Issue - meetings

Members are requested to consider the report and appendices included in the agenda pack and make the following resolutions:

 That Council:

(a)  Approves the Covid 19 Recovery Action Plans for the four thematic areas as set out in appendices 1-4;

(b)  Approves the Future Services Framework as set out in appendix 5;

(c)    Approves the following policy options:

(i)           to forego the Homefinder’s fee at a cost of £20k pa;

(ii)          to contribute £20k towards an economic impact study for Novium, CFT and PHG. To be funded from reserves;

(iii)        to increase the current level of support for Visit Chichester by £100k per year in years 2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23  and provide new support of £130k per year in 2023/24 & 2024/25, and that delegated powers is given to the Director for Growth and Place to approve a new Service Level Agreement with Visit Chichester following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cabinet Member for Growth, Place and Regeneration;

(iv)        to create a new grants fund of £500k. To include £250k for a Community Recovery Grants Fund and £250k for an Economic Recovery Grants Fund, and that delegated powers are given to the Director of Housing & Communities and the Director of Growth and Place to approve criteria for the grants following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cabinet Member for Growth, Place and Regeneration respectively. To be funded by reducing the sum allocated for parish NHB grants by an equivalent amount.

(Please note that the full debate for this item can be viewed on the webcast which has been published here http://chichester.nucast.live/)

The Chair drew members’ attention to a correction to the numbering of the report. On page 12 of the agenda pack the section entitled ‘Alternatives Considered’ should be number 7, ‘Resource and Legal Implications’ number 8, ‘Consultation’ number 9, ‘Community Impact and Corporate Risks’ number 10, ‘Other Implications’ number 11, ‘Appendices ‘number 12’ and ‘Background Papers’ number 13.

Cllr Lintill was then invited to introduce the report.

Cllr Lintill moved the recommendations which were seconded by Cllr Taylor.

A number of members requested information on how the recovery teams would be made up as some members had already been approached. Cllr Lintill confirmed that the memberships had not been decided. She added that the timings of the meetings would be decided by the Cabinet member/s, Directors and Advisors. The meetings would not be formally minuted as these are informal groups and oversight of the recovery plans lay with Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet. A number of members requested feedback to the wider membership.

With regard to a request for smaller registered charities to be included in the grants funding Cllr Briscoe explained that the criteria for inclusion is currently being drawn up by officers but would include smaller local charities.

Cllr Moss suggested the inclusion of Fishbourne Roman Palace, the Oxmarket and the Weald and Downland Museum in the economic impact study for the Novium, Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery. Cllr O’Kelly then proposed the suggestion which was seconded by Cllr Moss. Both Mrs Hotchkiss and Mr Bennett explained that the recommendation would have to be worded as such to take account of consulting with the additional organisations to see if they wished to be included. Mrs Shepherd also clarified that the proposal is for the cost of the study to be split into thirds equally between the parties involved. 

Cllr Tim Johnson then put forward the following amendment which was seconded by Cllr Donna Johnson:

Council recommend that Cabinet consider enhancing their decisions of 07 July and approve the formation of a separate Peninsula Recovery Group at their next meeting.

Some members did not support the recommendation as some parishes on the Peninsula did not support the proposal, thought it was a duplication of work if the Group were formed and also the implication for other areas of the district where an additional Group is not set up.

In support of the recommendation some members discussed that the Group reflects the needs of the residents now and would address the particular needs of the peninsula.

In a vote the amendment was not carried.

Cllr Plowman then put forward the following amendment which was seconded by Cllr Hughes:

That the Chichester Neighbourhood Plan City Centre Task Force be included as a Partner Organisation for the Economic Recovery Action plans. (Pages 32, 33).

Some members did not support the recommendation and discussed the inclusion of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8

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

(a)   that the recommendations and comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 30 June 2020 be considered;

(b)   that the serious impact Covid 19 has had on the Council’s finances be noted and taken into account when considering this report;

(c)   that the Governance arrangements as set out in appendix 6 be approved and;

(d)   that progress on the Recovery Action Plans and Future Services Framework be reported to the Cabinet every 6 months

The Cabinet is also requested to recommend to Council:

(a)  the Covid 19 Recovery Action Plans for the four thematic areas as set out in appendices 1-4;

(b)  the future services framework as set out in appendix 5;

(c) the following policy options:

(i)           to forego the Homefinder’s fee at a cost of £20k pa;

(ii)          to contribute £20k towards an economic impact study for Novium, CFT and PHG. To be funded from reserves;

