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Lewes and Eastbourne
Councils

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote meeting via Teams

Contact: Committee Services on 01273 471600 

Note: This meeting is being held remotely using Microsoft Teams. Use the link below to view the meeting. Alternatively to list in ring +44 20 3855 5316 and enter the ID: 467 653 954# (You will be muted on arrival and must remain so for the duration of the meeting). 

Media

Items
No. Item

18.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 261 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2020 were submitted and the Chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

19.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

The following apologies and substitutions were received:

 

Apologies from Councillor Christine Robinson – Councillor Lawrence O’Connor appointed as a substitute.

 

Apologies from Councillor Liz Boorman – Councillor Jim Lord appointed as a substitute.

 

Apologies from Councillor Milly Manley – Councillor Roy Clay appointed as a substitute.

20.

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.

Minutes:

There were none.

21.

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. A Supplementary Report will be circulated at the meeting to update the main Reports with any late information.

Minutes:

There were none.

22.

Written Questions from Councillors

To deal with written questions from councillors pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12.3 (page D8 of the Constitution).

Minutes:

There were none.

23.

Updates and Reports from the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee Work Programme:

23a

Chair of Lewes District Council's Civic Programme pdf icon PDF 291 KB

Report of Simon Russell, Committee and Civic Services Manager.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair introduced the report and it was noted that the appendix to the report listed the Chair of the Council’s civic engagements throughout the previous year.

 

RESOLVED to note the report.

24.

Requested reports due for consideration by the Cabinet on 12 November 2020:

24a

Recovery and Reset Programme pdf icon PDF 164 KB

The report will be presented by Jo Harper, Head of Business Planning and Performance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Jo Harper, Head of Business Planning and Performance, presented the report. During discussion the following points were highlighted:

 

The £250,000 budget included in the recommendations related to staffing, a significant element of IT and digital infrastructure and working on the assets pillar of the programme. It was confirmed that external consultants were not being used within the programme. There were new elements of the digital programme that were not included in the original Transformation Programme that also required funding. This was due to an increase in digital contact as a result of the Pandemic. Funding for legal and related costs was also needed to deal with asset transactions. 

 

An East Sussex-wide funding bid of £914,000 had been received from Government towards homeless initiatives across the County. This had enabled the winter provision of verified rough-sleepers and leases had been secured for properties in areas including Lewes District. The Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI) was being used as a multi-disciplinary team for rough-sleepers while they were in winter provision. Food and deliveries had also been organised directly to the properties. A key element of the provision was that individuals did not need to leave accommodation during the day-time.

 

Approximately £400,000 in Government funding had been received towards new burdens. The scheme details for business grants had not yet been published but would be based on three levels of rateable values. A discretionary grant scheme was also available that could provide up to £1,904,000 for local businesses. The amount was similar to that received during the first lockdown period.

 

During discussion Members requested that the following amendments be including as recommendations to the Cabinet:

 

·       That public houses be able to sell off-sales alcohol in sealed containers to support the concept of local community wealth building.

 

·       That residents in the District who are experiencing financial distress be supported through the council tax relief scheme and similar schemes that provided financial relief.

 

·       That, the £250,000 budget for supporting the Recovery and Reset programme be agreed in principle, subject to sign off by the Recovery and Reset Board.

 

Members also requested that the Cabinet be provided with further detail on the £250,000 budget prior to consideration of the officer recommendations.

 

RESOLVED to support the recommendations in the report subject to the following recommendations being considered by the Cabinet:

 

  1. That the Cabinet considers supporting local people in financial distress with a focus on schemes such as council tax relief;

 

  1. That the Cabinet support a campaign to allow pubs to make off-sales of alcohol in sealed containers for consumption at home during lockdown; and

 

3.    That the Cabinet approval of the requested allocation of £250,000 to the Capital Programme is made subject to the approval of the Recovery and Reset Board.

25.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee work Programme 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 155 KB

To receive the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee work programme.

Minutes:

The Chair, Councillor Miller presented the work programme. During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·       The Quarter 2 Performance report would be made available for the meeting on 30 November 2020.

 

·       It was requested that an update on tourism in the District be include in the Work Programme and the item be added to the Committee’s agenda for the meeting for the January meeting.

 

·       An update on the Planning Service was requested. Members were asked to provide the Democratic Services team with specific areas of the Planning service they wished to scrutinise.

 

RESOLVED to note the work programme.

26.

Forward Plan of Decisions pdf icon PDF 164 KB

To receive the Forward Plan of the Council.

Minutes:

Members requested that the following items from the Forward Plan be included on the agenda for the 30 November meeting:

 

·       Denton Island Bowls Club.

 

·       Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule Review.

 

·       Report on the Memorandum of Understanding between Environment Agency and Lewes District Council relating to coastal risk management at Telscombe Cliffs.

 

RESOLVED to note the Forward Plan of Decisions