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Lewes and Eastbourne
Councils

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall Grove Road Eastbourne

Contact: Peter Finnis on 01323 415003  Email:  peter.finnis@eastbourne.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

37.

Minutes

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2013 were presented and the Mayor was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

 

 

38.

Honorary Alderman and Past Mayor Joseph Angelman

Minutes:

Members observed a one minute silence in memory of Honorary Alderman and Past Mayor (1979-80) Joseph Angelman who died on 7 October, shortly after his 100th birthday. 

Jo Angelman had first been elected to County Borough of Eastbourne in May 1969 for the Downside Ward and served until the dissolution of the County Borough in March 1974.  He was elected to the Borough of Eastbourne on 10 May 1976 for the Downside Ward and served until 5 May 1980. He served as Mayor in 1979/80 and was made an Honorary Alderman on 28 October 1985 in recognition of his service to the Borough.

 

39.

Urgent item of business - Future of maternity services at Eastbourne District General Hospital

Minutes:

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

Resolved (unanimously):(1) That Council procedure rules be suspended in order that an emergency motion can be moved on the subject of maternity services at Eastbourne District General Hospital and that Honorary Freeman, Liz Walke, the Council’s Hospitals Champion, be invited to address the Council on the motion.

(2) That with regard to the urgency provisions of Section 100 B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Mayor be advised that the reason for urgency is that information came to light at a Scrutiny led meeting with East Sussex Hospitals Trust on Wednesday evening of last week, after the publication of the agenda, 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.

The Mayor gave his agreement to this item of business being added to the agenda for the reasons stated in the resolution and determined that it be taken as item 10(b) on the agenda (see minute 51 below).

 

40.

Mayor's announcements.

Minutes:

1.           The Mayor was very happy to attend two coffee mornings for Macmillan Cancer Support as part of their Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning event on 27 September 2013.  The coffee mornings were held at the Lions Mansion Hotel and the Marina Guest House.

2.           On the weekend of 28 and 29 September, the Society of Eastbourne Artists held an Art Exhibition at the Town Hall in aid of the Mayor’s Charity. Over £1000 was raised from the raffle, commission and sale of refreshments, which were provided by the Mayor’s Charity.

3.    The Mayor was once again pleased to attend the Eastbourne Beer Festival at the Winter Garden on 12 October. The Mayor helped judge the Beer of the Festival, with Hastings’ Number 5 winning the award.

4.    The Beachy Head Marathon returned on 26 October and the Mayor was pleased to be at the starting line of the main marathon, as well the new 10k run.  He then welcomed back the 1800 runners at the finish line later in the morning.

5.    During the period of Remembrance the Mayor attended a number of events around the Town, including an Act of Remembrance at the Redoubt on 8 November, a visit to the Poppy Sellers around the Town on 9th November, the Annual Remembrance Parade and Service, and the Ruthless Memorial Service on 10 November and the Armistice Day gathering in the Arndale Centre on 11 November.

6.    On 16 November the Mayor made a visit to Fort Mahon Plage in France to attend the unveiling ceremony of a plaque dedicated to 5 young French Men who left Fort Mahon Plage in canoes during WW2, in order to escape occupied France and join the British Army’s war effort. The men made their journey across the channel and landed at Beachy Head before being taken in by the people of Eastbourne.  During the visit the Mayor was presented with a British parachute which was found near Paris in 1943. We are currently investigating the origins of the parachute and hope that we can donate it to the Redoubt Museum in due course.

7.    The next event in aid of the Mayor’s Charity is a Christmas Concert which will be held in the Gold Room at the Winter Garden on Wednesday 11 December with a retiring collection in aid of the charities.

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

 

41.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillors Gordon Jenkins, Gill Mattock and Neil Stanley.

 

42.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

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.  The following were declared:

(a) Councillor West declared a personal interest in minute 49 (and 54 in the confidential section of these minutes) (Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline – (WEL) Investment and Change of Governance) as she was a council appointed non executive director on the board of WEL.  She did not participate in the discussion and vote.

