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Lewes and Eastbourne
Councils

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1UE

Contact: Committee Services on 01273 471600 

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Items
No. Item

1.

Election of the Chair of the Council

Two nominations have been received for the office of the Chair of the Council as follows:

 

Councillor Adrian Ross

Councillor Linda Wallraven

 

These nominations will be voted upon. Following the election of the Chair of the Council, the person elected shall make a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Brett welcomed Councillors to the meeting, in particular Councillor Clarkson, attending his first meeting since his election.

 

Councillor Brett thanked Democratic Services Officers who had supported her in her year as the Chair of the Council, in particular Sophia Daw and Caroline Hanlon, and thanked Councillors for electing her to the position.

 

Councillor Brett advised that two nominations had been received for the election of the Chair of the Council for 2022/23 – for Councillor Adrian Ross and Councillor Linda Wallraven and invited Councillors to formally propose the nominations.

 

Councillor Collier proposed and Councillor Brett seconded the nomination of Councillor Ross to be elected as the Chair of the Council for 2022/23.

 

Councillor Boorman proposed and Councillor Linington seconded the nomination of Councillor Wallraven to be elected as the Chair of the Council for 2022/23

 

The two nominations were put to the vote and by 19 votes to 14 it was:

 

RESOLVED that Councillor Ross be elected as the Chair of the Council for 2022/23.

 

Councillor Ross then signed his statutory declaration of acceptance of office and took the chair. 

 

In his speech of acceptance of his election as Chair, Councillor Ross advised that his theme for the year would be ‘tackling the cost-of-living, climate and ecological crises’.  He thanked the outgoing Chair, Councillor Brett, for her work over the last year, and what she had accomplished around her theme of ‘Improving Food Security’.

 

2.

Appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Council

Two nominations have been received for the office of Vice-Chair of the Council as follows:

 

Councillor Graham Amy    

Councillor Richard Turner

 

These nominations will be voted upon. Following the appointment of Vice-Chair of the Council, the person appointed shall make a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair (Councillor Ross) advised that two nominations had been received for the appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Council for 2022/23 – for Councillor Graham Amy and Councillor Richard Turner and invited Councillors to formally propose the nominations

 

Councillor Ross proposed and Councillor O’Connor seconded the nomination of Councillor Amy to be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Council for 2022/23.

 

Councillor Davy proposed and Councillor Liningtonseconded the nomination of Councillor Turner to be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Council for 2022/23.

 

The two nominations were put to the vote and by 19 votes to 14 it was:

 

RESOLVED that Councillor Amy be appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Council for 2022/23.

 

As Councillor Amy had given apologies for the meeting, it was noted that he would sign his declaration of acceptance of office as soon as possible and before undertaking any civic duties.

 

3.

Apologies for absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Amy, Burman, Macleod, Peterson, Rigden, Saunders and Turner.

 

4.

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:

There were no declarations of interest made.

 

5.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 558 KB

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council dated 21 February 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21 February 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Council.

 

6.

Urgent items

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no urgent items for decision.

7.

Announcements pdf icon PDF 264 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 engagements carried out during the last year by Councillor Brett as Chair of the Council are attached.

·       Councillor Gauntlett (Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration) will provide a verbal update on the local plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A list of Councillor Brett’s engagements as Chair of the Council made since the last meeting of the Council were noted. 

 

Councillor Gauntlett (Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure) provided an update on the development of the next Local Plan, in particular on the work ongoing to challenge the standard calculation of the minimum number of houses to be delivered.  He drew Members’ attention to a change in tone in a recent Government office response to a letter from the 11 northern parishes in Lewes, which said that although the standard method should be used, the Government was monitoring the effect of this, and that the absence of a local plan did not mean that planning applications should automatically be approved.  

 

Councillor Gauntlett had sent out to Members a detailed briefing note on progress in advance of the meeting and invited all members to a briefing on 26 May 2022 on the issues and options for the next Local Plan.

 

8.

Result of the District Council By-Election 2022

To receive the following results of the District Council By-Election held on 12 May 2022 and welcome the new Councillor:

 

Peacehaven West -  Councillor Ciarron Clarkson (Labour Party)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair of the Council drew the Council’s attention to the results of the District By-Election held on 12 May 2022, and formally welcomed to the Council, Councillor Ciarron Clarkson, the new ward Councillor for Peacehaven West.

 

9.

Appointments Report. pdf icon PDF 282 KB

a)    To note any changes to the Leader of the Council’s appointments to Cabinet, the individual areas of responsibility allocated to the Cabinet and the allocation of those areas of responsibility to the members of the Cabinet (to be reported verbally by the Leader at the meeting); and

b)    To consider and determine proposals set out in the report of the Head of Democratic Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Nicholson advised that her Cabinet Member appointments were unchanged and were as follows:

 

Cabinet Member

Portfolio

Councillor Zoe Nicholson

 

Leader of the Council

Finance

Councillor James MacCleary

Deputy Leader

Regeneration and Prosperity

Councillor Matthew Bird

Sustainability

Councillor Julie Carr

Recycling, Waste and Open Spaces

Councillor Collier

Performance and People

Councillor Denis

Communities and Customers

Councillor Stephen Gauntlett

Planning and Infrastructure

Councillor Meyer

Housing

Councillor O’Keeffe

Tourism and Devolution

 

The Council received the report of the Head of Democratic Services, and the list of nominations for members and chairs of committees and other council bodies (Appendix 1) and outside bodies (Appendix 2) in accordance with proportionality of the Council, contained in the agenda and the agenda supplement.  As there were no contested nominations, the Chair advised that the recommendations could be dealt with as one item.

 

Councillor Nicholson moved and Councillor MacCleary seconded that the recommendations in the report be approved, and this was put to the vote.

