Chichester District Council
Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: virtual

Contact: Democratic Services  Email:  democraticservices@chichester.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

31.

Chairman's Announcements

Any apologies for absence will be noted at this point.

Minutes:

Apologies from Cllr Bangert were received.

 

32.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 400 KB

To approve the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 14 September 2021.

 

To receive an update on progress against recommendations made to the Cabinet and the Council.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2021 were approved.

 

33.

Urgent Items

The Chairman will announce any urgent items that due to special circumstances are to be dealt with under the agenda item below relating to late items.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

34.

Declarations of Interests

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

Minutes:

Cllr Apel declared a personal interest as a Trustee and Friend of Pallant House Gallery and a Friend of Chichester Festival Theatre.

Cllr Sharp declared a personal interest as a member of the Chichester City Council and West Sussex County Council.

Cllr Potter declared a personal interest as a member of the National Park Authority.

 

 

35.

Public Question Time

The procedurefor submittingpublic questions in writingbyno later thannoon 2 workingdays before the meetingis availablehereorfromthe Democratic Services Officer (whose contactdetailsappear on thefrontpage of thisagenda).

Minutes:

There were no public questions received.

 

36.

Report from the Corporate Plan Task & Finish Group pdf icon PDF 126 KB

The Committee is requested to note this report from the Corporate Plan Task and Finish Group and to confirm that it is satisfied that the Council is achieving satisfactory levels of performance against the targets and activities in the 2021/22 Corporate Plan mid-year progress report.

Minutes:

Cllr Palmer was invited to present his report of which he advised the Committee that he would take as read and answer any questions.

 

Support was stated for the Affordable Housing Task & Finish Group to be reinstated. It was confirmed that the Committee at its meeting in January 2022 would be asked to elect a new Chairman for Affordable Housing Task & Finish Group as per its work programme and meetings of this group would be arranged thereafter.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee noted the report from the Corporate Plan Task and Finish Group and confirmed that it was satisfied that the Council is achieving satisfactory levels of performance against the targets and activities in the 2021/22 Corporate Plan mid-year progress report.

 

37.

Corporate Plan 2022-2025 pdf icon PDF 149 KB

The Committee is requested to review the draft Corporate Plan 2022-2025 and make comments for Cabinet to consider.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mr Buckley brought to the attention of the Committee the success measures detailed on page 29 of the plan, specifically measure 5.9 where it refers to the Environment Bill. He confirmed that last week the Bill had been granted royal assent and was now the Environment Act, so the document would be updated to reflect this. He then provided members with a broad overview of the work that had been completed whilst putting this plan together from all of the consultation that was completed, aligning supporting policies and updating the guiding principles.

 

Members were then invited to ask questions or make comment on the plan, during this debate there were a number of questions asked that were relevant to the supporting polices/plans rather than about the plan, those supporting policies/plans were the Housing Strategy, the Local Plan, the Climate Change Action Plan. All questions asked were provided with detailed answers from Mrs Rudziak, Mrs Hotchkiss and Mr Frost.

 

It was proposed by Cllr Sharp and seconded by Cllr Moss that the Committee recommend to Cabinet that the Corporate Plan success measures include safe jobs, in that the Council promote green jobs in the sectors of renewable, retrofitting and the circular economy. The Committee then voted on this proposal where it was carried.  

 

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee reviewed the draft Corporate Plan 2022-2025; and

 

RECOMMEND

 

to Cabinet that the Corporate Plan success measures include safe jobs, in that the Council promote green jobs in the sectors of renewable, retrofitting and the circular economy

 

38.

Budget Review 2022 - 2023 Terms of Reference and Scoping pdf icon PDF 9 KB

The Committee is asked to agree 3 members to join the membership for the Budget Review Task and Finish Group.

Minutes:

Mr Ward provided members with a brief overview of the work this task and finish group would be undertaking, confirming that a meeting would likely be held in early January 2022 due to expecting the supplement from the government in mid to late December 2021.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee agreed that the 3 members from the Committee that would form part of the membership of the Budget Review Task and Finish Group would be Cllrs’ Apel, Barret and Potter.

 

39.

Chichester Festival Theatre Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To receive the annual report from Chichester Festival Theatre and assess performance in line with the monitoring framework.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mrs Peyman gave a brief introduction to the report and then introduced Kathy Bourne and Georgina Rae who provided members with a detailed overview of the annual performance for Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) for 2020/21.

 

Members were then invited to make comment and ask questions, a summary of the discussion highlights is below;

 

·         The pedestrian crossing located at Oaklands Way has potential to be a better link between the Theatre and the City.

