Agenda and minutes

The Chair will announce any urgent items which due to special circumstances are to be dealt with under Late Items.

There were no urgent items.

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.

The following declarations of interest were made:

·         Item 5 – Cllr Apel as a trustee of Stonepillow

·         Item 5 – Cllr Bell as a trustee of Stonepillow

·         Item 5 and 9 – Cllr Duncton as a member of West Sussex County Council

·         Item 5 and 9 as required – Cllr Purnell as a member of West Sussex County Council

Apologies for absence will be notified at this point.

The Chair will make any specific announcements.

Apologies were received from Cllr Hughes and Cllr Lishman.

The Council is requested to consider the report attached from the Corporate

Governance and Audit Committee and make the following recommendation which was made by the Committee to Council at its special meeting on 26 November 2020:

That the draft Annual Report on Corporate Governance be approved.

Cllr Hobbs as Chair of Corporate Governance and Audit Committee was invited to introduce the report. Cllr Hobbs then moved the recommendation which were seconded by Cllr Wilding.

Members voted virtually on the recommendation which was carried.

RESOLVED

That the draft Annual Report on Corporate Governance be approved.

The material relevant to this item can be found on pages 25-36 of the Cabinet agenda pack for 5 January 2021. The following recommendation was made to Council:

That the Corporate Plan 2018-2021 be extended for a period of one year.

Cllr Lintill introduced the report. Cllr Lintill then moved the recommendation which was seconded by Cllr Taylor.

Cllr Brown proposed an amendment to the Priority 6 to add ‘deliver the Climate Emergency Action Plan’.

Cllr Bell requested clarification on whether the amendment could be allowed given that it had come following the Full Council meeting on 19 January 2021 when the item was originally intended to be discussed. Mr Bennett clarified that there are two main types of amendment. The first being a formal significant change which should be taken through the relevant stages of the Motions Procedure. The second being a minor or procedural amendment to change wording but not the essence of the original recommendation. Mrs Shepherd added that the request could be considered a minor amendment if it is not requiring additional work. Cllr Plant explained that the Corporate Plan contains reference to the built and natural environment targets and the amendment would alter the figures stated significantly.

Cllr Bell raised concerns that if the amendment were to be accepted it would set precedence for future meetings. He requested Cllr Brown withdrawn his amendment.

Members then spoke for and against the proposal.

Cllr O’Kelly then seconded Cllr Brown’s proposal and requested a recorded vote. Cllr’s Donna Johnson, Adrian Moss, Clare Apel, Sarah Sharp and John-Henry Bowden supported the request for the recorded vote as required by the Constitution.

The recorded vote was not carried:

12 For

18 Against

3 Abstentions

3 Absent

Members then voted virtually on the original recommendation which was carried.

RESOLVED

That the Corporate Plan 2018-2021 be extended for a period of one year.

Members are invited to ask a question of a member of the Executive (maximum of 40 minutes duration).

The following Questions to the Executive were asked:

Cllr Apel asked the Leader whether the vaccinations roll out was going well in Chichester City and the Peninsula. Cllr Lintill replied by explaining that there had been a lot of correspondence with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). She confirmed that residents had begun being vaccinated in the north of district at two surgeries and that residents from the city were being invited to Tangmere or Selsey. Cllr Lintill had also been involved in meetings with the CCG and was lobbying them to provide a vaccination venue in Chichester City. She would be updating members following further meetings the CCG.

Cllr Bell asked the Leader if more could be done than lobbying. In particular arrangements for residents living in sheltered accommodation in the city. Cllr Lintill explained that this issue had been raised and she hoped to provide members with an update shortly.

Cllr Bangert asked Cllr Taylor whether the funding stream provided by the planning pre-applications process causes a conflict of interest. Cllr Taylor explained that the pre-application process was not designed to deliver a funding outcome. Advice is given without prejudice to the outcome and is not influenced by the fee required.

Cllr Oakley asked whether resources had been identified should works be required on the sea defences on the coastline. Cllr Plant explained that if works were required they would be of a significant sum. As such a full written response would be provided to the question.

Cllr Sharp asked Cllr Wilding whether there are any figures on the financial support received for residents required to self-isolate and whether members could help or lobby further. Cllr Wilding agreed to provide a written response to the question.

To consider any late items as follows:

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 Council is asked to consider in respect of agenda item 9, Future Services Framework – Efficiency Savings and Policy Options, 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.

Cllr Lintill proposed that the meeting went into part II in relation to the Future Services Framework agenda item which was seconded by Cllr Taylor.

The Council then voted to go into part II.

RESOLVED

That with regard to the Future Services Framework agenda item 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 material relevant to this item can be found in the restricted supplement pack to the Cabinet agenda 8 December 2020.

The following recommendations were made to Council:

1.    That Cabinet, having considered the policy options contained in paragraph 6.6 to 6.9, recommends all four to Council for approval.

2.    That Cabinet recommends to Council that stage 3 of the Future Services Framework be deferred for a period of at least 12 months.

Please note that this item was taken in part II. A video recording was made of the full debate.

Cllr Lintill introduced the report. Cllr Lintill then moved the recommendation which was seconded by Cllr Taylor.

Cllr Palmer proposed an addition to paragraph 9 (2) which was seconded by Cllr Brown.

Members then spoke at length for and against whether the amendment should be classed as a significant amendment. The Chair and Vice-Chair sought advice from Mrs Shepherd and Mr Ward via a virtual breakout room whilst the remaining membership took a short break. The Chair then announced that she had come to the conclusion with the Vice-Chair that the amendment was minor and could be debated.

Members then spoke for and against the amendment.

Cllr Palmer requested a recorded vote. Cllr’s Adrian Moss, Jonathan Brown, Kate O’Kelly, John-Henry Bowden and Richard Plowman supported the request for the recorded vote as required by the Constitution.

The recorded vote was not carried:

10 For

20 Against

6 Absent (Please note that Cllr Barrie, Cllr Duncton, Cllr Elliott and Cllr Evans had left the meeting at this point)

Members then voted virtually on the original recommendations which were carried.

RESOLVED

1. That all four policy options contained in paragraph 6.6 to 6.9 of the report be approved.
2. That stage 3 of the Future Services Framework be deferred for a period of at least 12 months.