This meeting included a wide-ranging report on scrutiny activity in the Council and a look ahead at future scrutiny topics, an update on the Audit Committee's work programme, a report on the 2023/24 accounts and audit, a discussion on Local Managerial Grade (LMG) manager pay and a proposal for a pay award for the Chief Executive, Chief Officers and their Deputies.

Scrutiny Update

This report provided a summary of scrutiny activity across the People, Place and Health Overview Scrutiny Committees and the Audit Committee. It included a summary of their recent meetings, an overview of the key topics discussed and details of the final scrutiny reviews being concluded ahead of the County Council election in May 2025. The current work programmes for each of the committees were also provided.

Review of Annual Governance Report & 2023/24 Statement of Accounts

This report detailed the key findings from the audit of East Sussex County Council's accounts by Grant Thornton. It confirmed that the auditors are anticipating issuing an unqualified audit opinion, but also highlighted some management recommendations made as a result of the audit, as well as an issue with the Council's main accounting system, SAP. The report pack included the Council's Statement of Accounts for 2023/24, the Financial Statements Information Technology report and the audit adjustment schedule. The report recommended that the Committee note the report, approve the statement of accounts for publication and authorise the Chief Finance Officer, Mr Ian Gutsell, to sign the Letter of Representation to Grant Thornton UK LLP.

LMG Managers Pay 2024-2025

This item concerned the approval of the pay award for Local Managerial Grade (LMG) Managers, following negotiations with Unison. The report pack included the updated 2024/25 pay scales. The report recommended that the Committee agree to implement a pay award for LMG Managers that mirrored the national (NJC) award.

LMG Managers Pay Award and Chief Exec pay

This report detailed the national pay awards agreed by the National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services, the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Chief Officers of Local Authorities and the JNC for Chief Executives of Local Authorities. It highlighted the importance of the national awards to local pay negotiations and the need for the Council to offer pay that is competitive in order to attract and retain high calibre staff. The report pack included benchmarking information showing the rates of pay for the Chief Executive, Chief Officers and their Deputies in neighbouring authorities. The report recommended that the Committee agree to a pay award for the Chief Executive, Chief Officers and Deputies of 2.5%.

Appointments to Outside Bodies

This report pack included the Appointments to Outside Bodies report by the Deputy Chief Executive, Mr Philip Baker. It detailed the Council's current representation on a number of outside bodies including the South Downs National Park Authority, the High Weald AONB Joint Advisory Committee, the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, the East Sussex Association of Local Councils, the Sussex Downs College Corporation, Sea Change Sussex, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), the Environment Agency Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, the South East Employers, and the Sussex Police and Crime Panel. The report recommended that the Committee note the report and agree the recommendations for appointing Councillor Johnny Denis to the South East Employers and re-appointing Councillor David Tutt to the Sussex Police and Crime Panel.