Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Chris Cadman-Dando
Democratic Services Officer
01903 221264  Email  chris.cadman-dando@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

c/24/19-20

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kevin Boram and Debs Stainforth.

c/25/19-20

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 made

c/26/19-20

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 Tuesday 29 October at 12 noon.

 

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

Minutes:

A member of the public asked the following question: The Joint Strategic Committee on 9 th July agreed that an outline strategy on how the Council will work towards a carbon neutral target should be produced by January 2020 at the latest. This was followed by Adur Council accepting a petition of over 1000 residents and workers on the Climate Emergency at the council meeting on 18 th July and a commitment at the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September to set up a working group. Tomorrow is the start of November so my question is to request the Council to supply a progress update and details of what has been achieved so far regarding production of the strategy. The Leader of the Council responded that specialist consultants were currently undertaking detailed work to produce the Councils’ carbon reduction plan following the July declaration. This would show the practical actions required by the Councils to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Given the need for urgent action on climate change, The Joint Strategic Committee would be bringing forward the carbon reduction plan early, to the Joint Strategic Committee in December 2019.  The report would also include significant revisions to the Councils’ sustainable AW framework, which would help drive activity across a wide range of areas addressing climate change and environmental protection.

 

A member of the public asked the following question: The Sustainability AW states its aim to develop and implement a Carbon Reduction Action Plan towards the 2050 clean energy target. Can the council confirm that either it already uses or will investigate switching to one of the 3 electricity supply companies ( Ecotricity, Green Energy UK and Good Energy) for its council run buildings and services as a matter of urgency?  These suppliers have been given OFGEN enduring derogation from the price cap in recognition of their investment over and above in new renewable energy sources. The Executive Member for Resources replied that the Council’s electricity contracts were renewed in September this year and would be in place for the next two years. In light of the Councils declaring a climate emergency tenders were requested  for a renewable electricity supply.  This not only contributed to the Council’s commitment to reduce the Council’s carbon emission by 2030, but also sent a signal to the market and other local authorities of the Councils intent. As a result of this process the renewable electricity supply was split between NPower and SSE. The Councils used the LASER Energy Buying Consortium for the procurement of its energy. LASER is a consortium of local authorities and part of the Commercial Services Division, a company wholly owned by Kent County Council.

 

A member of the public asked the following question: My questions relate to the One Public Estate West Sussex Programme. Adur, as you are aware, is a partner in this programme together with NHS Property Services. Under this scheme WSCC are planning to redevelop the Pond Rd area and have applied to  ...  view the full minutes text for item c/26/19-20

c/27/19-20

Confirmation of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Council on 18 July 2019, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Minutes:

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting of the 18 of July be confirmed as the correct record and be signed by the Chairman

c/28/19-20

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

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Council gave the Council a synopsis of events that he had attended since the previous meeting and the Council further heard from Councillor Loader who updated members on the progress of the defibrillator appeal. The Leader of the Council announced that Councillor Paul Mansfield would replace Councillor Peter Metcalfe on the Joint Governance Committee.

c/29/19-20

Items raised under urgency provisions

To consider any items the Chairman has agreed are urgent

Minutes:

There were no urgent items

c/30/19-20

Recommendations from the Executive and Committees to Council pdf icon PDF 67 KB

To consider recommendations to the Council,details of which are set out in the attached items 7A – 7Eiii

 

Full reports are available on the website as listed below

 

 

Executive / Committee

 

Date

Item

A

Joint Governance Committee

30 July 2019

Joint Governance Committee Appointments: Parish Councillors

 

B

Joint Strategic Committee

10 September 2019

JSC/032/19-20 Our Growing Regional Economy - An Update on the Greater Brighton Economic Board 

 

C

Adur Licensing Committee

16 September 2019

LC/19-20/05                Gambling Act 2005 - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

 

D

Joint Governance Committee

30 September 2019

 

JGC/033/19-20 Appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to Committees

Ei

Joint Strategic Committee

8 October 2019

JSC/41/19-20  Consultation response and recommendations on the extension and amendment of Public Space Protection Orders (Dog Control) for Adur and Worthing Councils

 

Eii

Joint Strategic Committee

8 October 2019

JSC/46/19-20  Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan

 

Eiii

Joint Strategic Committee

8 October 2019

JSC/047/19-20 Grant Funding to assist the delivery of Key Strategic Housing sites in Adur

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A) JGC/024/19-20      Joint Governance Committee Appointments: Parish Councillors

 

Councillor Andy McGregor introduced the recommendation to the Committee and invited questions from the Council. The being no questions the motion was moved, seconded and approved unanimously without debate

 

Resolved:

 

That the nomination from Lancing Parish Council of the appointment of Cllr Ann Bridges as a Co-Opted Member of the Joint Governance Committee for 2019/20 be approved

 

That the nomination from Sompting Parish Council of the appointment of Cllr Caroline Baxter as a Co-Opted Member of the Joint Governance Committee for 2019/20 be approved

 

B) JSC/032/19-20       Our Growing Regional Economy - An Update on the Greater Brighton Economic Board

 

The Leader of the Council introduced the recommendation to the Committee and invited questions from members. The Leader answered questions on the programme for the Greater Brighton Economic Board. The Recommendation was proposed and seconded and there being no debate was approved unanimously

 

Resolved: that Adur District ratify the proposed amendment to the Greater Brighton Economic Board’s Head of Terms relating to Arun District Council’s membership of the Greater Brighton Economic Joint Committee (which meets with the Greater Brighton Business Partnership as the Greater Brighton Economic Board), subject to the decision of other constituents authorities, and to delegate authority to the Solicitor to the Council to make consequential changes to the Joint Committee Agreement and the Councils’ Constitutions.

