The Chair was authorised to sign the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 24 May 2023 as a correct record of the proceedings. 

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Field.

To receive any disclosure by Members of personal and disclosable pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the personal interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.  Members are reminded of the need to repeat their declaration immediately prior to the commencement of the item in question.

Declarations of interest were made by Councillors in the Minutes as indicated below:

Lorna Ford      Agenda Item 13 – Prejudicial Interest as proposed substantive Chief Executive. 

Kirby-Green    Agenda Items 12 and 14 - Personal Interest as an elected Member of East Sussex County Council.

Maynard          Agenda Items 12 and 14 - Personal Interest as an elected Executive Member of East Sussex County Council.

Thomas           Agenda Item 9 – Personal Interest in as Chair of the Council’s Housing Company.

ØThe Chair reported with much sadness the death of former Councillor David Vereker, who had served as a Councillor from 1999 to 2015 and been Chairman of Council in 2004-05.  Councillors Mrs Eleanor Kirby-Green and Carl Maynard paid tribute to David Vereker and the Chair closed with some recollections provided by Councillor Sue Prochak; Members then stood for a minute's silence in respect.

ØIt had been lovely to meet all the new Councillors at training and meetings and around the coffee table, and the Chair commended all for their commitment, absorption of Council rules and procedures; many experienced Councillors also attended, and it was good to be reminded of standing orders and codes of conduct as this new term begun.

ØBoth the Chair and Vice-Chair attended the big summer sing at the De La Warr pavilion where 200 schoolchildren filled the stage with their smiles and waves and the auditorium with their voices for an hour's concert as part of Bexhill Festival of Music; the Chair was fortunate to attend the last night too, in a packed auditorium joining the flag wavers and singing with patriotic gusto!

ØThe Chair attended the Polish War Memorial Day at Netherfield as the Mayor of Battle and felt this was something that Rother should be represented at in the future.

ØIn June, the Chair was away in the Holy Land working with a school in Ramallah in Palestine and she was grateful that Councillor Thomas was able to represent Rother on the Council’s behalf at events.

ØOn her return, the Chair had a meeting with Mr Richard Bickersteth, High Sherriff of East Sussex to discuss issues facing Rother, but in particular those in Rural Rother and those involving young people’s groups.  He was keen to meet and open discussions about issues in Wards and Members were invited to contact the Chair if they would like either of them to attend events, present awards, or meet with leaders.

ØThe Chair attended the reception at Buxted Park Hotel at the invitation of Peter Pragnell, the Chairman of East Sussex County Council, wearing both her chains. These events were so useful for networking and getting to know issues and events and some inspirational ideas that affected and benefitted those in our neighbouring towns and districts.

ØAnother such event was the Bishop of Chichester’s reception held in a marquee in the palace gardens. The Chair attended one on the Monday, in a personal capacity as a holder of the Award of St Richard. Sadly, the Chair was so delayed by traffic in Worthing that she missed the second one.

ØUndoubtedly, the highlight so far was the event instigated by Councillors Coleman and Stanger to invite the school council of All Saints CE primary school to visit the Town Hall Chamber. Councillor Thomas also attended and assisted with a lively debate inspired by the children’s desire to improve Sidley. The Chair feared her job was at risk of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C23/28.

1.    Pursuant to Paragraph 11 of the Council Procedure Rules the following question was put by Mr Marvin Ellott and answered by Councillor Rathbone Ariel.

Question: Now that the Council elections have taken place, could I please bring to your attention The Climate Change Committees (CCC)’ 2023 report?

In the 2023 report, Lord Deben states that “Our confidence in the achievement of the UK’s 2030 target and the 5th and 6th Carbon Budgets has markedly declined from last year”.

Following on from some calculations I sent you previously. The report says that UK greenhouse gas emissions were 450 MtC02e in 2022. I believe this equates to 25,029,000,000m3 of C02.

In Lord Deben’s letter to the Prime Minister, he states that “During his eleven-year term as Chairman, his Committee have held the Governments’ feet to the fire on tackling Climate Change. It is their role to ensure the Government make good on legal commitments.  His final assessment - Failure to act decisively!

