Agenda and minutes

Venue: QE2 Room, Shoreham Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea

Contact: Chris Cadman-Dando
Democratic Services Officer
01903 221364  Email  chris.cadman-dando@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

c/64/21-22

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Carol Albury, Wilkinson and Edwards

c/65/21-22

Declarations of interest

Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

 

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declaration of interests

c/66/21-22

Questions from the public

To receive any questions from members of the public addressed to Members of the Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11. There is up to 5 minutes for each question, one supplementary question may be asked arising from the original question.

 

Questions must relate to any matter the Council has power or which affects the District except no questions may be asked on

 

a)     A specific planning or licensing application

b)     A specific staffing appointment or appeal or Standards determination

 

Public question time will last up to 30 minute; questions will be taken in order of receipt. The deadline for submissions is 5 April 2022 at 12 noon.

 

Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that there had been a number of questions received on the same subject, questioners were asked you to read questions and then the Executive Member for Resources would to reply to all of them.

 

The following questions were asked:

 

1. Dear Sirs/Madams, I am on the Swiss Gardens PTA and so am rather passionate about improving the experience of our children at Swiss Gardens Primary. I just wanted to send a brief email ahead of the meeting on 7th April, which either myself or my husband will be attending. This to say that we (and an overwhelming majority of parents at the school) very much support the all weather pitch that has also been deemed by the head of Adur Council Parks 'the best option for the school and the community'.

 

The recent pandemic has caused a lot of anxiety in children and as we all know, outdoor activity can hugely improve this. This is especially important during the darker winter months when children can really only get outdoor time in daylight inside school hours. This is also precisely the time of year that regular grass becomes waterlogged. We know from previous consultations with the council that an all weather pitch would be the only option that would provide long lasting, year round access to a usable playing field.

 

Furthermore, we have a fantastic head who has been campaigning tirelessly for this for many years. Mr Caughlin is much respected and trusted in our school and the mere fact that he has spent so much time and energy on this, during what has been a very difficult few years for schools, says enough to us parents as to how important this all weather solution must be for our children.

 

I think everyone agrees that our children, who spend most of their time at school, deserve to grow up as healthy, happy adults. So I and many parents, carers and grandparents at the school very much hope we finally get approval for the all weather pitch that has been just out of reach for the past 5 years. This solution is highly overdue and now needed, more than ever. Please let me know if there is anything that we can do to make this happen?

 

2Swiss Gardens has to use the Meads as an outside area for sports and play as they don’t have enough space. But The Meads is unusable for one third of the time due to the condition of the surface.

 

That’s the equivalent of one whole term where the children have no access to a safe place to run around.

 

1,650 hours of missed PE and play opportunities have already passed since the funds were actually allocated to Swiss Gardens.

 

That translates to 300 hours of actual child play for every week that Adur council doesn’t  move this project on.

 

300 hours on enclosed concrete when they could be in the Meads with a play-friendly surface surrounded by the trees and grass of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item c/66/21-22

c/67/21-22

Confirmation of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Council on 24 February 2022, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Minutes:

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting of the 7 April 2022 be approved as the correct record

c/68/21-22

Announcements by the Chairman, Leader of the Council, Executive Members and / or Head of Paid Service

Minutes:

The Chairman made the following announcements

 

March/April 2022

 

3rd March – Planted a silver birch tree in Brooklands park in commemoration of those that have lost their lives during the pandemic and to be used as a place of quiet contemplation.

 

11th March – Planted and Oak Tree in Buckingham Park to commemorate the Queens platinum Jubilee for the Green Canopy initiative.  I was joined by several councillors and was really happy that my children’s school allowed my children to join me and help.

 

1st April was my charity golf day for Esteem at West Hove golf club.  Great day had by all and we raised over £3000 for charity.  To say conditions were challenging is a bit of an understatement with strong winds, snow, sleet and hail and blazing sunshine all in one 4 hour game – unless you were Angus Dunns team who really got their moneys worth and had about a 17 hour round!

 

Finally I am able to advise, if not already known, that I will be stepping down from role as a Cllr after 7 years.  I have fought 3 elections and enjoyed immensely my time as a Cllr.  I made my intentions clear to the Leader before Christmas and only reference this as a recent planning committee audience members may feel they have somehow helped in that decision – they did not.    I have no long and rousing speech except to say I hope that Cllrs on all sides of the chamber treat each other with respect and choose their words publicly carefully – having had to call the Police due to recent communications sent to me on line I know all too well the consequences of enflaming the work we do here – which after all is only for the benefit of the area we live. 

 

Some highlights for myself have been the hundreds of constituents I have been able to meet and help over the years, the deterrents on Southwick Green that have ensured we had at least one period in my time as Southwick Green Cllr without incident and also some of the buildings that are now developed in our community that will house new families and help bolster our local economy.

 

I want to thank all of the officers that have helped me a long the way and you, my fellow councillors for all tirelessly doing work to aid our Adur District.  Best of luck to all those standing in the upcoming May election.

 

The Leader of the Council wished all Members well in the upcoming election and all retiring members well. The Leader told members that he had taken on board comments at a recent governance meeting concerning allowances and benefits. It was a national issue and he had asked some members to look into the issue and report to the MP for support.