 

 

C) LC/19-20/05           Gambling Act 2005 - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

 

The Chairman of the Licensing Committee introduced the recommendation to the Committee and invited questions from members. The Chairman of the Licensing Committee introduced the recommendation to the Council. Questions were answered about risk assessments. The recommendation was proposed and seconded and there being no debate the recommendation was approved unanimously

 

Resolved: that the adoption of the draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy be approved.

 

D) JGC/033/19-20      Appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to Committees

 

Councillor Andy McGregor introduced the recommendation to the Committee and invited questions from members. There being no questions the recommendation was moved, seconded. The council debated the recommendation. Some members supported the recommendation opining that without a secret ballot at Committee the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Committees became a political appointment along party lines. In opposition to the recommendation it was proffered that a secret ballot was not congruous with open and transparent government.

 

On a vote the recommendation fell

 

 

Ei) JSC/41/19-20 Consultation response and recommendations on the extension and amendment of Public Space Protection Orders (Dog Control) for Adur and Worthing Councils

 

The Leader of the Council introduced the recommendation to the Committee and invited questions from members. The Leader answered questions about enforcement of the orders. The recommendation was moved seconded and subsequently approved unanimously

 

Resolved:

 

1.    that both current PSPO’s be extended for a period of 3 years;

 

2.    that the fixed penalty fine be increased to £100;

 

3.    that the existing exclusion zone be retained along Worthing Beach;

 

4.    that the number of dogs that can be walked by dog walkers  ...  view the full minutes text for item c/30/19-20

c/31/19-20

Report of the Leader on Decisions taken by the Executive pdf icon PDF 147 KB

To Receive a report from the Leader on Decisions taken by the Executive

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Customer Services set out decisions he had made since the last council meeting and was questioned on a decision in relation to a Release of the Affordable Housing Budget to Secure Additional Affordable Housing.

c/32/19-20

Adur Pay Policy Statement 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 129 KB

To consider a report by the Director for Digital and Resources, copy attached as item 9

Minutes:

Before the Council was a report by the Director for Digital and Resources, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 9. The report before members sought approval of the Pay Policy Statement 2019/20, which is a statutory requirement under Section 38 (1) of the Localism Act 2011.

 

The Pay Policy Statement was proposed, seconded and on a vote was approved unanimously

 

Resolved: that the Pay Policy Statement 2019/20 be approved

c/33/19-20

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 29 October 2019 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:

Councillor Les Alden asked the following question of Councillor Carson Albury: All members will be aware that  when a resident contacts their ward councillor it is usually because they have not received a satisfactory reply about their concerns  from officers. Or any reply at all. Adur Homes have recently introduced a system where all members enquiries go to a single email address where a reply is promised within 10 working days. Will the Executive member for Customer Services please tell the council: a)If he agrees with me that the 2 week target is too long for members to give a service to their constituents.It risks reputational loss for both the council and the ward councillor. b) How many councillor enquiries have been directed to the particular email address to date since the system began. What percentage of these were answered (not simply acknowledged) within 5 days and 10 days. The Executive Member for Customer Services responded that The single email address for members was introduced to allow for better monitoring and management of Councillors queries. Its introduction was in response to members’ feedback that queries were taking too long to be answered. In my view, 10 days is a reasonable timeframe and reflect usual business practice.  However, the expectation is that matters are resolved as quickly as possible, and well within the 10 days if possible. If some complex matters cannot be resolved within 10 days Members should be informed of progress.  Since this email address was introduced:

 

·         48 queries had been received

·         63% were resolved within 9 working days and of these

·         67% were resolved within 3 working days

·         5 were over the 10 day target and managers are following these up with individual officers

·         The rest are not yet due

 

Clearly the officers aim to respond as quickly as possible and of course wish to improve upon these response times.  This can be aided by all Councillors using the dedicated email account so that officers can track requests, as well as common themes.  Emails sent to other addresses or to several officers may not be picked up quickly, may not reach the right officer and will not be visible to the management team.

 

c/34/19-20

Motions on notice (1) pdf icon PDF 147 KB

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

Minutes:

Before the Committee was a report by the Director of Communities, a copy of which had been circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed version of these minutes.

 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Lavinia O’Connor and seconded by Councillor Catherine Arnold

 

 In accordance with the Constitution the Motion was noted and immediately referred to the Joint Staff Committee

 

            Resolved: that the motion be referred to the Joint Staff Committee

c/35/19-20

Motions on Notice (2) pdf icon PDF 186 KB

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

Minutes:

Before the Committee was a report by the Director of Communities, a copy of which had been circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed version of these minutes.      

 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Lavinia O’Connor and seconded by Councillor Lee Cowen.

 

Council debated the motion and were in general agreement with the issue. An amendment was proposed to the motion by Councillor Neil Parkin which was seconded and approved unanimously. The motion as amended was approved unanimously

 

Resolved: This Council pledges support for the state pension inequality for 1950’s women campaign. This Council supports the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on state pension inequality co chaired by the excellent MP’s Carolyn Harris and Tim Loughton since 2016. We thank our local MP for the work on this matter both nationally and with local women affected and the proposals that they have brought forward. This council will join 150+ Councils across the Country in calling upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for women born in the 1950s, including those in our own community, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with little or no appropriate notification.