The Eastbourne Borough Council Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on 9 October 2025. The agenda includes updates on the Bandstand and the Byelaws Task and Finish Group, alongside a review of the Forward Plan of Cabinet Decisions and the Scrutiny Committee Work Programme. There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions.

Forward Plan of Cabinet Decisions

The committee is scheduled to receive the Forward Plan of Cabinet Decisions, which lists key decisions expected to be taken by the cabinet and chief officers between 1 October 2025 and 31 January 2026.

The forward plan includes the following decisions:

• A decision on 22 October 2025 by the Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor Stephen Holt, regarding Living Wage Accreditation. The council may approve an application for Living Wage Accreditation, committing to pay all staff the Real Living Wage¹. Homira Javadi, Chief Finance Officer, and Peter Jenion, Project Manager - Community Wealth Building are listed as contacts.

• A decision on 10 December 2025 by the cabinet regarding the interim medium term financial strategy. Consultation is expected to be undertaken as part of a wider consultation on the council's budget for 2025/26 later in the year. Homira Javadi, Chief Finance Officer, and Steven Houchin, Deputy Chief Finance Officer are listed as contacts.

• A decision on 10 December 2025 by the cabinet regarding the council tax and business rate base for 2026/27. The council is required to set its council tax base and the expected business rate income for the forthcoming year. These calculations are used as the basis for the amount of income the council will precept from the collection fund. Homira Javadi, Chief Finance Officer, and Steven Houchin, Deputy Chief Finance Officer are listed as contacts.

• A decision on 10 December 2025 by the cabinet and a decision on 25 February 2026 by the full council to approve the local council tax reduction scheme and agree any amendments as necessary. It is a legal requirement that the council approve the scheme annually. Robert Cottrill, Chief Executive, and Nick Ducatel, Assistant Director - Revenues and Benefits are listed as contacts. Consultation is expected to be undertaken with such persons and groups as the council considered likely to have an interest in the operation of the scheme.

• A decision on 10 December 2025 by the cabinet regarding corporate performance for quarter 2 of 2025/26. Councillor Colin Swansborough is the lead cabinet member. The council is expected to update members on the council's performance against Corporate Plan priority actions, performance indicators and targets over Q2 2025/26 period. Homira Javadi, Chief Finance Officer, and Luke Dreeling, Performance Lead are listed as contacts.

• A decision on 10 December 2025 by the cabinet regarding a finance update for performance in quarter 2 of 2025-2026. Councillor Daniel Butcher is the lead cabinet member. The council is expected to provide an update on the council's financial performance, revenue budgets and capital programme to the end of quarter 2 2025/2026 and explain the impact on the current financial position. Homira Javadi, Chief Finance Officer, and Steven Houchin, Deputy Chief Finance Officer are listed as contacts.

• A decision on 10 December 2025 by the cabinet regarding a housing performance report. Councillor Peter Diplock is the lead cabinet member. The council is expected to provide a half-year update to the annual Housing Performance & Update report. This will be a more concise version of the report, largely based on the satisfaction element of the Tenant Satisfaction Measures and a selection of KPIs². Nathan Haffenden, Director of Housing, Assets and Development, and Oliver Jones, Lead, Housing, Homelessness & Community Safety are listed as contacts.

• A decision on 10 December 2025 by the cabinet regarding the Eastbourne Carbon Neutral 2030: Annual Progress Report. Councillor Jim Murray is the lead cabinet member. The council is expected to provide an annual progress report detailing the council and borough carbon footprints, and progress against the action plan. Ian Fitzpatrick, Director of Regeneration and Planning, and Kate Richardson, Sustainability Lead are listed as contacts.

Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee is scheduled to receive the Eastbourne Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

The work programme lists the following items for discussion at future meetings:

• 8 December 2025: Housing Performance report, Update on Homelessness costs in the Borough, Interim medium term financial strategy, Council tax and business rate base 2026/27, Local council tax reduction scheme, Corporate performance - quarter 2 - 2025/26, Finance update - performance quarter 2 - 2025- 2026, Eastbourne Carbon Neutral 2030: Annual Progress Report.

Update on the Bandstand

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the Eastbourne Bandstand. Mark Langridge Kemp, Head of Property and Asset Management is listed as the lead officer.

Update on recommendations from the Byelaws Task and Finish Group

The committee is scheduled to receive a verbal update on recommendations from the Byelaws Task and Finish Group. Nick Peeters, Democratic Services Officer is listed as the lead officer.