To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council dated 20 May 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 20 May 2019 were approved as a correct record, subject to typographical changes, including a correction to the spelling of Councillor O’Keeffe’s name in item 9 and to Councillor Robinson’s name in Minutes Appendix 1.

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillors Rigden and Davis.

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.

Councillors O’Brien, Brett, Peterson, Adeniji, S Lord, J Lord and Clay declared personal interests in respect of item 8 (petitions) as they were patients at the doctors surgeries involved.  Councillor Saunders also declared a personal interest in item 8 as he was a member of the trustees for Wave Leisure, which was a partner in the proposed scheme.  None of the interests were prejudicial, and all Councillors remained in the room and took part in the discussions of item 8.

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.

The Council received a list of the Chair of the Council’s engagements carried out between 20 May 2019 and 15 July 2019.

Items not on the agenda which the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances as defined in Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items.

Attached is a notice received from Councillor MacCleary and Councillor Collier on 19 June 2019 in accordance with paragraph 5.3 of the procedure for appointments set out in the Council’s Constitution.

Any alternative nominations must been received by midnight on 7^th July 2019 and will be circulated to Councillors in advance of the meeting.

The Council is asked to vote first on the proposed resolution to remove the Leader.  If this is carried, then a second vote will be held on the appointment of a new Leader of the Council, in accordance with procedure 5.4 of the Council procedure rules. 

The Chair of the Council advised that notice had been received from Councillor MacCleary and Councillor Collier in accordance with paragraph 5.3 in the Council’s Constitution proposing the removal of the Leader, and that Councillor Nicholson be appointed as the Leader of the Council instead.  The Chair confirmed that no alternative nominations were received by the deadline of 7 July 2019.  Council was asked to vote first on the proposed resolution to remove the Leader.

In accordance with paragraph 18.4 of Council Procedure Rules, more than five members of the Council requested that a ballot was held on this vote.

In accordance with paragraph 18.5 of the Council Procedure Rules, more than five members of the Council then requested that a named vote was held on the item, which overrode the demand for a ballot.

The vote on the removal of the Leader was therefore put to the vote and declared carried by 22 to 17 votes, and the names of those voting recorded as follows:

For the Motion:

Councillors Amy, Banks, Bird, Brett, Carr, Clay, Collier, Denis, Gauntlett, von Kurthy, MacCleary, Macleod, Makepeace, Manley, Meyer, Nicholson, O’Brien, O’Connor, O’Keeffe, Robinson, Ross and Saunders. (22)

Against the Motion:

Councillors Adeniji, Bikson, L Boorman, P Boorman, Burman, Davy, Duhigg, Jones, Linington, J Lord, S Lord, Maskell, Miller, Papanicolaou, Peterson, Rutland and White. (17)

The Chair then put the nomination of Councillor Nicholson to be Leader of the Council to a vote by way of a show of hands.  This was carried by 22 votes to 17.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Isabelle Linington be removed as Leader and that Councillor Zoe Nicholson be appointed as Leader of the Council.

Further to the resolution, the Chair of the Council advised that there would be some appointments, including the membership and chairmanship of the Scrutiny Committee, the chairmanship of Audit and Standards Committee, and representation on outside bodies which specifically required a member or representative to be a Cabinet Member or an Opposition Member.  The Assistant Director – Legal and Democratic Services would therefore contact Group Leaders following this meeting to make any other necessary changes to appointments.

Councillor Nicholson thanked the Council and advised that the following would also be members of the Cabinet:

Councillor MacCleary – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Prosperity.

Councillor O’Brien – Cabinet Member for Planning

Councillor Carr – Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling

Councillor Bird – Cabinet Member for Sustainability

Councillor Meyer – Cabinet Member for Housing

Councillor Denis – Cabinet Member for Customers and Communities.

Councillor O’Keeffe – Cabinet Member for Partnership and Enterprise

Councillor Collier – Cabinet Member for Performance and People.

To deal with questions which members of the public may wish to put to members of the Cabinet in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, which have been received no later than noon three working days before the day of the meeting (if any).

There were no questions received from the members of the public.

To receive petitions from councillors or members of the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13 (if any).

