DRAFT MINUTES OF THE DALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING, HELD ON 18th MARCH 2025
Present: Councillors N. Holyoake (Chair), J. Gray, N. Harding, P. Ridley
Mrs. I. Marchant (Parish Clerk/RFO)
County Councillor E. Kirby-Green
District Councillor C. Pearce
Member of the public
1. Disclosure of interests
None declared.
2. Dispensations
None required.
3. Apologies for absence
None.
4. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting(s)
RESOLVED: that the draft minutes of the DPC meeting held on 28.01.25 be confirmed as being an accurate record of the proceedings. Councillor Harding proposed and Councillor Gray seconded, the voting was unanimous. The minutes were signed by the Chair.
5. Open Forum
5.1 County Council report (ESCC) – Councillor E. Kirby-Green
Councillor Kirby-Green’s report is attached at the end of these minutes.
5.2 District Council report (RDC) – Councillor C. Pearce
- A considerable amount of work is being done regarding devolution.
- Council tax bills can now be sent digitally to minimise postage/printing costs.
- Churches, charities and local authorities are good organisations for investment.
5.3 Public Question Time – no questions asked.
6. Dallington Recreation Ground
Please see the minutes of the DRG meeting held before this one regarding hiring agreements and actions to be taken during 2025-26.
7. Devolution/Local Government Reorganisation
Please see the paragraph (first) on devolution on Councillor Kirby-Green’s report attached at the end of these minutes.
8. Dallington Parish Assembly 2025
- This will be held on 15.04.25 and follow the previous format.
- Councillor Pearce will give a short briefing on devolution.
- Invitations for reports have gone out to clubs and organisations in Dallington.
- It will be the usual informal and friendly event, with the chance for residents to ask questions.
- Light refreshments will be available, wine, soft drinks and nibbles.
- It will be publicised on the website and noticeboard.
9. Planning
9.1 Planning applications for consideration
- RR/2025/223/P – Land at Swan Farm, Woods Corner
Conversion and adaption of existing barns and new link element to create new dwelling.
New landscaping, parking and gardens and biodiversity enhancements.
AGREED: to support this application.
- RR/2025/2041/P – Earls Croft, land adjacent to Earls Down
Demolition of existing stable block and erection of new self-build live work dwelling.
AGREED – to support this application.
9.2 No other planning matters for discussion.
10. Enforcement
10.1 No Dallington items on RDC’s most recent enforcement list.
10.2 No other enforcement matters for discussion.
11. Highways/Rights of Way
- There has been a dismissive reply from ESCC Highways regarding a resident’s complaint, the Clerk will investigate. (CLERK)
- No other urgent Highways/RoW matters for discussion.
12. Finance
12.1 Bank balances at 28.02.25
- DPC deposit account – £7,016.73
- DPC current account – £2,238.96
- DRG current account – £707.77
12.2 RESOLVED: to approve the following payments. Councillor Gray proposed and Councillor Harding seconded, the voting was unanimous.
- Clerk, salary/home office (Feb/Mar 2025) – £1,117.40
- * Jame French Landscaping (DRG) – £1,680.00
- * Mastercard fee – £3.00
- * UT service charge – £6.00
* already paid
13. Dates of next meetings
- 15.04.25 – Dallington Parish Assembly
- 22.04.25 – Full Council meeting/Planning meeting (provisional)
- 20.05.25 – Annual Council meeting
ESCC report to Dallington Parish Council on 18th March 2025
Greater powers for Sussex come a step closer with government backing for devolution
An opportunity to gain new powers and investment for Sussex has moved a step nearer with the government’s agreement to make the area a priority for devolution. Following an expression of interest from the leaders of Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council, ministers have approved proposals to create a mayoral strategic authority for Sussex. This will be comprised of an elected mayor and two members of each constituent authority, with strategic powers for transport, public safety, health, environment and climate change, housing, economic growth, skills and jobs.
Local councils in every part of Sussex would work closely with the mayoral strategic authority and would continue to deliver day-to-day services.
Sussex’s upper-tier local authorities agree that devolution could unlock new funding and give people a stronger voice over national decisions which affect them and greater power to steer major projects across the area.
The government will now begin a consultation to seek the views of people and organisations in Sussex.
Alongside devolution, the government is asking for proposals for unitary councils in all parts of Sussex, moving away from the two-tier model of county and borough or district councils where those exist. Discussion with partners will continue on how this might be arranged.
There are no immediate changes to the operation of local authorities in Sussex or the services they provide. The plans for devolution and local government reorganisation do not change the councils’ commitment to service delivery for communities across Sussex.