In the Executive Summary the CCC says “recent experience on societal change following the pandemic has shown that substantial changes to behaviours are possible, although these have not been due to climate policy. It is essential that policies are implemented now, especially on home energy use. Information alone is not sufficient - it must be accompanied by implementation of policies that both make low-carbon choices easy, attractive and affordable.”

If the UK Government has failed to fulfil its legal requirements, do the public have a moral right to question the legal validity of Council Tax payments when their District Council have declared a Climate Emergency?

Answer:  As part of the Council’s commitment to the climate change agenda and our Net Zero ambitions we recruited two new Climate Officers. The Green Team was established and set to work on projects to promote Climate Awareness and Action amongst staff, such as developing a Workplace Environment Policy and measuring and addressing staff travel emissions. In November 2022 the Council participated in a “Couch to Carbon Zero Sprint”, a 10 day initiative to promote lifestyle changes that support Net Zero.

Other environmental projects and initiatives in 2022/23 include:

Ø  Creating an Urban Forest 1066 report detailing the number and condition of tress in Bexhill, along with a Tree Planting Strategy for Bexhill. The Council and our partners also planted 250 trees and 1,500 Whips.

Ø  The Council’s Community Grants application forms have been updated to include environmental considerations and impacts, £15k was ringfenced from the 2023/24 Community Grants Scheme for Reduce, Re-use and Recycle Grants.

Ø  £500k from the CIL Climate Emergency Bonus Fund was awarded to the Village Halls Energy Project which will reduce the carbon emission of Community Halls across Rother.

Ø  By January 2023, 95 households in the District had installed solar arrays via the Solar Together group purchase schemes that took place in 2020 and 2021. A further round took place in Spring 2023 and attracted a record number of registrants.

Ø  In March we began an audit of  ...  view the full minutes text for item C23/29.

1.    Pursuant to Paragraph 12 of the Council Procedure Rules the following oral question was put by Councillor Osborne and answered by Councillor Timpe.

Question: Councillor Hacking and I attended a rather hostile meeting at Camber Parrish Council the other week.  Can the Cabinet Member for tourism confirm that the £30 fixed rate that currently applies to both Central and Old Lydd Road car parks in Camber during the summer season, will be thoroughly reviewed at the seasons’ end in early September and depending upon the outcome of that review, can the Council confirm as soon as possible the proposed charging structure for the summer season in 2024.

Answer: Thank you Councillor Osborne, the simple answer is yes. 

Supplementary Oral Question:  I thank the Councillor for the concise answer, which I was expecting.  I am disappointed that after the meeting we had I sent emails to senior Councillors but didn’t get a response which was unfortunate.  I did get a response from Mr Hook.  It would have been nice and helpful if we could have rescinded the decision and looked at it again, the weather is awful, that may be affecting visitor numbers, the forecast for the next fortnight is pretty rubbish as well and then there are only a couple of weeks left.  So we have literally only got 31 days until it reverts back to the winter charging and I just think we are really missing out.  It is dead down there, there is no one there at all.  The weather’s bad, but you are not going to pay £30 to spend all day in the rain.  It is a difficult one.

Answer:  We will await the outcome of the review.

2.    Pursuant to Paragraph 12 of the Council Procedure Rules the following oral question was put by Councillor Hacking and answered by Councillor Timpe.

Question:  As part of the dog consultation that closes today, please can you confirm that the Council understands the following considerations when reviewing dog control in Camber:

Houses in front of the Suttons have access to median high tide on their deeds so legally cannot be prevented from walking their dogs on the beach.

Additional dog control measures would put more pressure on beach staff who are already at capacity.

Charities such as the Dogs Trust currently walk dogs from Broomhill car park and the proposed changes would prevent this.

Answer: There is an answer, but I don't have it in front of me, but I do know that the Suttons has been noted, as has the Dogs Trust, and the Broomhill has been noted by Richard Parker-Harding.  As far as everything else goes, I think we just wait for the consultation results, which will be shared, and then we can have a look at how the public have responded.

12 June 2023

Ø  Net Zero Pledge for UK100 Membership (CB23/04)

17 July 2023

Ø  Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Monitoring Draft 2022/23 Outturn (CB23/14)

Ø  UK Shared Prosperity and Rural England Prosperity Fund (CB23/15)

Ø  1066 Country Marketing (CB23/16)

1.    It was moved by Councillor Oliver and seconded that the reports of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 12 June and 17 July 2023, as set out in the Agenda be approved and adopted.