Holger Zschenderlein for Downs Development Neighbourhood Voice presented a petition to the Council entitled ‘Petition to stop the Development on the Downs Leisure Centre site. Save our Recreation Grounds, keep Doctors in Seaford Town’ and read out the supporting statement.  He advised that the hardcopy of the petition had received 1,876 signatures, and to date the online petition had received 764 signatures to date and was due to complete on 11 October 2019.

Councillors Adeniji and Brett, as ward members spoke in relation to the petition.  In addition, Councillor O’Brien and Councillor Denis spoke, the latter highlighting, in his role as outgoing Scrutiny Chair, that the Scrutiny Committee had set up a Task Group to look at the proposed Seaford Health Hub.

The Chair formally received the petition, and advised that as it contained more than 1,500 signatures it will be referred to the next Full Council in September for discussion.   In addition, it was appropriate for the petition to be notified to the Scrutiny Task Group for its consideration.

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer (Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services). 

Councillor Gauntlett moved the recommendations of the report for the appointment of two Independent Persons for a four year term, and this was seconded by Councillor Carr and approved.

The Chair advised that these appointments had also been approved by Eastbourne Borough Council at its Full Council meeting on 10 July 2019.

RESOLVED:

1)        That the Council approves the appointment of Neal Robinson and Graham Branton as Independent Persons for Lewes District Council for a term of four years, commencing on 1 August 2019, subject to re-confirmation at Annual Council in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and

2)        That the Council record its thanks to Vic Kempner for his service as outgoing Independent Person.

To consider the recommendation from the meeting of the Audit and Standards Committee held on 18 March 2019.

The Chair of the Council advised that on 18 March 2019 the Audit and Standards Committee had considered the Council motion on Investment and Climate Change, had received an update on the East Sussex Pensions Fund investments, and had agreed to receive a regular update as part of treasury management monitoring on the implications of the Council’s investments on climate change.

Councillor Gauntlett moved and Councillor Saunders seconded and accordingly the Council:

RESOLVED - To note the consideration and resolutions of the Audit and Standards Committee on the Council motion on Investment and Climate Change.

In accordance with council procedure rule 14, the following notice of the motions have been received for the consideration of the Council.

The Chair of the Council reported that the following notice of motion had been submitted under Council Procedure Rule 14.

Motion proposed by Councillor Bird.

Councillor Bird moved and Councillor Brett seconded:

“We call on the Council:

1.    To develop a comprehensive Climate Change Strategy within 12 months that addresses all inward and outward-facing Council functions and implement appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms in order to:

- Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030;

- Ensure that appropriate resources and capacity are put in place to progress the actions needed to address the 'climate emergency' effectively; and

- Support and work with relevant agencies and stakeholders towards making the entire District zero carbon and climate resilient by 2030.

2. To request Scrutiny Committee to set up a Climate Change Scrutiny Panel that receives progress reports on the policy and actions enacted by the Council to address the ‘Climate Emergency’.  This incorporates the existing request to Scrutiny Committee to monitor the implementation of recommendations made by the Climate Change Action Group.  The Panel will also invite appropriate experts to support Council climate change actions.

3. To request that a Community Climate Change Forum is convened with representation and participation from across the district. Invitees to include but not be restricted to representatives from local communities, parish and town councils, organisations, business, education, nature groups, agricultural, food, health and transport groups.

4. To request that the Council is especially proactive in taking steps to include young people in the 'Climate Emergency' process, ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future.

5. To report on an annual basis to the Audit and Standards Committee on  the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry that our pensions plan and other investments have, and review the Council’s investment strategy to give due consideration to climate change impacts in the investment portfolio.

6. To ensure that all reports in preparation for the 2020/21 budgeting take into account actions the Council will take to address this emergency.

7. Portfolio Holder to write to the Government to set out the Council’s intentions and call on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and ask our local MP to do likewise.”

The motion was put to the vote and it was carried (RESOLVED).

In accordance with Scrutiny Procedure Rule 17, to receive details of any urgent decisions taken by the Cabinet or Cabinet members since the previous meeting.

There were no urgent decisions to report.

To deal with written questions which councillors may wish to put to the Chair of the Council, a Cabinet Member or Chair of any committee or sub-committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12 which have been received no later than the close of business on the fourth working day before the meeting (if any).

There were no written questions from Councillors.

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).

There were no questions put to the Leader of the Council.

To deal with ward issues which councillors wish to raise (if any).

No ward issues were notified to be raised at the meeting.

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

No Councillors had asked to report back on meetings of outside bodies.