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.

Cllr Lintill welcomed everyone to the meeting. She explained that a late item had been accepted entitled ‘Land at Mill Road, Westbourne, Community Land Trust Proposal’.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Cabinet is requested to approve as a correct record the minutes of its meeting on Tuesday 11 January 2022.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 January 2022 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 late item ‘Land at Mill Road, Westbourne – Community Land Trust Proposal’ as a member of the Community Land Trust. He explained he would be leaving the room for the duration of that item.  

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.

No public questions had been received.

The Cabinet is requested to consider the recommendations from the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel on 26 January 2022 which are as follows at the time of print:

That the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel recommends to Cabinet to recommend that the Council:

1.    Approves the proposed responses to the representations received and subsequent modifications to the Draft Infrastructure Business Plan 2022-2027 as set out in Appendix 1; and

2.    Approves the amended IBP including the CIL Spending Plan attached as Appendix 2.

A supplement to the agenda will follow the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel on 26 January 2022.

*RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

That Cabinet recommends that the Council:

      i.        Approves the proposed responses to the representations received and subsequent modifications to the Draft Infrastructure Business Plan 2022- 2027 as set out in Appendix 1; and

    ii.        Approves the amended IBP including the CIL Spending Plan attached as Appendix 2.

Cllr Taylor introduced the item and referred members to the supplement to the agenda containing the report and its appendices. She also explained that a further response supplementing Chichester City Council’s objections had been received and was tabled for members of the Cabinet. Cllr Dignum noted that he did not support the objection from the City Council.

Cllr Briscoe asked members to be mindful that the CCG put forward the plans in respect of GP facilities not the council.

Cllr Taylor added that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) requirements for growth and infrastructure had been met by the proposals from the CCG.

Cllr Plant requested comment on the IBP 331 and IBP 660 and the delay to the education provision plans. Mrs Dower explained that the IBP is a live document and as such the information provided to the cabinet was current at the time of print. She added that it was likely that due to housing growth further consideration would be given by WSCC to the need for additional provision in the spring.

In a vote the following recommendations to Council were made:

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

That Cabinet recommends that the Council:

      i.        Approves the proposed responses to the representations received and subsequent modifications to the Draft Infrastructure Business Plan 2022- 2027 as set out in Appendix 1; and

    ii.        Approves the amended IBP including the CIL Spending Plan attached as Appendix 2.

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

2.1      That the contract for the cleaning of operational buildings and public conveniences for a period of three years from 1 April 2022 or as soon thereafter be awarded to Supplier C, the details of which are set out in the exempt appendix to the agenda report.

2.2    That authority be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services to:

(1)  make any minor contractual changes during the contract term.

(2)  extend the contract by mutual agreement for up to 2 periods of 12 months each should the contract remain economically advantageous and the supplier perform satisfactorily.

2.3    That Cabinet note the planned savings of £32,300 from this contract have been achieved, and approve that the further savings of £34,300 be retained to fund temporary staffing support during contract implementation.

2.4    Subject to the agreement of 2.3, the requirement for the £34,300 in future years will be reviewed by Officers as part of the 2023-34 budget process and either repurposed towards contract variations or returned to the Council’s base budget.

RESOLVED

1.    That the contract for the cleaning of operational buildings and public conveniences for a period of three years from 1 April 2022 or as soon thereafter be awarded to Supplier C, the details of which are set out in the exempt appendix to the agenda report.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services to:

a.    make any minor contractual changes during the contract term.

b.    extend the contract by mutual agreement for up to 2 periods of 12 months each should the contract remain economically advantageous and the supplier perform satisfactorily.

3.    That Cabinet note the planned savings of £32,300 from this contract have been achieved and approve that the further savings of £36,600 be retained to fund temporary staffing support during contract implementation.

4.    Subject to the agreement of 2.3, the requirement for the £36,600 in future years will be reviewed by Officers as part of the 2023-24 budget process and either repurposed towards contract variations or returned to the Council’s base budget.

Cllr Wilding introduced the item. He explained that recommendation 2.4 should read 2023/24.

Mr Buckley added that the amounts detailed in recommendation 3 and 4 should read £36,600.

Cllr Lintill accepted the changes on behalf of the Cabinet.

In a vote the following resolutions were made:

RESOLVED

1.    That the contract for the cleaning of operational buildings and public conveniences for a period of three years from 1 April 2022 or as soon thereafter be awarded to Supplier C, the details of which are set out in the exempt appendix to the agenda report.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services to:

a.    make any minor contractual changes during the contract term.

b.    extend the contract by mutual agreement for up to 2 periods of 12 months each should the contract remain economically advantageous, and the supplier perform satisfactorily.

3.    That Cabinet note the planned savings of £32,300 from this contract have been achieved and approve that the further savings of £36,600 be retained to fund temporary staffing support during contract implementation.

4.    Subject to the agreement of 2.3, the requirement for the £36,600 in future years will be reviewed by Officers as part of the 2023-24 budget process and either repurposed towards contract variations or returned to the Council’s base budget.

