Councillor Keith Glazier, OBE, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development, convened a meeting on 15 September 2025, to discuss local government reorganisation, devolution, the lane rental scheme, the East Sussex Local Growth Assurance Framework capital programme, and the Observer Building in Hastings. The Lead Member agreed to recommend to the council to note the business case for a single tier of local government in East Sussex and to express their views to the cabinet. The Lead Member also agreed to note the devolution update and seek the views of the County Council, to note the progress of the lane rental scheme and approve a new delegation to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, to note the project progress and spend across various funding programmes, and to extend the repayment term for the Growing Places Fund loans for the Observer Building in Hastings.

Local Government Reorganisation in East Sussex

Councillor Keith Glazier considered a report regarding the proposal for a single tier of local government across East Sussex, ahead of a full council meeting and cabinet decision on 24 September 2025. The Lead Member agreed to recommend to the council to note the business case setting out the proposal for a single tier of local government in East Sussex and to express their views to cabinet on the proposals set out in the report and appendices.

The proposal, known as 'One East Sussex', suggests a unitary council on the current footprint of East Sussex County Council, which is due to be considered by the cabinet on 24 September 2025. The meeting of the full council will provide an opportunity for all members to express their views on the proposals ahead of consideration by the cabinet.

Devolution: Mayoral Strategic Authority for Sussex

Councillor Keith Glazier considered a report on the progress of devolution in Sussex, including an overview of the content of the Statutory Instrument (SI) that would create the Sussex Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) and the impacts for East Sussex County Council as a result of the creation of the MCCA. The Lead Member agreed to note the update and seek the views of the County Council.

The government has confirmed that the relevant statutory tests have been met to proceed with the MCCA's establishment. To proceed, all proposed constituent authorities must consent to the laying of a Statutory Instrument to initiate the legislative process to establish the MCCA. The report outlined the impacts the SI and English Devolution Bill would have on East Sussex County Council and provided further detail on the expected role and functions of the Sussex MCCA.

Lane Rental Scheme

Councillor Keith Glazier considered a report on the implementation of the East Sussex Lane Rental Scheme. The Lead Member agreed to note the current progress of the scheme, how the surplus lane rental funds will be allocated, and the delegation to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to approve projects with a value of up to £500,000, and to recommend that the County Council updates its constitution accordingly.

The Lane Rental Scheme commenced on 1 April 2025, charging up to £2,500 per day for roadworks on designated A and B class roads during traffic-sensitive times. The scheme aims to minimise disruption by encouraging companies to work at less busy times and to collaborate to minimise the impact on the network. Approximately 10% of works on lane rental roads are being charged, with the remainder receiving a waiver or discount. The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that 50% of the net surplus must be allocated to highway maintenance and the other 50% to purposes intended to reduce disruption and other adverse effects caused by street works, assigned through an application process. To allow a more efficient application of surplus funds, it was agreed that the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport can approve any schemes and/or projects with a value of up to £500,000.

East Sussex Local Growth Assurance Framework (ESLGAF) Capital Programme

Councillor Keith Glazier considered a report on the project progress and spend across the Local Growth Fund, Growing Places Fund and Getting Building Fund for 2024/25, and the forecast for 2025/26. The Lead Member agreed to note the final spend in 2024/25 for the Local Growth Fund and Growing Places Fund programmes, the project updates that took place across the programmes in 2024/25, and the forecast scheme spend profiles for the Local Growth Fund programme and Growing Places Fund programme for the 2025/26 financial year.

As part of the closure of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), the County Council has become the Accountable Body for the legacy capital programmes in East Sussex. A new governance structure, the East Sussex Local Growth Assurance Framework (ESLGAF) has been created to manage these new responsibilities. The report noted that a smooth transfer has taken place with the remaining projects continuing towards completion and the completed projects delivering outputs and outcomes for the benefit of the East Sussex economy.

Observer Building, Hastings - Reprofiling Finances

Councillor Keith Glazier considered a report regarding the reprofiling of finances for the Observer Building project in Hastings. The Lead Member agreed to extend the repayment term of the two Growing Places Fund loans, the financial proposals set out in the exempt report, and delegated authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, to finalise the terms of the legal charge.

The redevelopment of the Observer Building by Hastings Commons has been partly funded by £3,366,500 of Growing Places Fund (GPF) revolving loan funding awarded by South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and due for repayment in full by 31 March 2026. Following a number of unforeseen events since the award of the loan, Hastings Commons notified the County Council in 2023 that they are seeking an extension of the terms of the repayment of the loan. The resulting outcome of this decision has enabled Hastings Commons to continue their regeneration programme in Hastings town centre by securing significant further multi-million pound investment from other sources into the Observer Building and other properties within the Hastings Commons portfolio. The repayment period of the GPF loan will be extended by 20 years, with regular monthly repayments, and with the County Council securing a legal charge against their investment.