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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies received from Councillors Arthur, Bacon, Bishop and Fernando.
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting PDF 66 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 21st September 2022 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings.
Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
Councillor
Meeting
Minute
Interest
Hilton
Cabinet, 3rd October
464 – Agreeing the Delivery Model For Grounds Maintenance Services From November 2023 (Part 1)
Personal – Member of the Hastings Garden Town team
Hilton
Cabinet, 3rd October
466 – Agreeing the Delivery Model For Grounds Maintenance Services From November 2023 (Part 2)
Personal - Member of the Hastings Garden Town team
Announcements from the Mayor and Leader
Minutes:
The Deputy Mayor presented the Mayoral Civic Award to James Robinson, founder of Surviving the Streets. James was nominated by Hastings Councillors for voluntary services to the Hastings community.
Councillor Sinden presented a Mayoral Award to Hastings Coastguard in celebration of their 200th anniversary.
The Leader of the Council provided an update on the future of cardiology services at the Conquest Hospital. The NHS have proposed to relocate cardiac surgery services to Eastbourne. This would result in a difficult and lengthy journey for local residents. All three Group Leaders have agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Health asking for a review of this decision.
Questions (if any) from: PDF 57 KB
a) Members of the public under Rule 11
b) Councillors under Rule 12
Additional documents:
Minutes:
281a) Members of the public under Rule 11
Written questions were received from the public and written responses sent to the questioners and published on the Council’s website.
Mr McDonnell was present as a representative of Clean Water Action and asked when the working group setup by the Council to hold Southern Water to account will meet, and will Clean Water Action be invited to take part?
Councillor Hilton said that officers have been asked to organise a high-level meeting with Southern Water. There hasn’t been a response yet but it will be followed up after the meeting.
Ms Phillips was present and asked a supplementary question. Ms Phillips asked who will be writing the report to Full Council on the proposed cycle path through Alexandra Park and will there be further consultation?
Councillor Hilton said the report will be written by Council officers and will pull together the multiple reports that have been written during the many iterations of the proposals going back to 2016. The report will go to Cabinet and then to Full Council for a final decision.
281b) Councillors under Rule 12
Councillor Edwards submitted a written question to Councillor Barnett, a written response was received and published on the Council’s website.
In a supplementary question Councillor Edwards asked the Leader of the Council to consider placing a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in Harold Place. Councillor Barnett said he would look into the proposal.
Councillor Patmore submitted a written question to Councillor Willis, a written response was received and published on the Council’s website.
In a supplementary question Councillor Patmore asked if the Council is considering lowering its General Reserve target. Councillor Willis said the current minimum is set at a prudential level and the Council is taking a number of measures to make sure it doesn’t go below the agreed minimum.
Councillor Foster submitted a written question to Councillor Haffenden, a written response was received and published on the Council’s website.
In a supplementary question Councillor Foster asked what the costs were to the Council in providing free electricity via electric vehicle charging points this year. Councillor Haffenden replied that he would ask officers to look into this and respond in writing.
Councillor Cooke submitted a written question to Councillor Hilton, a written response was received and published on the Council’s website.
In a supplementary question Councillor Cooke asked Councillor Hilton if she was aware of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and whether the Council has made a bid for funding. Councillor Hilton replied that the Council doesn’t currently have any social housing and it would be for local housing associations to make use of the fund.
Councillor Hay submitted a written question to Councillor Haffenden, a written response was received and published on the Council’s website.
In a supplementary question Councillor Hay asked if the in-house cleaners were being paid the National Living Wage as a minimum. Councillor Haffenden replied that he would ask officers to look into this and respond in writing. ... view the full minutes text for item 281.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Jobson to propose:
Hastings suffers from far too many speeding drivers, many of whom use short cuts through residential areas. There have been two deaths on our streets in the first half of 2022. To address this situation, Hastings Borough Council calls for the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in residential areas of Hastings & St Leonards.
This idea is rapidly gaining ground across the UK: nearly 600 towns and cities – about 28 million people – now benefit from the safety and better air quality resulting from this lower speed limit. Wales has just introduced a 20 mph limit on urban and residential roads, which comes into force in 2023.
There are so many benefits to reducing speed limits. An area-wide limit makes it easier and safer to choose walking and cycling over car journeys for local trips. The significant reductions in air and noise pollution have a positive impact on physical health, including reductions in heart and lung disease. 20mph speed limits help create better-connected, safer, living communities, with higher air quality. Fewer road accidents, increased exercise, less fear and loneliness, and better-quality sleep from reduced noise levels all improve mental health.
