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Lewes and Eastbourne
Councils

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber at County Hall, St Annes Crescent, Lewes

Contact: Committee Services on 01273 471600 

Media

Items
No. Item

20.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 235 KB

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council dated 2 May 2018 (attached herewith).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 2 May 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

21.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barnes, Giles, Harrison-Hicks, Lambert and Wallraven.

22.

Declarations of interest

Disclosure by councillors of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the councillor regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None were declared.

23.

Announcements pdf icon PDF 147 KB

To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Council, Leader of the Council, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive. A list of the Chair of the Council's engagements since the previous meeting is enclosed.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(i) Chair of the Council’s engagements

 

The Council received a list of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Council’s engagements carried out since the meeting of the Council held on 2 May 2018.

 

(ii) Alan Osborne

 

The Chair of the Council made a special announcement to mark the forthcoming retirement of Alan Osborne, the Council’s Deputy Chief Executive.  The Chair, on behalf of the Council wished him a long and happy retirement.

 

(iii) Councillor Bikson

 

The Chair and Councillor Smith welcomed Councillor Nancy Bikson to her first meeting of the Council, following her election at the Chailey and Wivelsfield Ward By-Election on the 12 July 2018.

 

(iv) Former Councillor Rod Wilson

 

It was reported that former District Councillor Rod Wilson had sadly passed away. The Council took a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

24.

Recommendations from Cabinet pdf icon PDF 94 KB

To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 July 2018 (to follow).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 July 2018 relating to:

 

(a)  Minute 7 - Finance update – performance quarter 4 – 2017-2018;

 

Unreserved item

 

The Chair of the Council moved, and Councillor Catlin seconded the motion, that the recommendations of Cabinet held on 2 July 2018 contained in minute 7, relating to the finance update for performance quarter 4 - 2017-2018, be received and approved.

 

The motion was put to the meeting, declared carried and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

That the annual treasury management report for 2017/2018 be approved.

 

(b)  Minute 10 – Review of the council plan 2016-2020

 

Reserved item by Councillor Denis

 

Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council moved, and Councillor Maskell seconded the motion, that the recommendations of Cabinet held on 2 July 2018 contained in minute 10 relating to the review of the council plan for 2016-2020 be received and approved.

 

The motion was put to the meeting, declared not carried and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

That the council plan contents not be adopted.

 

(c)  Minute 13 – Affordable housing supplementary planning document (SPD)

 

Unreserved item

 

The Chair of the Council moved, and Councillor Catlin seconded the motion, that the recommendations of Cabinet held on 2 July 2018 contained in minute 13 relating to the affordable housing supplementary planning document be received and approved.

 

The motion was put to the meeting, declared carried and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

That the affordable housing supplementary planning document be adopted.

25.

Meetings attendance pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Report of the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services regarding meetings attendance.

 

The Chair of the Council moved, and Councillor Merry seconded the motion that the recommendations contained in the report be approved.

 

The motion was put to the meeting, declared carried and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

(1) That an extension be granted to allow Councillor Andy Loraine’s period of non-attendance at Council meetings to run for a further six months from the date of Council’s approval (from 16 July 2018 to 16 January 2019).

 

(2) That a dispensation be granted to allow any councillor who is unable to attend the full Council meeting on 26 November 2018 an extended attendance exemption until the full Council meeting on 25 February 2019, where this would cause a member to go six months without attending a meeting.

 

Reason for decisions:

 

To comply with the Council’s legal duties and to allow members to remain qualified as councillors until such time as they are able to attend a meeting of the Council.

26.

Memberships

To note the appointments to the following committees:

 

·         Audit and Standards Committee – Councillor J Peterson replaces Councillor S Catlin.

 

·         Scrutiny Committee – vacant Conservative seat (previously allocated to Councillor C Sugarman).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council noted the following appointments to the following committees:

 

·         Audit and Standards Committee – Councillor Peterson appointed to vacant Conservative seat. (This is revised from what was originally listed on the agenda).

 

·         Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Smith advised that Councillor Bikson was appointed to the vacant Conservative seat. (This is revised from what was originally listed on the agenda).

27.

Appointment of co-opted, non-voting Town/Parish Council Members to the Audit and Standards Committee for Standards Matters Only

To note that the Sussex and Surrey Associations of Local Councils have appointed the following three councillors to serve as co-opted, non-voting Town/Parish Council Members on the Audit and Standards Committee for Standards Matters Only:

 

·         Councillor Penny Lower (Seaford Town Council)

·         Councillor Fiona Harrison (Kingston Parish Council)

·         Councillor Don McBeth (Ditchling Parish Council)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council noted that the Lewes District Associations of Local Councils have appointed the following three councillors to serve as co-opted, non-voting Town/Parish Council Members on the Audit and Standards Committee for Standards Matters Only:

 

·         Councillor Penny Lower (Seaford Town Council)

 

·         Councillor Fiona Harrison (Kingston Parish Council)

 

·         Councillor Don McBeth (Ditchling Parish Council)

28.

Notices of motion pdf icon PDF 158 KB

To consider notices of motion which have been received.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair reported that notices of motions had been submitted under council procedure rule 14 by Councillor Ient.

Councillor Ient moved, and Councillor Osborne seconded, the notice of motion as follows:

 

1)    Renewable Energy Schemes

 

“That from 1 September 2019 new housing and business/commercial planning applications to Lewes District Council should usually include the provision of a 'renewable energy scheme’; and that any such scheme would not become binding on the applicant unless included by the local planning authority as a condition of any planning permission granted.

