Call-in: Decision made by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment regarding the proposed relocation of Hastings Register Office

Committee report · Place Scrutiny Committee · Thu 27 Nov 2025 · East Sussex County Council

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“The Place Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider the call-in in relation to the decision taken by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment on 10 November 2025 regarding the proposed relocation of Hastings Register Office and decide what action, if any, to take. 1.”

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Recommended · This went to the meeting on Thu 27 Nov 2025. What was decided is in that meeting's minutes.

Place Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider a call-in of the decision taken by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment on 10 November 2025 on the proposed relocation of Hastings Register Office, and to decide what action, if any, to take. p5

The decision was called in on 14 November 2025 by four members of the Committee — Councillors Julia Hilton, Steve Murphy, David Tutt and Brett Wright. p6

The call-in raised concerns about the accessibility of the proposed new location and the absence of an Equalities Impact Assessment at the Lead Member's meeting, the level of public and staff consultation, the new location's capacity to match the current service, and whether the impact on Hastings Borough Council and the future unitary council had been sufficiently considered. p11 p12 p13 p14

The Committee can choose to take no further action, refer the decision back to the Lead Member with its concerns in writing, or refer the matter to Full Council, but cannot change the decision itself, which remains the Lead Member's to take. p18 p19 p20 p22

Show the 10 passages this is based on

p5RECOMMENDATION: The Place Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider the call-in in relation to the decision taken by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment on 10 November 2025 regarding the proposed relocation of Hastings Register Office and decide what action, if any, to take.
p61 Background 1.1 The decision made by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment on 10 November 2025 in relation to the proposed relocation of Hastings Register Office was called in by four Members of the Place Scrutiny Committee - Councillors Julia Hilton, Steve Murphy, David Tutt and Brett Wright - on 14 November 2025. A copy of the call-in request, specifying the grounds of concern requiring consideration by scrutiny, is at Appendix 1.
p11the accessibility of the proposed new location, and that an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) was not presented to the Lead Member at their meeting;
p12the level of public and staff consultation and the reasons given for why these had not taken place;
p13the capacity of the proposed new location to adequately provide the same level of service as is delivered at the current location; and
p14whether the impact of the decision on Hastings Borough Council and the future unitary council had been sufficiently considered.
p18take no further action – in which case the original decision will take effect; or
p19refer the decision back to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment setting out in writing the nature of its concerns. On receipt of a response from scrutiny, the Lead Member may then decide to proceed with the original decision or make an amended decision; or
p20refer the matter to Full Council setting out in writing the reasons for the referral. On receipt of a referral, Council may decide to take no further action, in which case the original decision will take effect, or to refer the matter back to the Lead Member, setting out its views. The Lead Member may then decide to proceed with the original decision or make an amended decision.
p223.1 The scrutiny committee cannot change the decision which, as an executive decision, rests with the Lead Member. The committee’s role is to consider the points raised in the call-in request and decide what action, if any, it wishes to take.

Places and organisations it names

East Sussex County Council

Other papers for this meeting

Place Scrutiny Committee agenda · Committee agenda
Appendix 1 - ESCC Social Value Model Outcomes and MACs Oct 25 · Committee report
Appendix 2 - ESCC draft SV Policy - Proposed Edits for SVM · Committee report
Appendix 3 revised Social Value measure calculation · Committee report
Appx 1 - Call in request · Committee report
Appx 2 - LMTE 10 November 2025 Hastings Registration Office Relocation · Committee report
Appx 3 - LMTE 101125 Minutes · Committee report
Appx 4 - Departmental response to Call in request · Committee report
Appx 5 - Hastings Register Office Equality Impact Assessment · Committee report
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Minutes of the previous meeting · Committee report
Notice of Motion: 20mph speed limits in new developments · Committee report
November 2025 Cabinet report and appendices · Committee report
Place Committee work programme v91 Nov 2025 · Committee report
Place Scrutiny Committee minutes · Committee minutes
Printed plan Forward Plan 1 November 2025 - 28 February 2026 Forward Plan · Committee report
Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) · Committee report
Scrutiny Review of Procurement: Social Value and Buying Local · Committee report
Work programme · Committee report

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