committee’s annual work programme for 2013/14 be approved.

Report of Councillor Steve Wallis on behalf of the Cabinet.

The Council received the report of Councillor Wallis on behalf of the Cabinet. It was moved by Councillor Wallis, seconded by Councillor Tutt, and;

Resolved:  That the ‘Parking at Development in Eastbourne and Local Sustainable Accessibility Improvement Contributions’ Supplementary Planning Guidance (2004) be revoked.

Report of Councillor Troy Tester on behalf of the Cabinet.

The Council received the report of Councillor Tester on behalf of the Cabinet. It was moved by Councillor Tester, seconded by Councillor Tutt, and;

Resolved:  That the Human Resources strategy and its application to the Council’s workforce be adopted.

That this Council enforces the restrictive covenant on the Drive, Victoria Drive and in this way, safeguards the premises - as a potential community hub for Old Town and an enterprise complementary to Albert Parade - until such a time as all possible avenues to achieve this have been exhausted.

The following motion was originally submitted by Councillor Ansell:

That this Council enforces the restrictive covenant on the Drive, Victoria Drive and in this way, safeguards the premises - as a potential community hub for Old Town and an enterprise complementary to Albert Parade - until such a time as all possible avenues to achieve this have been exhausted.

At the meeting, Councillor Ansell proposed an amended version of the motionand this was accepted by the Council in accordance with council procedure rule 13.14. The amended motion now under consideration was seconded by Councillor Tutt and was as follows:

That, in order to demonstrate full Council support for the position taken by Cabinet 10 July, this Council takes all possible steps - subject to legal and financial constraints - to ensure that the covenant in favour of the Borough Council is adhered to and in this way, safeguards the premises as a valuable community asset for Old Town and an enterprise complementary to Albert Parade.

Resolved: That the following substantive motion be approved:

That, in order to demonstrate full Council support for the position taken by Cabinet 10 July, this Council takes all possible steps - subject to legal and financial constraints - to ensure that the covenant in favour of the Borough Council is adhered to and in this way, safeguards the premises as a valuable community asset for Old Town and an enterprise complementary to Albert Parade.

That this council urges the town's Member of Parliament to use his vote at the second reading of The EU Referendum Bill to obtain for the people of Eastbourne their own chance to have a direct say on The United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Union - in the form of a referendum.

The following motion was submitted by Councillor Ede and seconded by Councillor Ansell:

That this council urges the town's Member of Parliament to use his vote at the third reading of The EU Referendum Bill to obtain for the people of Eastbourne their own chance to have a direct say on The United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Union - in the form of a referendum.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Ungar and seconded by Councillor Tester

• Delete the words “at the third reading of the EU Referendum Bill.”

• Add to the words at the end of the motion “after the next General Election, and at a time when parliamentary legislation can actually enforce a referendum bill.”

• Add the following additional part to the motion:

“Further, the Council recognises that the Coalition Government has already agreed and legislated for a referendum. The Council supports the Member of Parliament in giving priority to measures that promote jobs, growth and stability in the local and national economy.”

So that the amended motion would now read:

“That this Council urges the town’s Member of Parliament to use his vote to obtain for the people of Eastbourne their chance to have a direct say on the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the European Union – in the form of a referendum after the next General Election, and at a time when parliamentary legislation can actually enforce a referendum bill.

Further, the Council recognises that the Coalition Government has already agreed and legislated for a referendum. The Council supports the Member of Parliament in giving priority to measures that promote jobs, growth and stability in the local and national economy.”

Resolved: (By 13 votes to 11) That the following substantive motion be approved:

That this Council urges the town’s Member of Parliament to use his vote to obtain for the people of Eastbourne their chance to have a direct say on the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the European Union – in the form of a referendum after the next General Election, and at a time when parliamentary legislation can actually enforce a referendum bill.

Further, the Council recognises that the Coalition Government has already agreed and legislated for a referendum. The Council supports the Member of Parliament in giving priority to measures that promote jobs, growth and stability in the local and national economy.

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 17 July 2013.  A list of such items (if any) will be circulated prior to the start of the meeting.

The following are appended to this agenda:-

Conservation Area Advisory Group        14 May 2013

Planning Committee                              21 May 2013

Cabinet                                                 29 May 2013

Scrutiny Committee                              3 June 2013

Planning Committee                              11 June 2013

Audit and Governance Committee         26 June 2013

The following will be circulated prior to the meeting:-

Planning Committee                              9 July 2013

Cabinet                                                 10 July 2013

Note:  Referred matters – Paragraphs in minutes of council bodies marked with * in front of the paragraph number refer to matters in which the council’s powers are not delegated or not exclusively exercisable by the body concerned.  These matters require formal approval by the council and are listed separately on this agenda.

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

Conservation Area Advisory Group        14 May 2013

Planning Committee                              21 May, 11 June and 9 July 2013

Cabinet                                                 29 May and 10 July 2013

Scrutiny Committee                              3 June 2013

Audit and Governance Committee         26 June 2013

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14, Members raised the following items for discussion:-

1. Cabinet, 10 July 2013, page 98, minute 25 – Save the Pub Group council survey – raised by Councillor Jenkins.

2. Cabinet, 29 May 2013, page 44, minute 5 – Devonshire Park review – procurement strategy and phasing – raised by Councillor Heaps.

Further to Council Procedure Rule 14.3 it was,

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

NOTE: At minute 16 of the Planning Committee minutes of 9 July 2013 under declarations of interests, Councillor Jenkins was recorded as having declared an interest as a friend of the applicant and withdrew from the meeting for item 4, 15-19 Prideaux Road.  It should read that he was a friend of the objector and was not required to withdraw. This would be amended at the next meeting of the Planning Committee when approving the minutes as a true and correct record.