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.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Cabinet is requested to approve as a correct record the minutes of its meeting on Tuesday 6 April 2021.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 April 2021 be approved 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.

Cllr Briscoe declared a prejudicial interest in relation to agenda item 7 as a member of the Westbourne Neighbourhood Plan Working Group. He had sought advice from the Monitoring Officer and turned his microphone and video off for the duration of the item and did not participate in the vote.

In accordance with Chichester District Council’s scheme for public question time as amended by Full Council on 24 September 2019 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 Chairman’s discretion to extend that period.

There were no public questions.

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

That the revised Air Quality Action Plan be approved for public consultation.

RESOLVED

That the revised Air Quality Action Plan be approved for public consultation.

Cllr Plant introduced the item.

Mr Ballard noted a minor amendment to section 8.2, page 3 of the agenda report pack to include Midhurst Town Council and Midhurst Vision Steering Group in the consultation.

In response to members’ comments and questions Mr Ballard explained that the air quality data is subject to quality assurance processes which are carried out at the year end. As such there is always a lag in reporting the last year’s air quality data. He noted that the 2020 data although interesting will provide less useful information about true trends in air quality due to the unprecedented year of the pandemic and the related reduction in traffic volumes and related emissions. He confirmed that the Statutory Annual report which updates the data is due in June and is scheduled to be discussed at Environment Panel in due course.

Mr Ballard explained that modelling predicts a continued gentle positive trend towards greater compliance with the UK air quality standards. He outlined the focus from nitrogen dioxide to particulate matter and explained that 38% of PM2.5 derives from domestic wood and coal burning. With regard to electric vehicle charging the council has installed 18 electric vehicle charging points with an informal policy to monitor the demand before investing further. Mr Ballard explained that as the Government has not classified Chichester as one of the designated clean air zones it would be unlikely that the council could attract associated funding for diesel scrappage schemes.

Mr Ballard confirmed that he would be working with the PR team on a multimedia approach to the consultation. Discussions are also planned with West Sussex County Council to provide input on the revised West Sussex Local Traffic Plan.

Cllr Lintill noted that the report had already been considered by the Environment Panel with no recommendations made to Cabinet.

In a vote the following resolution was made:

RESOLVED

That the revised Air Quality Action Plan be approved for public consultation.

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

1.    That the Allocation Scheme for Social and Affordable Housing as set out in Appendix 2 be approved. 

2.    That the Cabinet authorises the Director for Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make minor changes to the scheme in response to statutory requirements or as otherwise required to maintain operational effectiveness.

3.    That Officers undertake a further review of the Rural Parish Connection and bring forward proposals for further changes if considered necessary.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Allocation Scheme for Social and Affordable Housing as set out in Appendix 2 be approved.

2.    That the Cabinet authorises the Director for Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make minor changes to the scheme in response to statutory requirements or as otherwise required to maintain operational effectiveness.

3.    That Officers undertake a further review of the Rural Parish Connection and bring forward proposals for further changes if considered necessary.

Cllr Sutton introduced the item.

In response to members comments and questions Mr Western clarified that the Scheme proposed to increase the savings threshold to allow for a more generous approach as the threshold has not been increased for a number of years. He confirmed that once the new Scheme has been adopted an easy read version of the Scheme could be created.

Cllr Lintill noted that the report had been considered by a Task and Finish Group and Overview and Scrutiny Committee with no recommendations made to Cabinet.

In a vote the following resolutions were made:

RESOLVED

1.    That the Allocation Scheme for Social and Affordable Housing as set out in Appendix 2 be approved.

2.    That the Cabinet authorises the Director for Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make minor changes to the scheme in response to statutory requirements or as otherwise required to maintain operational effectiveness.

3.    That officers undertake a further review of the Rural Parish Connection and bring forward proposals for further changes if considered necessary.

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

1.    That the Decision Statement as set out in the appendix be published.

2.    To approve the examiner’s recommendation that the Neighbourhood Development Plan proceed to referendum, subject to modifications as set out in the Decision Statement.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Decision Statement as set out in the appendix be published.

2.    To approve the examiner’s recommendation that the Neighbourhood Development Plan proceed to referendum, subject to modifications as set out in the Decision Statement.

Cllr Briscoe who had declared a prejudicial interest in relation to this agenda item as a member of the Westbourne Neighbourhood Plan Working Group turned his microphone and video off for the duration of the item and did not participate in the vote.

Cllr Taylor introduced the item.

In a vote the following resolutions were made:

RESOLVED

1.    That the Decision Statement as set out in the appendix be published.

2.    To approve the examiner’s recommendation that the Neighbourhood Development Plan proceed to referendum, subject to modifications as set out in the Decision Statement.

The Cabinet is requested to note the Urgent Decision Notice relating to the Welcome Back Fund.

*RESOLVED

That the Urgent Decision Notice relating to the Welcome Back Fund be noted.

Cllr Lintill introduced the item.

On behalf of the Cabinet Cllr Lintill made the following resolution:

RESOLVED

That the Urgent Decision Notice relating to the Welcome Back Fund 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 no late items.

The Cabinet is asked to consider in respect of agenda item 11 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)]

Cllr Lintill proposed and read the part II resolution in relation to agenda item 11 which was seconded by Cllr Taylor.

The Cabinet then voted to go into part II.

RESOLVED

That with regard to agenda item 11 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.

Members took a short break.

The Cabinet is requested to consider and provide comment on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations relating to Southern Gateway.

RESOLVED

That the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee relating to Southern Gateway as detailed at page 131 in the private agenda pack be agreed.

Cllr Lintill introduced the item and invited Cllr Moss to speak.

Cllr Moss reflected on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting as a long and positive meeting which enabled conversation to continue in relation to Southern Gateway.

Cllr Dignum as Portfolio holder confirmed that he had no difficulty in accepting the recommendations made. Cllr Lintill agreed.

In a show of hands the following resolution was made:

RESOLVED

That the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee relating to Southern Gateway as detailed at page 131 in the private agenda pack be agreed.