(b) Councillors Bannister and Murray both declared DPIs in minute 51 (Future of maternity services at Eastbourne District General Hospital) in view of their respective partner’s employment with the NHS trust.

(c) In relation to minute 51 (Future of maternity services at Eastbourne District General Hospital), the Chief Executive advised members of the Council’s Scrutiny Committee and the Council’s representatives on the East Sussex Health and Overview Committee (Councillor Ungar) and East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board (Councillor Tester) that they should refrain from participating in any debate in order that they would be free from any suggestion of predisposition should the matter be a subject for consideration at meetings of any of the aforementioned bodies.

(d) Councillor Tester declared a DPI in minute 52(2) (Assets of Community Value (ACV) - Localism Act 2011) in view of his management role in 2 pharmacies near the subject premises.

(e) It was reported that in relation to minute 47 (Information Technology Provision for Elected Members) dispensations had been granted to all Councillors on 9 October 2013 to enable them to participate in discussions and in voting.

 

43.

Calendar of Meetings 2014/15 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Report of Head of Corporate Development.

Minutes:

The Council received the report of the Head of Corporate Development containing a draft calendar of meetings for the council year commencing May 2014 until May 2015.  It was moved by Councillor Tutt, seconded by Councillor Elkin, and;

Resolved:That the calendar of meetings for 2013/14 be approved subject to final ratification at the annual meeting of the Council in May 2013.

 

44.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Minutes:

The Council received the report of Senior Head of Community. It was moved by Councillor Bannister, seconded by Councillor Elkin and;

Resolved:  (1) That the 2013/14 Local Council Tax Reduction scheme be adopted as the 2014/15 scheme.

(2) That a three month vacation period be set during which a further Class C local discount will not be allowed.

 

45.

Eastbourne Community Safety Plan pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Report of Councillor Margaret Bannister on behalf of the Cabinet.

Minutes:

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

Resolved: That the updated Plan, together with continued delegated implementation authority to Senior Head of Community be agreed.

 

46.

Eastbourne Town Centre Local Plan

Minutes:

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

Resolved: (1) That the Eastbourne Town Centre Local Plan along with the revised Policies Map be approved for adoption.

(2) That any minor or technical adjustments found necessary in the Town Centre Local Plan are delegated to the Senior Head of Development in consultation with the Cabinet portfolio holder.

 

47.

Information Technology Provision for Elected Members pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Report of Councillor Troy Tester on behalf of the Cabinet.

Minutes:

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

Resolved: (1) That the new options for councillors IT provision as detailed in the report to Cabinet be adopted.

(2) That the IT allowance scheme for all councillors continue to contribute towards broadband and printing costs.

(3) That the new Protocol for Councillors in an Agile Working environment and associated policy changes be adopted.

(Note: See minute 42(e) above as to grant of dispensations to all Councillors)

 

48.

Council Statement of Licensing Policy 2014 -2019 and Cumulative Impact Policy pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Report of Councillor Steve Wallis on behalf of the Cabinet.

Minutes:

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

Resolved: (1) That the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2014-2019 be adopted as amended.

 

49.

Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline - Investment and change of governance pdf icon PDF 54 KB

Report of Councillor Tutt on behalf of the Cabinet and Report of Chief Finance Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council received the report of Councillor Tutt on behalf of the Cabinet setting out the open summaries of the minute of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 October 2013 and a supplementary report of the Chief Finance Officer providing non exempt information.  The Chief Executive gave a verbal update in relation to a number of matters which had been raised at the Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of this matter at their meeting on 6 November 2013 including clarification concerning the Council’s voting rights which at 49.9% would ensure the company was able to operate most effectively and not subject to the legal and financial restrictions that a greater shareholding would entail and the Council’s right of veto in relation to specified reserved matters.