2.    The Chair of the Council having called over the reports, none of the Minutes were reserved for discussion.

3.    On the Motion of the Chair of the Council, duly seconded, the Council approved and adopted the following reports:

CB23/04 – Net Zero Pledge for UK100 Membership

CB23/14 – Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Monitoring Draft 2022/23 Outturn

CB23/15 – UK Shared Prosperity and Rural England Prosperity Fund

CB23/16 – 1066 Country Marketing

It was moved by Councillor Drayson and seconded that the Annual Report of the Audit and Standards Committee as set out within the Agenda be received. 

RESOLVED: That the report be received.

Following the local elections held in May 2023 and the resignation of an existing Director, replacement elected Member representatives were required to be appointed to the Council’s Housing Company’s Board of Directors. 

RESOLVED: That: 

1)    the resignation from the Board of Rother DC Housing Company of Councillor Charles Clark and former Councillors Lynn Langlands and Paul Courtel be noted; and 

2)    Councillor Beverley Coupar to be appointed as Company Director of Rother DC Housing Company Ltd to serve for a period of three years.

(Councillor Thomas declared a personal interest in this matter as Chairman of the Council’s Housing Company and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 5.6 Council was notified of a change in Membership on the Audit and Standards Committee; Councillor Sue Burton had been replaced by Councillor Gray.

RESOLVED: That the change in Committee Membership for the Audit and Standards Committee be noted.

Consideration was given to Member Representative appointments to Bexhill Maritime and Rural Services Network and to add these bodies to the list of outside bodies to which formal appointments were made.  

RESOLVED: That

1)    Bexhill Maritime be added to the Council’s list of outside bodies to which formal appointments are made;

2)    Rural Services Network be added to the Council’s list of outside bodies to which formal appointments are made; and

3)    Councillor Timpe be appointed to Bexhill Maritime and Councillor Oliver, with Councillor Prochak as substitute, be appointed to the Rural Services Network with immediate effect, up until the end of the current civic year, be subject to reappointment in May 2024 in line with all other appointments to outside bodies and to designate attendance thereat as an approved duty.

Consideration was given to a Member Representative appointment to Hastings and Bexhill Renaissance Ltd, following the resignation of Councillor Jeeawon who had been appointed at the Annual Council meeting who was no longer able to take up the position.  

RESOLVED: That Councillor C.A. Bayliss be appointed to Hastings and Bexhill Renaissance Ltd (SEASPACE) in place of Councillor Jeeawon for the remainder of this civic year, expiring in May 2024 and that attendance thereat be designated an approved duty.

(Councillors Mrs Kirby-Green and Maynard each declared a personal interest in this matter as elected Members of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).

Members received the recommendations of the Senior Officer Appointments Panel and Leader of the Council to appoint Lorna Ford as the Council’s Chief Executive and a consequential recommendation to designate Joe Powell as the Council’s Interim Monitoring Officer (MO) until such times as an external Interim MO could be appointed.  The Leader thanked those Members who had been involved in the process and was delighted to recommend the appointment of Lorna Ford as the Council’s new Chief Executive.  

RESOLVED: That

1)    the recommendation made by the Senior Officer Appointments Panel at the meeting on 26 July 2023 to appoint Lorna Ford to the position of Chief Executive/Head of Paid Service for Rother District Council be approved, with immediate effect;

2)    Joe Powell, Head of Housing and Regeneration be designated as Interim Monitoring Officer; and

3)    the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority to appoint an external Interim Monitoring Officer (to replace Joe Powell) in due course, until a permanent appointment can be made.

(Lorna Ford declared a prejudicial interest in this matter and left the Chamber during the consideration thereof).

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, consideration was given to the following Motion moved by Councillor John Barnes and seconded by Councillor Gordon:

“The Council asks the Executive to ensure that the five pitches allocated in the Development and Site Allocations Local Plan for Gypsies and Travellers at Watermill Lane, two of which already have outline planning permission, are brought into use within the next 18 months.”

RESOLVED: That the Motion on being put was declared LOST.

(Councillors Mrs Kirby-Green and Maynard each declared a personal interest in this matter as elected Members of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof and abstained from voting).