More information is available here.
Almost £580m to be spent on vital services as budget agreed
East Sussex County Council will spend £579.6 million on vital services after councillors agreed a budget and a Council Plan for 2025/26. At a meeting of the Full Council on 11 February, Councillors voted with a majority of four to approve the proposed budget and Council Plan.
To address the significant funding gap resulting from increased costs and demand for services, as well as long-term reductions in Government funding, the council agreed to use £11.4 million of its limited reserves as well as savings of £13.5 million to set a balanced budget.
Under the approved budget residents will be asked to pay an additional 4.99 per cent in the county council’s share of Council Tax, which includes the additional two per cent for adult social care allowed by Government.
This would mean a Band D home would pay an additional £1.70 per week in Council Tax for services including roads, schools, social care and libraries.
Despite the financial pressures, the council continues to make necessary investments in services to meet the needs of local residents.
The council agreed an additional £55 million to its annual spending for East Sussex for 2025/26 to adapt to the growing demand for, and cost of, services, though it is not being funded to match the increased spending.
More information is available here.
Cash boost for active travel
East Sussex is to receive £1.4 million to develop and deliver active travel schemes across the county. East Sussex County Council has secured £1.1 million from Active Travel England’s (ATE) Consolidated Active Travel Fund 2025/26, alongside a further award of over £325,000 from ATE’s Active Travel Fund 5.
The funding will help develop and deliver schemes which contribute to enabling people to walk, wheel, and cycle as the natural first choice for everyday short journeys or as part of longer journeys in the county. The aim is to improve local connectivity to key services and support people to get more active. This is alongside local active travel scheme development in neighbourhoods and the maintenance of active travel measures.
The funding will help the county council deliver a package of measures to support the key policies included in the recently approved East Sussex Local Transport Plan 4 to ensure the council plans for people and the places where they live, work and do business.
This includes ensuring that designs for streets and places are inclusive, as well as developing healthy and sustainable places which reduce health inequalities and support healthy lifestyles.
More information is available here.
SEND Local Area Partnership inspection report published
The findings of an inspection into services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in East Sussex have been welcomed by council and health leaders.
The report by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), gives the East Sussex Local Area Partnership the middle rating for the delivery, planning and commissioning of SEND services.
East Sussex County Council and NHS Sussex share responsibility for planning and commissioning services to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND in the area.
The report highlighted several areas of good practice and positive examples of work across agencies to provide support for children and young people and their families. It also praised the SEND information, advice and support service and the important guidance that it provides to families. The report identifies areas of improvement for the partnership and partners in education, social care and health will work together to address these.
More information is available here.
Childminding recruitment campaign launched
A new campaign encouraging people to consider becoming childminders has been launched by the county council.
The ‘Do something big – work with small children’ campaign aims to highlight the benefits of childminding as a career. The campaign is supporting the Government’s ‘Be part of something big’ initiative to promote early years careers.
Childminding can mean anything from working flexible, part time hours to creating a business similar to a small nursery. Childminders can work at home, in a community hall, or partner with a local school and they can also employ assistants. No formal qualifications are needed and the county council can offer support with training, registering with Ofsted or a childminding agency, and grant applications.
The county council is also encouraging people to consider offering wraparound care, usually from 8am until school time or after school until 6pm, with a £600 Wraparound Care Grant available to help cover start-up costs. This grant is available to childminders who complete their registration with Ofsted or a childminder agency between September 1, 2024 and March 31, 2026.
More information is available here.
Schools to pilot government breakfast club scheme
A number of schools in East Sussex are to become early adopters of the government’s free school breakfast clubs. Schools in Seaford, Eastbourne and Hastings are among those chosen to pilot the new scheme, which is expected to run from April until June before being expanded.
The schools chosen for the trial are expected to offer a free breakfast to all pupils and at least 30 minutes of childcare before school. Clubs in the county will receive a share of £7m in funding to kick start the plan, which the government says will save families up to £450 a year. If the pilot is successful, plans for a national expansion could begin later this year.
More information is available here.
Creative business support scheme extended
The Government recently announced it will be extending its support for the Create South East programme until March 2026. The initiative continues to be supported by East Sussex County Council, who helped secure the programme for the region in 2022.
The scheme’s Investment Readiness programme helps companies develop the skills they need to secure investment and facilitate access to additional funding. Businesses are able to access six to nine months of intensive, tailored support and engage in workshops, programme mentoring and events.
Create South East is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Create Growth Programme and run through a partnership of 12 local and unitary authorities and organisations across the counties of Essex, Kent and Sussex.
More information is available here.