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

Resolved: That the Council support the planned development proposal for the business as set out in the confidential (private) part of the agenda.

Notes: (1) The full minute and resolution in respect of this matter is set out in the confidential section of these minutes.  Exempt information reasons 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and 4 - information relating to any consultations or negotiations in connection with any labour relations matter.

(2) See minute 42(a) above as to declaration of interest by Councillor West.

 

50.

Motion - The Leaf Hall Trust, Seaside

Motion submitted by Councillor Steve Wallis:-

 

That this council recognises the Leaf Hall as a part of Eastbourne’s Victorian heritage. That this council congratulates and thanks The Leaf Hall Trust for all the work that they do for the local community and wishes the trust every success with their ‘Sponsor a Slate’ campaign to raise funds for a new roof in time to celebrate the 150 years of the Leaf Hall in Eastbourne in 2014.

 

Minutes:

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Wallis and seconded by Councillor Bannister:

That this council recognises the Leaf Hall as a part of Eastbourne’s Victorian heritage. That this council congratulates and thanks The Leaf Hall Trust for all the work that they do for the local community and wishes the trust every success with their ‘Sponsor a Slate’ campaign to raise funds for a new roof in time to celebrate the 150 years of the Leaf Hall in Eastbourne in 2014.

Ms Terri Sayers-Cooper on behalf of the Leaf Hall Trust addressed the Council.

Resolved: (Unanimously) That the motion be approved.

 

51.

Motion - Future of maternity services at Eastbourne District General Hospital

Minutes:

The Chief Executive advised those members of the Council who were either members of the Council’s Scrutiny Committee or a Council appointed representative on either the East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee or the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board (bodies that were likely to be asked to comment upon or make representations in relation to proposals made by the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust) not to participate in any debate on the motion so as to avoid any inference of predisposition.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Tutt and seconded by Councillor Elkin:

That Eastbourne Borough Council expresses concern to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Clinical Commissioning Group that a statement made to the Council by the Chief Executive of the East Sussex Healthcare Trust that, “We are not planning to return consultant led services to Eastbourne” is, in the view of the Council pre-determination of any future consultation on this issue.

Ms Liz Walke, Honorary Freeman and the Council’s Hospitals Champion, addressed the Council.

The motion was then put to the vote without debate.

Resolved:  (With no votes cast against) That the motion be approved.

Notes: (1) See minute 39 above as to decision placing this matter on the agenda as a matter of urgency.

(2) See minute 42(b) above as to interests declared by members in this matter and 42(c) as to issue of predisposition of certain members.

(3) Councillor Taylor requested that his name be recorded as having abstained in the vote.

 

52.

Minutes of council bodies and items for discussion

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

Audit and Governance Committee

25 September 2013

Planning Committee

1 and 29 October 2013

Licensing Act Committee

7 October 2013

Conservation Area Advisory Group

8 October 2013

Cabinet

23 October 2013

Scrutiny Committee

6 November 2013

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

1.

Audit and Governance Committee, 25 September 2013 – Minute 13 – Annual Governance Report 2012/13 – Item raised by Councillor Tutt.

 

2.

Cabinet, 23 October 2013 – Minute 41 – Assets of Community Value (ACV) - Localism Act 2011 – Item raised by Councillor Coles.

 

(Note:  See minute 42 (d) above as to declaration of interest by Councillor Tester.)

 

Further to Council Procedure Rule 14.3 it was,

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

 

53.

Exclusion of the Public - Motion that:

The remainder of the business of the council concerns the consideration of the confidential proceedings of council bodies.  As such, discussion is likely to disclose exempt information within the categories specified either beneath the item or within the open summary of the relevant minutes. Furthermore, in relation to paragraph 10 of schedule 12A, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The public, therefore, should be excluded from the remainder of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as otherwise there was a likelihood of disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.  The relevant paragraphs of schedule 12A and descriptions of the exempt information are shown beneath item 49 above where an open summary of the minute is given.