Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair will make any specific announcements for this meeting and advise of any late items which due to special circumstances will be given urgent consideration under Late Items.

Apologies were received from Cllr Betts and Cllr Chilton.

The Cabinet is requested to approve as a correct record the minutes of its meeting on Tuesday 6 June 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2023 were agree as a correct record.

Members are requested to make any declarations of disclosable pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests they might have in respect of matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Chichester District Council’s scheme for public question time the Cabinet will receive any questions which have been submitted by members of the public in writing by noon two working days before the meeting. Each questioner will be given up to three minutes to ask their question. The total time allocated for public question time is 15 minutes subject to the Chair’s discretion to extend that period.

The following public questions were asked with the answers to follow:

Question from: Ann Stewart

Last month, in reply to a question from me, you told me that you are working with stakeholders and partners to develop an integrated transport hub, but implied that the current bus station was not part of these plans as this is owned by Stagecoach, the bus company. I assume that Stagecoach is either a stakeholder or an essential partner in developing local transport policy. Would you not agree that an attractive and convenient bus station with a comfortable waiting room, would make people more prepared to use public transport rather than their cars? Do you have any plans to work with Stagecoach to improve the bus station, and integrate this with the nearby railway station, to provide a proper  and convenient transport hub for Chichester

Answer from Cllr Moss

Ann

Thank you for your question. The answer to your question last time needs clarification.

The Bus station site is owned by Chichester District Council with a long lease to Stagecoach. Stagecoach is responsible for any repairs or improvements to the buildings on this site.

The Bus station site is an integral part of the Southern Gateway Regeneration project, and the Council is currently working with Stagecoach and stakeholders and external partners to bring forward a transport hub that meets the needs of the local community and visitors to the district that is supported by Stagecoach and Network Rail.

The current proposal would provide a new maintenance garage for Stagecoach on Terminus Road with the new bus stop provision focused around a transport hub linked to the Railway Station, plans for which still need to be finalised.

As part of the wider Southern Gateway project the intention is to redevelop the existing bus station and bus garage sites.

The new administration is anxious to ensure that public transport is fully supported in our District and enhanced to suit the developing requirements for sustainable transport.

Please do look at the Southern Gateway Proposals as outlined on the District Council website.

Question from: Andrew Sargent

Please can CDC arrange a meeting with Michael Gove to request the housing number (derived from the Standard Method) be reduced by 70% to reflect that 70% of the land area is in the SDNP?

I know a deputation met the disgraced previous junior Housing Minister Mr Pincher and their concerns were dismissed by him. Now is the time to go back and ask the above question to the Right Honourable Michael Gove.

Answer from Cllr Bill Brisbane

Thank you for your question.

The housing need figure for the whole of the district is calculated using the government’s standard method and is a total of 763 dwellings per annum.  The latest Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) prepared for the South Downs National Park set out a need for 125 homes per annum in the SDNP area of the district.  This need is then discounted from the standard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Cabinet is requested to consider the report and its appendix and make the following recommendation to Council:

That the Cabinet recommends the Annual Report 2022-2023 be received by the Council.

*RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

That the Cabinet recommends the Annual Report 2022-2023 be received by the Council.

The Leader of the Council provided a brief overview of the annual report.

Members praised the work of the previous Environment Panel on environmental issues. Members also enquired about repairs to the pavements and how that would affect the falls prevention service. The Leader of the Council responded to the issue of the pavements and stated they are working closely with the Leader of West Sussex County Council on this matter.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Council’s performance and achievements over the last year as detailed in the Annual Report 2022-2023 be reviewed by the Cabinet and be recommended that the report be received by Council.

The Cabinet is requested to consider the report and exempt appendix and make the following recommendations:

That Cabinet recommends to Council approves scheme A and releases from general fund reserves the additional budget of £152,000 as set out in Appendix one for the refurbishment of the public conveniences at Priory Park, East Beach, Bosham Lane and Market Road and the demolition of the Tower Street public conveniences.

That Cabinet approves that the Tower Street public conveniences

site is surplus to requirements and delegates authority to the

Director of Growth and Place to progress alternative use or disposal

of the site to achieve best value.

That Cabinet approves the cost of demolition, if required, for the Tower Street public conveniences

That Cabinet notes the revenue savings and anticipated improvements in energy efficiency as set out in paragraphs 7.3 and 9.2 as a result of the works.

Please note the Appendix to this report is exempt and printed on salmon paper

*RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

1.    That Cabinet recommends to Council to release an additional £241,000 as set out in Appendix one from general reserve funds for the refurbishment of the public conveniences at Priory Park, East Beach Selsey, Bosham Lane and Market Road.

2.      That Cabinet accepts that the cost of refurbishment of the Tower Street, toilets are uneconomic and delegates authority to the Director of Growth and Place to progress options for the Tower Street site including for its demolition and the provision of a modern modular toilet and the reuse of the remainder of the site, with a full report to be brought back to Cabinet.

The Cabinet member for Growth and Place introduced the report.

