Agenda and minutes

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2024 were submitted and approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

Apologies were received from Councillor Lamb. Councillor Small was appointed as a Member of the Committee under delegated powers, for this meeting only.

There were none.

On matters not already included on the agenda and for which prior written notice has been given (total time allowed 15 minutes).

There were none.

The Chairman to notify the Committee of any items of urgent business to be added to the agenda.

There were none.

The Chairman to report any requests received to address the Committee from a member of the public or from a Councillor in respect of an item listed below and to invite the Committee to consider taking such items at the commencement of the meeting.

Requests to address the Committee on item 8 - Request from Full Council to consider the Cabinet decisions for the Sovereign Leisure Centre, were received from Mr Ian Phelps, Mr Hugh Graham, Mr Robert Robinson and Jan Bruce.

A request to address the Committee was also received from Councillor Smart.

Ian Fitzpatrick, Deputy Chief Executive, and Homira Javadi, Chief Finance gave a presentation which detailed the Council’s financial position, its statutory duties, including a requirement to set a balanced budget and the expenditure restrictions that would be imposed should it be necessary for a section 114 notice to be issued. It was further explained that, although £3 million of savings had been identified, £2.7 million of additional savings were required and the Council’s focus was on achieving the savings through discretionary services.

The presentation also outlined the history of the Sovereign Centre’s external management and the Council’s levels of financial support for the Centre since its return to management by the Council following the Pandemic, during which time the centre had been forced to close. The net cost of the Centre to the Council to the end of 2024/2025 was explained as well as a capital requirement for the site of £3 million over the next five-years.

The reconfiguring of the gala pool and how lessons previously held in the training pool would be reconfigured was explained. Potential dry-side activities such an indoor adventure park, clip and climb and bouldering were also included in the presentation. The long-term seafront strategy, leisure opportunities and funding strategies were outlined.

The following speakers and Eastbourne residents addressed the Committee and raised the points below – Ian Phelps, Hugh Graham, Robert Robinson and Jan Bruce:

·       As well as a recreational space, the fun pool was an important and thriving space for physical and mental wellbeing, and a crucial venue to teach and promote water-safety. The facilities at the Centre were a much loved and integral part of the community, providing health and social benefits to people of all ages. The fun pool provided an affordable activity in a safe environment for families who were struggling with the cost of living. The closure of the pools risked alienating families, reducing opportunities for youth engagement and undermining public health goals. Studies showed that young people who lived locally to closed facilities performed more poorly in exams and were more likely to commit crime. Local schools in Eastbourne and school-heads should have been consulted on the proposals.

·       To date, 7200 people had signed a petition asking for the fun pool at the Sovereign Centre to be saved and 130,000 people had viewed one post about the closure of the two pools at the Centre. There had also been protests at Council meetings where the issue had been discussed. It was important that the Council engaged with residents and listened to their concerns. Responses to communications expressing concern were also expected.

·       There was a question over the financial figures presented and whether they were provided by the Council or by Wave Active. The Council stated that the service would need to run at the minimum, on a cost-neutral basis. However, Wave Active would need to agree detailed arrangements. Queries remained over the contract and continuing operational costs. There was also an important question over who the financial risk  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Jo Harper, Head of Business Planning and Performance and Linda Farley,  Assistant Director Customer Service and Delivery, presented the report which detailed the council’s progress and performance in respect of service areas for the Second Quarter of the year (July-September 2024) as shown in Appendix 1 of the report. During discussion, the following points were highlighted:

·       Regarding the performance indicator for the average void relet time key-to-key, the only opportunity to undertake significant refurbishment was when a property was void and by its nature, it meant that there would be period of time before new tenants could move in.

·       With regard to the performance indicator for Time taken from council receiving a fully complete disabled facility grant application to the council approving the grant, the process was complex and involved gathering all the information needed and ensuring the applicant was eligible.

·       Council tax and business rates collection values had improved significantly from the first quarter of 2024/2025. However, a system migration was still ongoing, and extra staff had been brought in to support the Teams work.

·       The performance indicator for the average time taken to answer calls had improved greatly and was a difficult indicator to benchmark as other local authorities generally, did not publish their times. The calls received were complex and the complexity increased with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and multiple needs. Similarly, the complexity of cases had impacted on the average time taken to process new claims for housing and council tax benefit. The system migration had affected this area of work also. However, it was anticipated that different working methods and additional staff brought in would make improvements.

·       Appendix 2 to the report provided detail on benchmarking through the sources such as Local Government (LG) Inform and East Sussex County Council.

Resolved to note the report.

Steve Houchin, Deputy Chief finance Officer and Lynn Ingram, Interim Head of Financial Planning, presented the report which detailed the resetting of the budget for 2024/25 at the midpoint of the year, incorporating key financial risks, issues and opportunities for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and setting the basis for preparing a balanced General Fund budget for 2025/26. During discussion, the following points were highlighted:

·       The strategic savings referred to in the report were areas where savings that would de-risk the Council had been identified but where final figures had not yet come forward and further work was needed.

Resolved to note the report.

Steve Houchin, Deputy Chief Finance Officer and Lynn Ingram, Interim Head of Financial Planning, presented the report which detailed the interim Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2025/26 to 2026/27, together with the updated Capital Programme position. During discussion, the following points were highlighted:

·       With reference to the Council’s borrowing costs, the total cost for interest was made up of two components: interest rate for the principal loan, which is at 5% and assumed on the basis of the medium-term financial strategy; and the minimum revenue provision, which reflected the Council's obligation to put aside funding to repay the principal that has been borrowed against.

Resolved to note the report.

To receive the Forward Plan of the Cabinet.

The Chair introduced the Forward Plan of Cabinet decisions which outlined those reports due for consideration by the Cabinet its future meetings. The Committee noted the following additional items that would be considered for inclusion on the Committee’s next agenda:

·       General fund budget 2025/26 and capital programme

·       Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators 2025/26, Capital Strategy & Investment Strategy

·       Housing revenue account budget 2025/26

·       Local council tax reduction scheme

Resolved to note the Forward Plan of Cabinet decisions.

To receive the Scrutiny Work Programme.

The Chair introduced the Scrutiny Committee work programme. Members were advised of the items already included in the work programme and were asked if there were additional items that they wished to be included.

Resolved to note the Committee’s work programme.

To note that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to be held on the 10 February 2025 in the Court Room, Town Hall, Eastbourne commencing at 6:00pm.

Resolved to note that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to be held on 10 February 2025 in the Court Room, Town Hall, Eastbourne commencing at 6:00pm.