 

 

c/69/21-22

Items raised under urgency provisions

To consider any items the Chairman has agreed are urgent

Minutes:

There were no urgent items

c/70/21-22

Recommendations from the Executive and Committees to Council pdf icon PDF 31 KB

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as 7A.  Full reports are available on the website as listed below:

 

 

Executive/Committee

Date

Item

7A

Joint Strategic Committee

16 March 2022

Renewal of the Adur & Worthing Wellbeing Partnership

 

7B

Joint Strategic Committee

16 March 2022

Pathways to Affordable Homes - Delivery Plans

7C

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee

17 March 2022

JOSC Work Programme setting 2022/23

7D

Joint Governance Committee

22 March 2022

Proposed revisions to Contract Standing Orders

7E

Joint Governance Committee

22 March 2022

Scheme of Allowances for Adur District Council in 2022/23

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

7(a) Joint Strategic Committee 16 March 2022

 

Renewal of the Adur and Worthing Wellbeing Partnership

 

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded and on a vote unanimously approved.

 

Resolved: that in relation to the annual funding allocation from West Sussex County Council for the next five years of the partnership the Councils amend the revenue budget accordingly. The indicative amount for 2022-2023 was £513,973

 

7(b) Joint Strategic Committee 16 March 2022

 

Pathways to Affordable Homes - Delivery Plans

 

The Leader of the Council introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded and debated

 

Members discussed waiting lists, housing currently available and housing being developed with the seconder of the recommendation commenting that housing was needed across all sectors of the market. On a vote the recommendation was unanimously approved.

 

Resolved: that Adur and Worthing Councils adopt the Delivery Plans set out in Appendix A as part of the Housing Strategy for 2020-2023.

 

7(c) Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee 17 March 2022

 

JOSC Work Programme Setting 2022/23

 

The Chairman of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee introduced the recommendation to the Committee which was seconded.

 

Members debated the recommendation and comments were made about member participation in Scrutiny meetings and independent of Chairing. On a vote the recommendation was passed unanimously

 

Resolved: That the amended draft JOSC Work Programme for 2022/23 be

approved.

 

7(d) Joint Governance Committee – 22 March 2022

 

Proposed revisions to Contract Standing Orders

 

The Vice Chair of the Joint Governance Committee introduced the recommendation to the Committee.

 

Members debated the recommendation and discussed issues of social value and local procurement. On a vote the recommendations were approved unanimously

 

Resolved: that the amendments to the Joint Contract Standing Orders be approved;

 

7 (e) Joint Governance Committee 22 March 2022

 

Scheme of Allowances for Council in 2022/23

 

The Vice Chair of Joint Governance introduced the recommendation to the Committee.

 

Members debated the recommendation and there was consideration that the recommendation be deferred to the next municipal year although this amendment was withdrawn. On a vote the recommendation was unanimously approved

 

Resolved: that Members Basic Allowance be linked to the outcome of the Officers’ NJC Pay bargaining agreement for the year 2022/23.

 

 

c/71/21-22

Report of the Leader on decisions taken by the Executive pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To receive a report from the Leader. The report contains executive decisions since the last Council meeting.

 

There is up to 15 minutes for Executive Members to make any statements on the report.

 

There is up to 15 minutes for Executive Members to respond to questions on the report; these questions will not be the same as any asked under ‘Members Questions under Council Procedure Rule 12’    

Minutes:

There were no announcements by the Executive and no questions put under this item

c/72/21-22

Members question time under Council Procedure Rule 12

Members question time will last up to 30 minutes, questions will be taken in order of receipt, in rotation from each political group on the Council. The deadline for submission of questions is 5 April 2022 at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

 

Questions received can be asked of the following:

 

a)     The Chairman

b)     A Member of the Executive

c)     The Chairman of any Committee

d)     The Councils representative on any outside body

 

Questions cannot be asked on the following

 

a)     A specific planning or licensing application

b)     A specific staffing appointment, appeal or Standards determination

Minutes:

There were no questions under this item

c/73/21-22

Motion on Notice pdf icon PDF 71 KB

To consider a report by the Interim Director for Communities, copy attached as item 10

Minutes:

Before the council was a motion proposed by Cllr Neil Parkin and seconded by Councillor Dunn. The Motion concerned aggression in Ukraine.

 

Members debated the motion and discussed on the implementation and wording of the motion. It was agreed that the word ‘Russian’ be removed as there were people in Russia who were being persecuted for opposing the actions of the Russian Government.

 

Resolved;

 

"Adur Council is saddened and disturbed by the unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, which has caused horrific devastation, and created an escalating humanitarian crisis with millions displaced or affected. In light of this, and as a way of expressing support for the people of Ukraine and members of our communities who are from or who have ties with Ukraine this Council;

 

a. Condemns the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine and stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their families and friends, including those local to Adur

 

b. Stands ready to provide support and open our arms to innocent people displaced and affected by this unprovoked aggression.

 

c. Will work with and support the efforts of our local communities to provide help, support and comfort to those in need."