 

RESOLVED:

a)    To approve the appointments of members to Committees and Other Bodies and as Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Committees, as set out in Appendix 1;

b)    To approve the appointment of representatives to serve on outside and joint bodies, as set out at Appendix 2;

c)     To appoint all members of the Council to the ‘approved list’ of members appointed as substitute members in accordance with Council’s Rules of Procedure, except where prohibited by those rules such as for Licensing Committee and Cabinet;

d)    To note the Leader of the Council’s appointments to Cabinet, the individual areas of responsibility allocated to the Cabinet and the allocation of those areas of responsibility to the members of the Cabinet, as reported verbally at the meeting;

e)    To delegate to the Head of Democratic Services to make the necessary changes to the constitution and website to remove the Devolution Committee and incorporate its powers into the Strategic Property Board; and

f)      That Neal Robinson and Graham Branton be re-confirmed as the Council’s Standards Independent Persons for the municipal year.

 

10.

Annual Pay Policy Statement. pdf icon PDF 280 KB

Report of the Assistant Director of Human Resources and Transformation.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director for HR and Transformation recommending the adoption of the Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2022-23.   Councillor Collier moved and Councillor MacCleary seconded approval of the report recommendations.

 

RESOLVED That the updated Pay Policy Statement for 2022-23 be approved, and be published on the Council’s website.

11.

Notices of motion.

Additional documents:

11a

Motion - To protect our local rivers and sea by taking into account the cumulative impact of sewage discharge. pdf icon PDF 249 KB

Motion submitted by Councillor O’Brien.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Note: Councillor O’Keeffe joined the meeting at the commencement of this item at 6.25 pm)

 

Councillor O’Brien moved and Councillor Gauntlett seconded the motion seeking the protection of local rivers and seas by taking into account the cumulative impact of sewage discharge, as detailed in the agenda.

 

The motion was debated and received support from across the Council. 

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

RESOLVED:  

This Council resolves to:

1.         Recognise this Council’s obligation to protect its rivers and seas, including from the cumulative impacts of pollution, in line with its local planning policy, and the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.         Recognise that there is clear evidence of deterioration of water quality due to cumulative impact of multiple sewage discharge events or ‘sewage overload’.

3.         Ensure the evidence base being compiled for the new local plan fully assesses the cumulative impact of sewage discharge so that this is factored into decisions made in the new local plan, including the overall level of future development.

4.         Seek to better understand the cumulative impact of waste water discharge including untreated sewage on the District’s rivers, wildlife and the health of its residents

5.         Continue to take a lead on addressing this issue, working constructively with other agencies.

6.         Write to the Environment Agency asking it to issue a position statement in relation to Lewes District, which sets out its understanding of the cumulative impact of 800+ sewage discharge on our rivers, or if it is not willing to do, the reasons why.

7.         Ask Natural England to update its 2013 assessment of Lewes Brooks SSSI. 

8.         Ask the Policy and Performance Committee to invite the Chief Executive of Southern Water plus senior representatives from the Environment Agency and Natural England to attend a Lewes District Council Policy and Performance Committee meeting to answer questions on the current levels of sewage discharge.

9.         Ask Southern Water, from this date onwards, in its planning consultation responses for major development, to clarify which treatment works will be managing the sewage; and whether it has the information available to assess the impact on the number or duration of sewage discharges into local rivers or seas, and if it does have this information to share it (noting that this can only be requested not required). 

10.      Request that District Council planning officers, from now onwards, include in all reports relating to major development a specific section on Core Policy 10 and the impact on watercourses, including the potential for the development to affect sewage outflow into watercourses (i.e. cumulative impact), or to flag if this information is not fully available, so that this information (or the lack of it) is clearly and transparently set out.

 

12.

Calendar of meetings 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 135 KB

The calendar of meetings for 2022/23 is attached for ratification. 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair of the Council drew members’ attention to the Calendar of Meetings for 2022/23 included in the agenda for ratification.

 

Councillor Nicholson moved and Councillor MacCleary seconded that the Calendar of Meetings be approved.

 

RESOLVED – To approve the Calendar of Meetings for 2022/23.

 

13.

Urgent decisions taken by the Cabinet or Cabinet members pdf icon PDF 130 KB

In accordance with Policy and Performance Procedure Rule 17, to receive details of any urgent decisions taken by the Cabinet or Cabinet members since the previous meeting.  One decision was been made by the Leader on 28 February 2022 as follows and a copy of the Decision Notice is attached for information.

 

2022/23 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief scheme and the extension of Transitional Relief and Supporting Small Business relief scheme

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council formally noted the decision made by the Leader under special urgency powers since the last meeting in relation to the ‘2022/23 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief scheme’, made on 28 February 2022.  This was reported to the Council in accordance with the Policy and Performance Committee Procedure Rule 7. 

 

14.

Reporting back on meetings of outside bodies pdf icon PDF 270 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:

The following reports had been provided on outside bodies which had met since the last meeting and these were noted:

 

·       Team East Sussex – Councillor Nicholson

·       Newhaven Town Deal Board – Councillor Nicholson

·       Greater Brighton Economic Board – Councillor Nicholson

·       Seaford to Brighton Steering Group – Councillor O’Brien

·       South East Councils – Councillor O’Brien

·       LGA People and Places Board – Councillor O’Brien

·       East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board – Councillor Ross

·       Citizens Advice Bureau – Councillor Makepeace

·       South Downs National Park Authority and other SDNP meetings - Councillor Meyer

·       Decarbonising our Housing Stock (DOHS) – Councillor Bird

·       Upper Ouse Flood Protection and Water Retention Works Working Group – Councillor Bird

 

 

15.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of Full Council is scheduled to take place at 6 pm on Thursday 15 July 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Full Council was due to take place on Monday 18 July 2022 at 6 pm.