Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council dated 24 July 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillors Boniface, Clay, Coupland, Houreau, O'Connor, Robinson, Stewart-Roberts.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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 Chair drew attention of the Council to the list of his engagements since the last Council meeting, in particular his attendance at the 81^st Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid Commemorations in Dieppe, France.  There were no other announcements.

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 was no urgent items.

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 (if any).

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive a petition from Celia Schultz of Poppys of Lewes (on behalf of Traders in the Riverside) containing 924 signatures.

In accordance with paragraphs 6.1 and 7.1 of the Petitions Scheme, the petition will be presented by the Lead Petitioner, and then the ward members and two other Councillors may also address the Council on the matter, but it will not be subject to a Full Council debate.  It will then be referred for consideration to the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee.

Celia Schultz of Poppys of Lewes (on behalf of the traders in the Riverside) presented the petition signed by 924 signatories, and with the statement:

‘To return Lewes Farmers Market back to Cliffe Precinct’ and with the explanation:

‘Please support Riverside Lewes and Local businesses if you think that Lewes Farmers Market should return to Cliffe Precinct to allow Friars Walk car park to be used for Car Parking’.

In accordance with the Council’s Petitions Scheme procedure, the Chair invited two Lewes Ward Councillors and then two other Councillors to speak on the matter.  Councillor Baah (ward councillor), Councillor Maples (ward councillor for Lewes and Cabinet Member), Councillor Denis (Cabinet member) and Councillor MacCleary (Shadow Cabinet Member) spoke in relation to the petition.  

Key issues identified by the speakers for consideration in relation to the petition on the market location, were the needs and views of residents, traders and special interest groups, and taking into account accessibility, availability of car parking, and the impact on local businesses.

In line with the petitions scheme, the petition was then referred to the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee for consideration.

The Chair thanked Celia Schultz for attending the meeting and presenting the petition.

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

The following decision has been made and the relevant decision notice is attached:

Contract Renewal, Core IT Systems – 3 August 2023

In accordance with the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee Procedure Rule 17, the Council was notified of the details of an urgent Cabinet Member Decision in relation to the ‘Contract Renewal - Core IT Systems’ made on 3 August 2023.

To consider the notice of motion submitted by Councillor James MacCleary.

Councillor MacCleary moved and Councillor Macleod seconded a motion on the Bins for Boys Campaign as set out in the agenda.

Councillor Maples, as the relevant Cabinet member, spoke in support of the motion.

The motion was put to a vote and carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that

1.    That the Council notes Prostate Cancer UK’s campaign of “boys need bins” and supports the provision of sanitary bins in toilets, wherever possible, so that waste products can be disposed of in a discreet and hygienic manner;

2.    That the Council requests that the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Wellbeing works with Officers of the Council to roll out a trial programme to provide sanitary bins in several Council managed facilities and calls upon Cabinet to make the funding available to achieve this, and the Council asks that Cabinet reviews the success of the trial during 2024 to consider an extension to other Council owned and managed facilities; and

3.    That the Council further requests that the Leader writes to the MPs covering our Authority area to ask them to publicly back the campaign, as found on the Prostate Cancer UK website.

To deal with written questions which councillors may wish to put to the Chair of the Council, a Lead Councillor on the Cabinet or the Chair of any committee or sub-committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12 (if any).

No written questions had been received in accordance with procedure rule 12.

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).

Two questions had been submitted to the Leader of the Council:

1. Question from Councillor Keene: 

Councillor Keene asked: “How will recent Government announcements have an impact on the Council’s sustainability plans?’

Councillor Nicholson asked Councillor O’Brien to respond as the relevant Cabinet Member.  Councillor O’Brien advised that she had been contacted by other Councillors and residents concerned by the Government’s announcement that it intended to delay implementation of some key green policies nationally, aimed at achieving net zero for the UK, and asking about the implications for the Council and locally.  Councillor O’Brien responded first in a personal capacity of her concerns of the implications of the changes for the UK economy, the wellbeing of its citizens and the future of the environment.  As a Cabinet Member, she confirmed that the Council had declared a climate emergency in 2019 including an aspiration to achieve net zero for the Council, and if possible, for Lewes District by 2030 rather than 2050.  However, many local measures depended on national policy.

Councillor O’Brien advised that she had asked officers to look urgently into the implications of the announcement for the Council’s own local plans, including the refresh of the Climate and Sustainability action plan which aimed to be completed for March next year, and would be reporting back on these through Cabinet, and via the climate scrutiny panel.

2. Question from Councillor Gauntlett:

Councillor Gauntlett advised that during the summer Seaford Councillors had received numerous complaints and revolting photos of Council owned and maintained toilets in Place Lane and The Salts in his ward, in particular the women’s toilets, which faced those arriving at Seaford station. He asked that there be some investment to improve and update these toilets, as other parts of the district had received, and asked how the Council would ensure regular cleaning, re-supply of toilet paper and mending of broken locks.

Councillor Nicholson responded that the Council owned toilets were cleaned twice a day, so would attribute their state in the pictures to vandalism.  Councillor Nicholson advised she would ask Officers to provide a written response to Councillors with a breakdown of who owned and who is responsible for the maintenance of which toilets in Seaford. She also committed to involve ward councillors in the discussion about the refurbishment and maintenance programme for Council owned facilities.

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

There were no ward issues to be discussed.

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

The following reports had been received on outside bodies set out in the agenda and agenda supplement, and were noted:

·         Newhaven Town Deal Board – Councillors Nicholson and Robinson

·         Aspiration Homes LLP – Councillors Nicholson and Robinson

·         Greater Brighton Economic Board – Councillor Nicholson

·         South Downs National Park Authority – Councillor Stewart-Roberts

·         Armed Forces Champion – Councillor Stewart-Roberts

·         Lewes Citizens Advice – Councillor Makepeace

The next meeting is scheduled for 20 November 2023 at 6 pm.

It was confirmed that the next meeting of Full Council was scheduled for 20 November 2023 at 6 pm.