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

That Cabinet approves:

1.            The release of £60,000 from reserves to cover the cost of engaging specialist professional services to support the local planning authority in defending a planning appeal.

2.            II)   The release of £30,000 from reserves to cover the cost of retaining temporary agency staff to address current staff vacancies and enable the existing applications backlog to be removed.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The release of £60,000 from reserves to cover the cost of engaging specialist professional services to support the local planning authority in defending a planning appeal.

2.    The release of £30,000 from reserves to cover the cost of retaining temporary agency staff to address current staff vacancies and enable the existing applications backlog to be removed.

Cllr Taylor introduced the item.

Mrs Stevens drew attention to section 4.3 of the report and explained that the use of reserves to cover the cost of agency staff referenced had been removed from the agreed recommendations in the earlier report to cabinet.

Members wished to note their support for this provision for the planning team.

In a vote the following resolutions were made:

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The release of £60,000 from reserves to cover the cost of engaging specialist professional services to support the local planning authority in defending a planning appeal.

2.    The release of £30,000 from reserves to cover the cost of retaining temporary agency staff to address current staff vacancies and enable the existing applications backlog to be removed.

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

That Cabinet approve the refreshed Economic Development Strategy and Inward Investment Delivery Plan.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approve the refreshed Economic Development Strategy and Inward Investment Delivery Plan as amended.

Cllr Lintill explained that Cllr Dignum had circulated proposed amendments to the Inward Investment Delivery Plan (attached to the minutes for reference).

Cllr Dignum then introduced the item.

Cllr Sutton explained the importance of inward investment and supporting events in the district. He referred to the benefits to hospitality and accommodation providers. He also gave his support to helping younger people stay in the district and gave examples of the University of Chichester’s new Nursing Course and the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme.

Cllr Briscoe also gave his support to the report.

In a vote the following resolution was made:

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approve the refreshed Economic Development Strategy and Inward Investment Delivery Plan as amended.

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

That Cabinet approves the proposed continuation of the Enabling Grants scheme for 2022/23, funded by £71,428 allocated from the Pooled Business Rates Fund.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves the proposed continuation of the Enabling Grants scheme for 2022/23, funded by £71,428 allocated from the Pooled Business Rates Fund.

Cllr Dignum introduced the item.

Cllr Sutton and Cllr Briscoe wished to note their support.

In a vote the following resolution was made:

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves the proposed continuation of the Enabling Grants scheme for 2022/23, funded by £71,428 allocated from the Pooled Business Rates Fund.

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

That the Cabinet agree a two year pilot for a Young Persons Social Prescriber.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet agree a two year pilot for a Young Persons Social Prescriber and agree the funding as set out in the table under paragraph 7 of the report.

Cllr Lintill added a line to the end of the proposed recommendation to read ‘and agree the funding as set out in the table under paragraph 7 of the report’.

Cllr Briscoe then introduced the item.

Cllr Taylor gave her support to the pilot.

Cllr Sutton shared a personal account of the impact of the service to a young person’s life.

Cllr Briscoe wished to note the council’s partnership working with the Housing Providers involved.

Cllr Dignum requested clarification on the funding. Mrs Bushby explained that the funding was West Sussex County Council legacy funding from the Think Family project which had been agreed to be repurposed by the Joint Action Group.

Cllr Plant gave her support to the Pilot.

In a vote the following resolution was made:

That the Cabinet agree a two-year pilot for a Young Persons Social Prescriber, and agree the funding as set out in the table under paragraph 7 of the report.

The Cabinet is requested to note the Urgent Decision Notice relating to Covid Additional Relief Funds.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet note the Urgent Decision Notice relating to Covid Additional Relief Funds.

The Cabinet noted the Urgent Decision Notice relating the Covid Additional Relief Funds.

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

Cllr Lintill explained that a late item had been accepted entitled ‘Land at Mill Road, Westbourne, Community Land Trust Proposal’.

There are no restricted items for consideration at this meeting however the appendix for Agenda Item 5 are restricted and are attached for members of the Council and relevant officers only (printed on salmon paper)].

Cllr Lintill proposed and read the part II resolution in relation to the late agenda item. This was seconded by Cllr Plant and agreed by the Cabinet with a vote to go into part II.

In line with his earlier declaration Cllr Briscoe left the room for the duration of the item.  

RESOLVED

That with regard to late agenda item ‘Land at Mill Road, Westbourne, Community Land Trust Proposal’ 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.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The Cabinet is asked to consider in respect of agenda item 14 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)]

Land at Mill Road, Westbourne – Community Land Trust Proposal

The Cabinet is requested to consider the exempt report and its appendices and make the resolutions set out in sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the report.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet makes the resolutions as set out in sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the report.

Cllr Sutton introduced the item.

Points of clarification requested by Cllr Dignum and Cllr Plant were responded to by Cllr Taylor, Mr Frost and Mr Jones.

Cllr Sutton also gave thanks to Mr Jones for his work and support as he would be leaving his role shortly.

In a vote the following resolutions were made:

That Cabinet makes the resolutions as set out in sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the report.