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/114/22-23

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were apologies for absence from Councillors Catherine Arnold and Sharon Sluman

c/115/22-23

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 declarations of interest made.

c/116/22-23

Election of a Vice chairperson

To appoint a Vice Chairman of the Council until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2023.

 

 

The Chairman will call for nominations for the appointment of the Vice Chairman of the Council, if there is more than one nomination, there will be a vote.

 

 

The Vice Chairman to declare their acceptance of office.

Minutes:

Resolved: that Cllr Joss Loader be elected as Vice-Chair of the Council until the meeting of Annual Council in May 2023

c/117/22-23

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 Monday 12 December 2022 at 12 noon.

 

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

Minutes:

Questions had been submitted in advance of the meeting, however the Public were not present to ask those questions

c/118/22-23

Confirmation of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Council on 20 October 2022, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Minutes:

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2022 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

c/119/22-23

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

Minutes:

The Chairman made the following announcements

 

 As we approach Christmas, I am going to speak about one of our local heroes being honoured by an invitation to a festive event which is happening today, as I speak. It’s called “Together at Christmas”. A carol service at Westminster Abbey. It is being hosted by Princess Kate, Princess of Wales, supported by her husband, Prince William, King Charles the third and the Queen Consort. It is likely that there will also be other members of the Royal Family at the event.

 

The carol service is dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second and the values the late monarch demonstrated throughout her life, including duty, empathy, faith, service, kindness, compassion, and support for others.

 

“These principles are shared and personified by the inspirational guests who have been invited to the Abbey in recognition of their tireless work to help and care for those around them”,’ Kensington Palace said in a release confirming details of the event.

 

The service will be broadcast on ITV on Christmas Eve.

 

In October I received an email from the High Sheriff of West Sussex, Paul Legrave. He was asking me to put forward one person from Adur for a special event. Although no details of the event were given, I was told that the aim of the event was to recognise, celebrate and bring together those who have done incredible work in their communities in the last year. And that the service would be themed around the concepts of love and compassion, community, and togetherness.  This was to include people who have:

 

Contributed to making their community a kinder and more nurturing place

Gone above and beyond in helping those around them and providing support to those in need

Made a positive difference to the lives of others

Collaborated with others to start or help further meaningful projects

People who might find this Christmas period difficult

 

With just a day to come up with a candidate, I discussed possible candidates with our Leader Neil Parkin and MP Tim Loughton. We all agreed that Mr Tom Smith would fit this brief well.

 

Tom has worked for many decades as a local Sea Scout leader. He has spent around two years getting a 46 foot donated yacht, Supeta, on the water, leading a team of volunteers from across Adur and Worthing to pass the high standard required for Maritime and Coastguard Agency safety coding – a requirement if they are to take children and adults to sea in safety. This yacht is now in the water and has a berth in Shoreham Port. The team has already introduced hundreds of local youths, including disabled, to the joys of sailing.

 

Tom is also a motorcyclist who delivers blood across Sussex. While carrying blood he was recently in a severe road accident with a car carrying four nuns! Tom was in hospital for a long time and sustained life changing injuries - although he soldiers on without complaint. He  ...  view the full minutes text for item c/119/22-23

c/120/22-23

Items raised under urgency provisions

To consider any items the Chairman has agreed are urgent

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that there were no urgent items. 

c/121/22-23

Recommendations from the Council and Executive and Committees to Council pdf icon PDF 71 KB

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as A-D. Items C and D were not available at the time of publication and will be circulated later.

 

 

Executive / Committee

 

Date

Item

A

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee

24 November 2022

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

B

Joint Audit and Governance Committee

29 November 2022

Members Allowances 2022/23

C

Adur Joint Strategic Sub-Committee

6 December 2022

2023/24 Budget Item

D

Adur Joint Strategic Sub-Committee

6 December 2022

The working-age Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

8(a)                  Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 24 November 2022

 

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

 

The Chairman of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee introduced the recommendation to the Committee which was, seconded and on a vote it was

 

Resolved: that the Council note the status of the work programme

 

 

8(b)                 Joint Audit & Governance Committee -  29 November 2022

 

Members’ Allowances

 

The Chairman of the Joint Audit and Governance Committee introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded, debated and on a vote it was

 

Resolved: that Members Allowances for 2022/23 be increased by 5.82% in line with the weighted average of the NJC pay bargaining agreement for 2022/23.

 

 

8(c)                  Adur Joint Strategic Sub-Committee - 6 December 2022

 

2023/24 Budget Item

 

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded, debated an on a vote it was

 

Resolved: that the Council approve the use of capital receipts to support the delivery of the budget as set out in Appendix 4.

 

 

8(d)                 Adur Joint Strategic Sub-Committee - 6 December 2022

 

The working-age Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24

 

 

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded, debated an on a vote it was

 

Resolved: that the Council Tax Support scheme for Adur District Council in respect of working age customers for 2023/24 should

 

i. Include a new provision that a valid claim for Council Tax Support would be deemed to have been made by customers who had been awarded Universal Credit and indicated that they wished to claim Council Tax Support (unless further information was required to enable entitlement to be determined)

 

ii. Be based upon the scheme for 2022/23 with no restrictions; and

 

iii. Not be further altered with any other changes beyond necessary technical amendments required to keep the scheme consistent with the national rules in respect of Housing Benefit

c/122/22-23

Report of the Leader on decisions taken by the Executive pdf icon PDF 113 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’    

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A Member asked a question relating to governance concerning the Brief for Review of Western Harbour Arm, Shoreham Harbour. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning gave an update of progression on the matter within the context of the progression of the review of the local plan. Suggestions relating to involvement of Local Ward Councillors would be taken onboard.