(iii)        to increase the current level of support for Visit Chichester by £100k per year in years 2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23  and provide new support of £130k per year in 2023/24 & 2024/25, and that delegated powers is given to the Director for Growth and Place to approve a new Service Level Agreement with Visit Chichester following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cabinet Member for Growth, Place and Regeneration;

(iv)        to create a new grants fund of £500k. To include £250k for a Community Recovery Grants Fund and £250k for an Economic Recovery Grants Fund, and that delegated powers are given to the Director of Housing & Communities and the Director of Growth and Place to approve criteria for the grants following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cabinet Member for Growth, Place and Regeneration respectively. To be funded by reducing the sum allocated for parish NHB grants by an equivalent amount.

RESOLVED

a)           that the recommendations and comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 30 June 2020 be considered;

b)           that the serious impact Covid -19 has had on the Council’s finances be noted and taken into account when considering this report;

c)           that the Governance arrangements as set out in appendix 6 be approved and;

d)           that progress on the Recovery Action Plans and Future Services Framework be reported to the Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee every 3 months.

*RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

(a)  the Covid 19 Recovery Action Plans for the four thematic areas as set out in appendices 1-4 as amended;

(b)  the future services framework as set out in appendix 5;

(c) the following policy options:

(i)           to forego the Homefinder’s fee at a cost of £20k pa;

(ii)          to contribute up to £20k towards an economic impact study for Novium, CFT and PHG. To be funded from reserves;

(iii)        to increase the current level of support for Visit Chichester by £100k per year in years 2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23  and provide new support of £130k per year in 2023/24 & 2024/25, and that delegated powers is given to the Director for Growth and Place to approve a new Service Level Agreement with Visit Chichester following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cabinet Member for Growth, Place and Regeneration;

(iv)        to create a new grants fund of £500k. To include £250k for a Community Recovery Grants Fund and £250k for an Economic Recovery Grants Fund, and that delegated powers are given to the Director of Housing & Communities and the Director of Growth and Place to approve criteria for the grants following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cabinet Member for Growth, Place and Regeneration respectively. To be funded by reducing the sum allocated for parish NHB grants by an equivalent amount.

The Chair introduced the item and then invited each Cabinet member to discuss the recovery teams they would be leading on.

Cllr Moss was then invited to outline the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which were as follows:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

(i)            Supports the development of the Covid 19 Recovery Action Plans for the four thematic areas as set out in appendices 1-4;

(ii)          Supports the policy options as set out in paragraph 6.4;

(iii)         Endorses the future services framework as set out in appendix 5;

(iv)         Endorses the governance arrangements as set out in appendix 6; and;

(v)          Requests that progress on the Recovery Action Plans and Future Services Framework be reported to the Committee every 3 months.

Cllr Oakley was then invited to speak. His questions related to the scope for instructing consultants at a cost of £20,000 to undertake an economic impacy assessment, the rationale of maintaining a New Homes Bonus grants fund for parish allocations and horticulture in relation to the Tangmere Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). Mrs Hotchkiss explained that consultants would be required as the council will be asked to provide Economic Impact and Social Impact studies in order to apply for future external funding grants. Mrs Shepherd advised that as the New Homes Bonus parish allocation scheme commenced in January 2020 and parish council’s had already committed time and resource to the application process so it would not be appropriate to remove the scheme this year. Mrs Rudziak added that it would be timely to consider any future changes to the Scheme in October/November in order to allow parish council’s time to adjust their precepts if required. With regards to the Tangmere CPO Mr Frost advised that the Recovery Plan should remain high level with reference to horticulture needs and future policies rather than detail specific locations.

The Chair then took two votes. The first on the resolutions to be made by Cabinet and the second on the recommendations to be made to Council. Both votes were carried with the Cabinet making the following resolutions and recommendations to Council:

RESOLVED

a)           that the recommendations and comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 30 June 2020 be considered;

b)           that the serious impact Covid -19 has had on the Council’s finances be noted and taken into account when considering this report;

c)           that the Governance arrangements as set out in appendix 6 be approved and;

d)           that progress on the Recovery Action Plans and Future Services Framework be reported to the Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee every 3 months.

*RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

(a)  the Covid 19 Recovery Action Plans for the four thematic areas as set out in appendices 1-4 as amended;

(b)  the future services framework as set out in appendix 5;

(c) the following policy options:

(i)           to forego the Homefinder’s fee at a cost of £20k pa;

(ii)          to contribute up to £20k towards an economic impact study for Novium, CFT and PHG. To  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17