The report is at item 6 of the agenda for the Cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday 9 January 2018 (pages 21 to 24) and its nine appendices are in the agenda supplement (pages 1 to 32) - a copy of the supplement is enclosed with this agenda for all members who did not receive it as part of the Cabinet papers.
The Cabinet made the following recommendations to the Council:
(1) That the revised Corporate Plan for 2018-2021 as set out in appendix 1 to the agenda report (as amended) be approved.
(2) That £130,000 from Chichester District Council’s General Fund Reserve be approved to fund the two projects as set out in para 5.7 of the agenda report.
[Note In recommendation (1) above appendix 1 was amended by the Cabinet in two respects namely on page 4 to the Objective 2 actions for the Priority to ‘Manage our built and natural environments and maintain a positive sense of place’ (a) in 2.2 insert ‘aim to’ between ‘will’ and ‘achieve’ and (b) in 2.3 insert ‘endeavour to’ ‘will’ and ‘increase’]
Minutes:
The Council considered the recommendations made to it by the Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday 9 January 2018, as set out on the face of the Council agenda, the details in respect of which were contained in the Cabinet report (pages 21 to 24) and its nine appendices on pages 1 to 32 of the agenda supplement.
Mrs Hamilton pointed out that recommendation (1) stated ‘appendix 1 to the agenda report (as amended)’ and said that details of the amendments were given in the note at the end of this item on the Council agenda.
Mr Dignum (Leader of the Cabinet) formally moved the Cabinet’s recommendation and this was seconded by Mrs Lintill (Cabinet Member for Community Services).
Mr Dignum introduced the report. In commending the Corporate Plan (CP), he explained that its purpose was to set and then implement CDC's priorities for the next few years. He referred to each of the CP’s five key objectives (housing, communities, environment, economy and CDC’s finances) and elaborated on how each of them would be achieved. The aim was to achieve all of those objectives with one of the lowest council tax precepts in West Sussex. Approval was also sought for providing £130,000 from reserves: £114,000 for the two-year cost of CDC’s 50% share of the social prescribing pilots and £16,000 for the 2019 member induction programme.
Members expressed support for an admirable CP. Their questions and comments on points of detail were answered by the relevant Cabinet member with respect to (a) how emerging government guidance on meeting environmental criteria would be taken into account in the Local Plan Review; (b) the affordable housing target; (c) a task and finish group to look at a range of practical issues in preparing for a reduction in the size of the Council eg timing of committee meetings and the period allowed for induction training; (d) the publishing each year of the performance and outcomes of the CP; (e) the need to encourage and persuade the District’s residents to play their part in achieving the CP’s objectives eg meeting recycling targets; (f) the external contingencies which might affect the delivery of the CP; and (g) the approval by the Cabinet on 9 January 2018 to seek the immediate recruitment of a Rough Sleep Outreach Worker did not involve setting and achieving a target of no rough sleepers which must be met because the emphasis was on working with each individual in the way most conducive to his or her circumstances, which included directing him or her to the appropriate professionals for advice and assistance eg mental health issues.
Mr Oakley proposed certain amendments to the Corporate Plan. He referred to agenda item 10 for this meeting (Supporting New and Existing Small Businesses) and the Cabinet's decision on 9 January 2018 to extend the grants programme for retail businesses to the East Wittering Local Centre on the basis that it was equivalent in importance to the other town retail centres (he referred also to Local Plan Policy 29 and the supporting para 16.19 and the Site Allocations Development Plan Document paras 1.15 and 6.4), in the light of which he sought the following amendments to the CP:
Page 1 - Our Objectives
· Third bullet point and item 5: amend to read ‘Help improve our City’s, towns’ and local centres’ accessibility and attractiveness.’
· Fourth bullet point and item 3: amend to read ‘Promote the City, towns and local centres as vibrant places to do business’.
Page 5
· Item 5. title (in environments priority): amend to read ‘Help improve our City’s, towns’ and local centres’ accessibility and attractiveness.’
· Item 5. para 5.1 (in environments priority): amend by adding at the end after ‘Midhurst’ ‘, as well as help improve the East Wittering local centre.’
Page 6
· Objective 3 at top of page (local economy): amend to read ‘Promote the city, town centres and local centres as vibrant places to do business.’
Mrs Taylor seconded Mr Oakley’s proposed amendments.
Mr Dignum said that the amendments were very sensible and made the CP consistent with the Cabinet’s decision with respect to agenda item 10 to include a reference to ‘the East Wittering local centre’. He commended the amendments to the Council.
At the end of the debate the Council voted by first of all on Mr Oakley’s amendments and these were approved on a show of hands unanimously.
Decision
On a show of hands members present voted in favour of the Cabinet’s recommendations as amended aforesaid with none against and one abstention (Mr Plowman).
The Cabinet’s recommendation was, therefore, carried.
RESOLVED
(1) That the revised Corporate Plan for 2018-2021 as set out in appendix 1 to the agenda report (as amended aforesaid) be approved.
(2) That £130,000 from Chichester District Council’s General Fund Reserve be approved to fund the two projects as set out in para 5.7 of the agenda report.