Members enquired about the opening hours of the toilets and asked if they were flexible. Officers responded by stating that as part of the contract with the organisation that open and close the toilets; flexibility was an option. Additionally, when an event occurs, the council do ask the organisation to delay the closure of the sites. Members noted that the signage for the Tower Street toilets could be better presented so that visitors would find it easier to locate the public convenience. Members emphasised the importance of the Tower Street toilets as there is a variety of different people that need immediate access to public conveniences. This includes both parents of young children and the elderly.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet recommends to Council to release an additional £241,000 as set out in Appendix one from general reserve funds for the refurbishment of the public conveniences at Priory Park, East Beach Selsey, Bosham Lane and Market Road.

2.    That Cabinet accepts that the cost of refurbishment of the Tower Street, toilets are uneconomic and delegates authority to the Director of Growth and Place to progress options for the Tower Street site including for its demolition and the provision of a modern modular toilet and the reuse of the remainder of the site, with a full reportto be brought back to Cabinet.

The Cabinet is requested to consider the report and its appendix and make the following resolutions;

Cabinet approves the Initial project proposal document (IPPD) in appendix one to commission a consultancy company to undertake the development of a regeneration strategy for Chichester City.

Cabinet approves to allocate £45,000 from reserves to cover the estimated cost of the commission.

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet approves the Initial project proposal document (IPPD) in appendix one to commission a consultancy company to undertake the development of a regeneration strategy for Chichester City.

2.    That Cabinet approves to allocate £45,000 from reserves to cover the estimated cost of the commission.

3.    That the Director of Growth and Place be encouraged to ensure that Chichester City Council be consulted in this matter and other Stakeholders in the IPPD.

The Leader of the Council introduced this item.

Members stated that they hoped the Regeneration Strategy would be suitable enough for more young people to move to Chichester. Members also praised the strategy for allowing more green growth. Members stressed the importance of including additional affordable housing, particularly to entice more young people to Chichester. The importance of working collaboratively with the city council to create a shared vison for this project was also mentioned as an important facet.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet approves the Initial project proposal document (IPPD) in Appendix 1 to commission a consultancy company to undertake the development of a regeneration strategy for Chichester City.

2.    That Cabinet approves to allocate £45,000 from reserves to cover the estimated cost of the commission.

3.    That the Director of Growth and Place be encouraged to ensure that Chichester City Council be consulted in this matter and other Stakeholders in the IPPD.

The Cabinet is requested to consider the report and make the following resolution:

That Cabinet approves delegated authority to allocate grant funding for dispersal of asylum seekers, in line with 4.1 and 4.2 below, to the Divisional Manager for Communities and Customer Services following consultation with the Cabinet member for Communities.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves delegated authority to allocate grant funding for dispersal of asylum seekers, in line with paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of the report, to the Divisional Manager for Communities and Customer Services following consultation with the Cabinet member for Communities.

The Cabinet member for Communities and Wellbeing introduced this report.

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet approves delegated authority to allocate grant funding for dispersal of asylum seekers, in line with paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of the report, to the Divisional Manager for Communities and Customer Services following consultation with the Cabinet member for Communities.

The Cabinet is requested to appoint a member to iESE Transformation Limited. An update will also be provided relating to the Outside Body appointment to PUSH.

RESOLVED

1.     That Cllr Adrian Moss be appointed as the Council’s representative and Cllr Jonathan Brown be appointed as the Council’s deputy representative to iESE Transformation Limited for the year 2023-2024.

2.     That the update on the position concerning there being no voting arrangements for the PUSH appointment be noted.

Nicholas Bennet, Divisional Manager for Democratic Services provided an update on the PUSH appointments.

RESOLVED

1.      That Cllr Adrian Moss be appointed as the Council’s representative and Cllr Jonathan Brown be appointed as the Council’s deputy representative to iESE Transformation Limited for the year 2023-2024.

2.      That the update on the position concerning there being no voting arrangements for the PUSH appointment be noted.

a)    Items added to the agenda papers and made available for public inspection

b)    Items which the Chair has agreed should be taken as matters of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be reported at the meeting

There were none.

The Cabinet is asked to consider in respect of the Appendix to Agenda Item 6 and/or Agenda Item 12 whether the public including the press should be excluded from the meeting on the following ground of exemption in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 namely Paragraph 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) and because, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption of that information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

[Note The report and its appendices within this part of the agenda are attached for members of the Council and relevant only (printed on salmon paper)]

The Cabinet is requested to consider the exempt report and exempt appendix and make the resolutions as set out in section 2.1 of the report:

(Part II)

RESOLVED

That Cabinet agree to granting a new lease to the current café operators upon completion of their intended investment in and development of the facility, as set out in Appendix 1.

The Leader of the Council provided a brief overview of the item.

The Leader of the Council invited Councillor Ballantyne, Ward member for The Witterings, to provide comments. Councillor Ballantyne stated that this was a good opportunity to support a thriving local business. Councillor Ballantyne also stated that it was an opportunity to bring some economic development and refurbish the toilets.

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet agree to granting a new lease to the current café operators upon completion of their intended investment in and development of the facility, as set out in Appendix 1.