 

A Member asked a question in relation to a motion referred to the Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Adur). The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning updated member on consultation with local businesses

c/123/22-23

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 Monday 12 December 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:

Rotation One

 

A Member asked the following question:

 

 Building condition surveys on the Southwick Estate were completed a year ago and money has since been allocated for the work identified to be carried out without delay.

 

At the last full council meeting in October, I asked for this work to be prioritised in order to improve insulation in the flats and thus reduce the heating costs for residents. You agreed to take this request to the director of Adur Homes immediately.

 

Has any work been done in the past two months in response to this request?

 

The Cabinet Member for Adur Homes and Customer Services made the following response:

 

The Interim Works package proposed to be undertaken across the Southwick Estate this summer is to rectify fabric building issues to extend the useful life of the buildings until such time as the site is refurbished or re-developed; depending on the outcome of current resident consultation. Works would focus on essential fabric repair works identified by condition surveys and structural appraisals. The proposals include works to windows and balconies, external walls and roofing, which will prevent penetrating damp and reduce draughts that contribute towards high internal moisture levels currently. A full tender package was currently being prepared

 

A Member asked the following question

 

Worthing council is currently projected to spend £2.3million over budget this year, even after using reserves.

What measures are Adur council taking not to end up in the same predicament.

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources made the following response

 

The most recent budget monitoring forecast estimates that by the end of the year the Council’s General Fund budget will be overspent by just £64,000.

 

The Council has already taken action to defer expenditure where there are no long term implications behind this approach. The Council is also implementing approved savings early to further improve the position.

 

Experience would indicate that this position should improve as we move towards the year end although this is being closely monitored.

 

The Council does hold reserves to help mitigate risks particularly in what is emerging as a very difficult year. Currently our overall usable reserves are £3.3m (excluding grants and those relating to the HRA) which can be used to help manage the risk of overspend.

 

Rotation Two

 

A Member asked the following question

 

Planning permissions were granted in 2021 for the building of 19 homes on ‘hidden homes” garage sites  in Adur. They will provide much-needed social rented homes. Building contracts were awarded in August 2022 to a company which, sadly, went into administration that same month.

 

New contracts have now been awarded to the “second most successful” tenderers. These contractors will be carrying out the work for less money than the initially successful bid. Given this, is it fair to assume the initially successful builder was awarded the contract on the basis of the quality of their work?

 

Can the cabinet member tell us what measures will be taken to ensure the quality of work of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item c/123/22-23

c/124/22-23

Main Opposition Priority Motion pdf icon PDF 250 KB

To consider a report by the Director for Communities, copy attached as item 11

Minutes:

The Council had before it a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which had been sent to all members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 11.

 

The council had before it a priority motion proposed by the Leader of the main opposition.

 

This main opposition group notes:

 

? Government policy is to extend the right-to-buy scheme to make it applicable to tenants of housing associations.

? Right-to-buy has depleted Council housing stock, as the homes being sold were not replaced, resulting in a lower levels of social housing.

? There is already a shortage of social housing in Adur.

? 40% of council homes have been transferred to the private rented sector through right-to-buy.

? The UK Housing Review 2022 branding right-to-buy as a ‘strategic failure.’

? The Local Government Association has slammed plans to expand it. Those using the existing right-to-buy get an average discount of 42% on the property. This has resulted in the taxpayer spending £6bn on “unsustainable” right-to-buy discounts in the last 10 years.

? Unlike the existing right-to-buy scheme, the Government has promised to replace every social home sold off. However, no plan yet exists for how it will do this.

? The Government has not yet announced how it will fund the discounts for extending right-to- buy to housing associations.

 

This main opposition group believes:

 

? The planned extension of the right-to-buy scheme will further deplete Adur’s social housing stock and exacerbate the housing crisis.

? That we should support housing associations in opposing the extension of right-to-buy.

? Measures to support homeownership should not come at the cost of depleting social housing stock.

? There should be no further extension to the right-to-buy scheme. If they insist on pushing ahead with the scheme, all funding for it should be covered centrally and increased funding should be given to Councils and registered providers to build more social housing.

? Amendment of the existing right-to-buy is where the focus should be, as opposed to looking at any extension of it.

 

This main opposition group resolves to:

 

? Write to the secretary of state for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, outlining the views in this motion and to ask them to stop any immediate extension of the right-to-buy scheme.

? Also to recommend new powers to set right-to-buy discounts locally and to be able to keep all the sales receipts with the subsequent ability to combine them with other grant funding to fund replacements.

 

 

The Main Opposition Priority Motion was proposed and seconded. In response to the motion the Leader of the council stated that he did not agree with the contents of the motion and that the opposition were entitled to write to the Secretary of state in their capacity as opposition should they so wish.

c/125/22-23

Motion on Notice pdf icon PDF 255 KB

To consider a report by the Director for Communities, copy attached as item 12

Minutes:

The Council had before it a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which had been sent to all members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 12.

 

Members were asked to determine a motion on fair tax where responsibilities lay with the Council, other matters within the motion would need to be determined by the relevant Executive body.

 

The motion was proposed and seconded. During the debate a motion was put to refer the motion to the Joint Strategic Sub Committee (Adur) which was seconded and on a vote it was

 

Resolved: that the motion be referred to the Joint Strategic Sub-Committee for consideration