·         It was also stated that Community Transport Sussex would be a good be a good partnership for CFT to consider as it has the ability to transport a considerable number of people who are wanting to get to the same place, for example the Train Station at the end of a show.

·         What was CFT relationship with local amateur dramatic groups within the District?

·         The issue of racism was raised after recent cast members who were predominantly black had report receiving racist attacks when in the City. It was confirmed that the Council have a Joint Action Group where it monitors any hate crime that is reported. Mrs Bushby advised that staff and actors working at CFT should be encouraged to report these issues to the Police and West Sussex County Council..

·         Members who attended the presentation that was held at CFT for them on Friday 12 November, said that the presentation was very good and had been well received by those in attendance.

·         A suggestion that CFT considered more concert type opportunities with the example of the Magic of Motown tour that was currently visiting Portsmouth. Mrs Bourne confirmed that the BBC Concert Orchestra was booked in for a few weeks’ time. Whilst principally most events were theatrical in nature, she believed that the venue catered to a wide range of audiences, stating that there was something on offer for everyone.

 

The Chairman drew the debate to a close, thanked Mrs Bourne and Mrs Rae for their attendance and presentation and stated that she thought the work that CFT do was quite incredible and worthwhile for the District.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee received and noted the annual monitoring report for Chichester Festival Theatre.

 

 

40.

Pallant House Gallery Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To receive the 2020/2021 annual report from Pallant House Gallery and assess performance in line with the monitoring framework.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Mr Martin to share his news regarding a recent award that had Pallant House Gallery (PHG) had won. Mr Martin explained that every year a leading art magazine holds a competition for the ‘acquisition of the year’. He explained that there were numerous nominees including those in Amsterdam and New York City. He was pleased to say that PHG had won the award this year, which he said, “was such a huge recognition and puts us on an international footing.” The Chairman offered her congratulations on behalf of the committee.

 

Mrs Peyman introduced the report and then handed over to Mr Martin who gave members a detailed overview of the success PHG had, had over the last year. He thanked the Council for its support over 2020/21 and advised that despite being closed for large periods through the year PHG had received 15,000 visitors. He talked members through the initiatives, online exhibitions and workshops that had be held saying that their online events had been very popular.

 

Mr Martin also advised members that they took the opportunity to complete some needed redecoration during the periods of closure as well as more recently started to replace all the Halogen bulbs with new low energy bulbs throughout the gallery. He stated that the gallery had had a 6-tonne reduction in its carbon emissions over the last year and they were very focused on improving this further. He also explained that the PHG conservation management plan had also been a huge piece of work that had been undertaken over the last 12 months.

 

One member was invited to read out some feedback she had received from one of her constituents regarding the art package she received from PHG during lockdown. It was also highlighted that the PHG website publicises when visitors can visit the gallery for free. Mr Martin confirmed that a 20% discount for NHS Blue Card holders was also available as a thank you for the remarkable work they have done throughout the pandemic.

 

The Chairman suggested that a visit for members to the gallery in the New Year would be good to get organised. Mrs Peyman also confirmed that PHG’s Conservation Plan had been received and was now with the officer who was reviewing the document. She advised that this would be presented back to this Committee in the new year.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee received the 2020/21 annual report for Pallant House Gallery.

 

41.

Late Items pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Consideration of any late items as follows:

 

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

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

Minutes:

The Committee reviewed the Work Programme 2021/22.

 

 

42.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The Committee is asked to consider in respect of the following item(s) whether the public, including the press, should be excluded from the meeting on the grounds of exemption under Parts I to 7 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as indicated against the item 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. The reports dealt with under this part of the agenda are attached for members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and senior officers only (salmon paper).

 

Or

 

There are no restricted items for consideration.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman read the part II resolution in relation to agenda item 13. This was proposed by Cllr Purnell and seconded by Cllr Sharp. The Committee;

 

RESOLVED

 

That with regard to agenda item 18 the public including the press should be excluded from the meeting on the grounds 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.

 

 

43.

Leisure Services Performance Review

Receive the 2020-21 Annual Report from Everyone Active (Sport and Leisure Management Ltd) Appendix 1 and note performance to date for 2021-22.

Minutes:

Mrs Peyman introduced the item to Members before handing over to Mr Mills who presented the report to the Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee received and noted the 2020-21 annual report from Everyone active (Sport & leisure Management Ltd) and its performance for the first six months of this financial year 2021/22.

 

 

 

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