 

That officers:

 

- Seek to incorporate requirements to this effect in local plan policy, in accordance with planning policy legislation, at the very earliest opportunity, and

 

- Use best endeavours to ensure that the South Downs National Park Authority does likewise.”

 

The motion was put to the meeting, declared carried and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

Accordingly.

Councillor Ient moved, and Councillor Denis seconded, the notice of motion as follows:

(2) New Sites for Air Quality Monitoring Stations

 “I propose that the Lewes District Council apply for funding from the government for 2 new air quality monitoring stations. One of these to be sited in the vicinity of Malling Street on the A26 in Lewes. The other to be a mobile station which can be used in key locations where information from NOx tubes is either unavailable or doesn't give the full picture of pollution. This latter portable machine could be used:

· In urban areas on the A259 in such places as Peacehaven and Seaford.

 

· In rural locations where there is congestion and potentially pollution is occurring. Examples of such rural locations are on the C7 at Piddinghoe and at level crossings like Cooksbridge on the A275.

 

· On trunk roads (by agreement with Highways England such as the A27 Lewes bypass and on the A27 near Firle.”

 

The motion (as amended) was put to the meeting, declared carried and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

Accordingly.

Councillor Ient moved, and Councillor Carr seconded, the notice of motion as follows:

 

(3) Clean Air Strategy 2018

 

“That this Council write to the Secretary of State for the Environment and warmly welcome the new strategy and the powers it will give to local authorities to improve air quality. At the same time, we would ask the Secretary of State not to accede to any pressures to relax the 2040 target for removing all petrol and diesel cars and vehicles from the roads of the United Kingdom. Additionally, we would ask the Secretary of State to ensure he provide sufficient funds and powers to allow local authorities to implement the strategy.”

 

The motion was put to the meeting, declared carried and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

Accordingly.

Councillor Ient moved, and Councillor Osborne seconded, the notice of motion as follows:

 

(4) Current funding for dealing with air pollution

 

“That this Council write to the Secretary of State for the Environment and asks for funding to expand the number of NOx tubes throughout the district especially near schools and to undertake a publicity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Questions to the Leader of the Council

To deal with questions (if any) which councillors may wish to put to the Leader of the Council. It will be at the Leader’s discretion to re-direct questions to relevant Members of the Cabinet. A councillor wishing to raise a question must notify the Chair of the Council of the text of the question prior to the commencement of the meeting. (NB This item is limited to a maximum of 5 questions, with no more than 1 question being asked per councillor. If a question requires a detailed or technical response, the Leader may decide that a written response is more appropriate).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Questioner

 

Question

Councillor Catlin

Is the Leader aware that it is presently taking Lewes District Council, 7 weeks from receipt of a Tribunal Appeal request in the benefits section, for that section to actually dispatch it to the tribunal service?

 

Does he share my view that this is unsatisfactory, and how will it be addressed?

 

 

Response (by Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council)

 

Councillor Smith responded that he shared the concerns raised. He advised that staff changes and other factors had contributed to the delay.

 

Currently there were 13 appeals outstanding across Lewes and Eastbourne, 8 of which were over 4 weeks old. It was anticipated that the four week target would be achieved by mid-August. Progress would continue to be monitored.

 

Councillor Carter

I understand that the business case for the port access road for Newhaven has been finalised by East Sussex County Council, ready for submission to the Department for Transport. However, it seems there has been no review of the air quality management plan for Newhaven in the business case, and the District Council does have legal responsibility to ensure air quality targets are met in Newhaven. The principle of a port road was agreed a number of years ago when the air quality in this area was not as bad as it is now. This new road will open up an additional area of vegetated shingle on Newhaven beach for port expansion and industrial development, which will result in more traffic. Would the leader clarify whether or not an air quality review has been done as part of this business case, and if not, write to ESCC to request that a review be done?

 

 

Response (by Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council)

 

Councillor Smith responded that the member of staff from East Sussex County Council with the relevant information was currently unavailable. An answer would be sought from Councillor Smith when the officer returns.

 

Councillor Osborne

Never in all my years as a Councillor have I had as many complaints as I’ve had in the last week and over a much longer period of time about the phones not being answered at Lewes District Council.

 

Not only the phones not being answered but then calls get transferred to Eastbourne, and the staff there who are dealing with the overspill unfortunately can’t answer questions about the issues, that residents of the Lewes District are raising.

 

I ask the Leader to urgently look and this and provide any resources that are needed to resolve the problem.

 

 

Response (by Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council)

 

Councillor Smith responded that the Council was at the end of a transition period and that hopefully things will start to improve once new staff have been trained.

 

Councillor Saunders

Referencing the recent Cabinet meeting on the 2 July 2018 and consideration of the report regarding the regeneration of Newhaven Town Centre, I was extremely pleased to see that recommendation of 30 minutes free parking was approved. I was also pleased that Councillor Nicholson  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

Reporting back on meetings of outside bodies pdf icon PDF 62 KB

To receive any reports from the Council's representatives who serve on outside bodies in respect of meetings they have attended.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Nicholson reported back, relating to the work of the Sussex Police and Crime Panel held on 29 June 2018, details of which were contained in the report.

 

The Council thanked Councillor Nicholson for his written report.

 

Resolved:

 

That the written report by Councillor Nicholson be received and noted.