Here are some of the specific benefits of a 20 mph limit:
- Lower carbon emissions: CO2 falls by an average of 26%.
- Nitrous oxide, NOx, falls by an average of 28%.
- Traffic noise falls by up to 50%.
- Greater child safety, making it more possible for children to walk to school.
- Fewer casualties. Evidence from Bristol, Edinburgh, Calderdale, Brighton and others shows how 20mph reduces casualties, saving police and NHS costs. A 1mph reduction in speed on an urban road reduces casualties on average by a whopping 6%.
- Most drivers obey the new speed limit without traffic calming measures. Speed limiters on new cars from 2022 will help.
- 20 mph reduces stop-start driving habits. Less accelerating / braking reduces brake and tyre particulates.
- It’s excellent value for money. Doing nothing costs more!
- Businesses thrive where it is safe to walk and cycle.
- A 20 mph
limit makes no significant difference to bus journeys across town.
Many bus companies have found no difference in their
timetables.
The biggest benefit, however, is much simpler, but harder to measure: an increase in well-being. Communities thrive if there is less danger and less noise, creating a stronger sense of place.
Hastings Borough Council wants these benefits for our citizens.
We note that East Sussex County Council has repeatedly rejected motions calling for default 20 mph speeds on all residential streets. However, the County Council has agreed to consider a default 20 mph limit as part of developing Local Transport Plan 4. The Leader of Hastings Council will write to the Leader of East Sussex County Council and the Lead Member for Transport and Environment to call upon East Sussex County Council to make that commitment and invite them to work with us to implement a 20 mph limit on residential roads in Hastings and St Leonards. This should ... view the full agenda text for item 282.
Minutes:
Councillor Jobson proposed a motion as set out in the agenda, seconded by Councillor Batsford.
RESOLVED (by 21 votes for, to 5 against) that Full Council accepts the motion as set out below:
Hastings suffers from far too many speeding drivers, many of whom use short cuts through residential areas. There have been two deaths on our streets in the first half of 2022. To address this situation, Hastings Borough Council calls for the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in residential areas of Hastings & St Leonards.
This idea is rapidly gaining ground across the UK: nearly 600 towns and cities – about 28 million people – now benefit from the safety and better air quality resulting from this lower speed limit. Wales has just introduced a 20 mph limit on urban and residential roads, which comes into force in 2023.
There are so many benefits to reducing speed limits. An area-wide limit makes it easier and safer to choose walking and cycling over car journeys for local trips. The significant reductions in air and noise pollution have a positive impact on physical health, including reductions in heart and lung disease. 20mph speed limits help create better-connected, safer, living communities, with higher air quality. Fewer road accidents, increased exercise, less fear and loneliness, and better-quality sleep from reduced noise levels all improve mental health.
Here are some of the specific benefits of a 20 mph limit:
- Lower carbon emissions: CO2 falls by an average of 26%.
- Nitrous oxide, NOx, falls by an average of 28%.
- Traffic noise falls by up to 50%.
- Greater child safety, making it more possible for children to walk to school.
- Fewer casualties. Evidence from Bristol, Edinburgh, Calderdale, Brighton and others shows how 20mph reduces casualties, saving police and NHS costs. A 1mph reduction in speed on an urban road reduces casualties on average by a whopping 6%.
- Most drivers obey the new speed limit without traffic calming measures. Speed limiters on new cars from 2022 will help.
- 20 mph reduces stop-start driving habits. Less accelerating / braking reduces brake and tyre particulates.
- It’s excellent value for money. Doing nothing costs more!
- Businesses thrive where it is safe to walk and cycle.
- A
20 mph limit makes no significant
difference to bus journeys across town. Many bus companies have
found no difference in their timetables.
The biggest benefit, however, is much simpler, but harder to measure: an increase in well-being. Communities thrive if there is less danger and less noise, creating a stronger sense of place.
Hastings Borough Council wants these benefits for our citizens.
We note that East Sussex County Council has repeatedly rejected motions calling for default 20 mph speeds on all residential streets. However, the County Council has agreed to consider a default 20 mph limit as part of developing Local Transport Plan 4. The Leader of Hastings Council will write to the Leader of East Sussex County Council and the Lead Member for Transport and Environment to call upon East Sussex ... view the full minutes text for item 282.
Membership of Committees
To give effect to any request received from a political group for a change in their representation on committee(s).
Minutes:
Councillor Hilton informed the Council that Councillor Carr is to be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Collins.
RESOLVED that the Council notes the following arrangements for the membership of committees:
- Councillor Carr is appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Collins.
Reports of Committees
a) To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of any items considered while the public were excluded by the relevant committee because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 referred to in the minutes of the relevant committee.
b) To receive and consider the recommendations and any decisions of the following committees.
Subject
Cabinet Member / Chair
AUDIT COMMITTEE – 28 JULY 2022
153.
Audit Committee Report To Council 2021-22
Rankin
CABINET – 1 AUGUST 2022
447.
Update on Health Inequalities Work in Hastings
Batsford
448.
York Buildings
Evans
CABINET – 5 SEPTEMBER 2022
452.(C)
Annual Treasury Management Outturn Report – 2021-22
Willis
453.
Medium Term Financial Strategy
Willis
454.
Cabinet Appointments to Committees, Working Groups and Partnerships
Barnett
CABINET – 3 OCTOBER 2022
463.(C)
Castleham Industrial Units Roof Refurbishment (Part 1)
Barnett
464.(C)
Agreeing the Delivery Model For Grounds Maintenance Services From November 2023 (Part 1)
Hilton
466.(E)(C)
Castleham Industrial Units Roof Refurbishment (Part 2)
Barnett
467.(E)(C)
Agreeing the Delivery Model For Grounds Maintenance Services From November 2023 (Part 2)
Hilton
468.(E)
591 Sedlescombe Road North
Barnett
Notes:1. The Mayor will call over the minutes and members will rise and indicate those items which they wish to have discussed.
2. No discussion shall take place at this stage upon part II minutes covered by the resolution 8a) above. Any such discussion shall be deferred to item 9 on the agenda.
Minutes:
The Mayor having called over the minutes set out in the agenda; the following minutes were reserved for discussion.
RESOLVED that under rule 13.3 the reports and minutes of committees set out in the agenda, including those items on which a council decision was required, be received, and agreed. Only those items which were reserved were discussed as follows:Meeting
Minute
Councillor
Cabinet, 1st August 2022
447. Update on Health Inequalities Work in Hastings
Turner
Cabinet, 1st August 2022
448. York Buildings
Edwards
Cabinet, 3rd October 2022
464. Agreeing the Delivery Model For Grounds Maintenance Services From November 2023 (Part 1)
Patmore
Cabinet, 3rd October 2022
466. Castleham Industrial Units Roof Refurbishment (Part 2)
Edwards
Cabinet, 3rd October 2022
467. Agreeing the Delivery Model For Grounds Maintenance Services From November 2023 (Part 2)
Patmore
Councillors debated minutes 447 and 448 of Cabinet on 1st August 2022. These matters did not require Full Council approval.
Minute 464 of Cabinet on 3rd October 2022, Agreeing the Delivery Model For Grounds Maintenance Services From November 2023 (Part 1), was a matter requiring Full Council approval. The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Hilton, seconded by Councillor Evans.
RESOLVED that in order for Full Council to take advice from officers where appropriate, under Rule 16.14 of the Constitution the Council proceed as if in committee.
Councillors asked questions of the Waste and Cleansing Services Manager.
Councillor Sinden proposed the meeting return to Council mode, seconded by Councillor Roberts.
RESOLVED that the meeting return to Council mode.
Councillor Patmore proposed that debate on this item take place after the exclusion of the public from the meeting.
RESOLVED (by 13 for, to 8 against) that debate on minute 464 take place after the exclusion of the public from the meeting.
Minutes 466 and 467 of Cabinet on 3rd October 2022 were exempt items. When these items were reached the Deputy Mayor proposed a motion for the exclusion of the public from the meeting, seconded by Councillor Roberts.
RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of minutes 466 and 467 of the Cabinet meeting held on 3rd October 2022 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 referred to in the relevant report.
Minute 466 of Cabinet on 3rd October 2022, Castleham Industrial Units Roof Refurbishment (Part 2), was a matter requiring Full Council approval. The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Barnett, seconded by Councillor Batsford and agreed unanimously.
RESOLVED (unanimously):
That Full Council agree the Capital programme budget is increased from £250,000 to £325,000.
Reasons:
Costs have increased since the budget was set.
Minute 467 of Cabinet on ... view the full minutes text for item 284.
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