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

Media

Items
No. Item

C/23/24-25

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies from Councillors Paul Mansfield and Neil Parkin had been received by the Chair.

 

C/24/24-25

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 pecuniary interests.

C/25/24-25

Confirmation of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on Thursday 18th July 2024, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Minutes:

Resolved, that the minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 18 July 2024 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chair.

C/26/24-25

Questions from the public pdf icon PDF 88 KB

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 21st October 2024 at 12 noon.

 

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

Minutes:

 

Question 1 from Kym Kovary for the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources

 

Do Councillors accept that entertaining any question to write to the Trustees of the West Sussex local government pension fund to investigate certain investments that might be tentatively linked to the UK's ally Israel and its war against terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah and their backers Iran, whilst not also asking to investigate say British or American investments supporting the legitimate defence of Ukraine, would be a double standard and discriminatory in a way that breaches Section 8 of the IHRA definition of antisemitism - a definition fully accepted and endorsed by the British Labour and Green parties: "Applying double standards by requiring of Israel a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.” Indeed, it may appear that indulging any questions to the Council which are clearly motivated by the current conflict in the Middle East will only add to divisions, tensions, hate speech and ultimately, antisemitism, on our streets? 

 

Notwithstanding the risk of antisemitic actions, are Councillors aware of the fiduciary duties of local government pension fund trustees and managers to maximise the return on investments, consistently and with prudence as recognised in the 2014 Law Commission Report. This report has been regarded as authoritative and endorsed by the UK Supreme Court and states: “In general, non-financial factors may only be taken into account if two tests are met: (1) trustees should have good reason to think that scheme members would share the concern; and (2) the decision should not involve a risk of significant financial detriment to the fund.” 

 

Are members of the Council further aware that the Report states “in cases where the issue is clearly controversial, the courts may well expect trustees to focus on financial factors rather than becoming embroiled in disagreements between the members”?

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resourcesresponded that Adur District Council was a member of the West Sussex Local Government Pension Scheme which was administered by West Sussex County Council who engaged with all employers when setting the Investment Strategy Statement. 

 

Part of the Investment Strategy Statement related to stewardship and consideration of social and governance matters. The Strategy would then drive the appointment of managers and their mandate objectives and guidelines.

 

Question 2 from Caroline Robinson for the Leader

 

What is your view on the national labour party's winter fuel allowance cut, and what are you doing to make grants more accessible for those without internet access?

 

The Leader replied that the Council wasworking with its partners through the Adur and Worthing Local Community Network (including Citizens Advice, Age UK, Guildcare, Carers Support, Community Works and GPs) to help identify people who might be eligible for Pension Credit but not yet claiming. 

 

The Council was also planning a campaign to extend this reach including convening an event in November (14th) and running a radio campaign. This would include written material that can be shared in local communities.

 

Through the Council’s new  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/26/24-25

C/27/24-25

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

Minutes:

The Chair informed the Council about a number of meetings and events that she had attended since the Full Council meeting held in July 2024. These included:-

 

  1. The Worthing Mayor’s Fundraiser;
  2. Meeting the Chief Executive of South Downs Leisure at Lancing Manor Leisure Centre;
  3. The Eastbrook Funday
  4. The Chair of West Sussex County Council’s Summer Reception;
  5. The opening of a new Gardner & Scardifield Shop; 
  6. The opening of the International Neighbours Festival; 
  7. The 100th anniversary celebration of St Michael’s Church, Lancing; 
  8. The opening of Wordfest;
  9. The 84th Pioneer Run;
  10. The Annual Judges Service at Chichester Cathedral; and  
  11. The Trafalgar Night Dinner at the Sussex Yacht Club.

 

The Leader made the following announcements:-



  • Change in Cabinet Membership - The Leader advised that Councillor Jude Harvey had stood down as the Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure and Councillor Andrew Harvey had been appointed as the Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure. The Leader thanks Councillor Jude Harvey for all of her work on the Cabinet.    



  • Appointment of Vice-Chair of Council - Following Councillor Andrew Harvey standing down as Vice-Chair of Council to take up a position on the Cabinet, the Leader proposed that Councillor Jude Harvey be appointed as the Vice-Chair of Council. The motion was seconded by Councillor Robina Baine and following a vote, was unanimously supported by Council.   

 

Councillor Jude Harvey made and signed her declaration of office and the Chair presented Councillor Harvey with her badge of office.  



  • Appointment of Vice-Chair of Planning Committee - The Leader advised that Councillor Andrew Harvey had stood down as the Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee and he proposed the appointment of Councillor Nigel Jenner as the Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee. The motion was seconded by Councillor Dan Flower and following a vote, was unanimously supported by Council.  



  • The Leader informed the Council that he and all the other Leaders of the Boroughs and Districts in West Sussex had signed an expression of interest letter with Brighton & Hove City Council regarding the devolution of powers from Whitehall to Sussex. Both West Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council were encouraged to forward expressions of interest and both did. However, all the District and Borough Councils in West Sussex signed the Brighton & Hove City Council letter because that gave a more clear direction in terms of looking quite possibly at an all Sussex solution but was also committed to engaging all authorities and having a very wide conversation and discussion on the way ahead. It is still early days and the government will be producing a white paper or at least further guidance before Christmas on what devolution might mean. The opportunity to bring more strategic powers, perhaps around transport, housing or economic growth to Sussex and closer to our communities, will be a great thing and an interesting discussion for the Council to be involved in.             

 

The Cabinet Member for Housing & Citizen Services updated the Council on the following:-

  1. Balcony repairs;
  2. The tenants satisfaction survey;
  3. The Housing Strategy Review meeting of JOSC on  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/27/24-25

C/28/24-25

Items raised under urgency provisions

To consider any items the Chairman has agreed are urgent

Minutes:

The Chair advised that there had been no items raised under urgency.  

C/29/24-25

Recommendations from the Executive and Committees to Council pdf icon PDF 142 KB

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as 7A and 7B. 

 

Reports are available on the website as listed below:

 

 

Cabinet / Committee

Date

Item

A

Joint Audit & Governance Committee

26 September 2024

Conferment of Honorary Alderman

B

Joint Audit & Governance Committee

26 September 2024

Amendments to the Constitution

 

Minutes:

 

7(A)    Joint Audit & Governance Committee - 26 September 2024

 

Conferment of Honorary Aldermen

 

The Chair of the Joint Audit & Governance Committee, Councillor Debs Stainforth,  introduced the recommendations from the Committee, which were seconded by Councillor Emma Evans and following a vote, were unanimously supported. 

 

Resolved: that the Council agreed to confer the title of Honorary Alderman to former Chairman Brian Coomber at a Special Council meeting in December.

 

 

7B      Joint Audit & Governance Committee - 26 September 2024

 

Amendments to the Constitution

 

The Chair of the Joint Audit & Governance Committee, Councillor Debs Stainforth,  introduced the recommendations from the Committee, which were seconded by Councillor Carol O’Neil and following a vote, were unanimously supported. 


Resolved: that the Council approved the proposed amendment to the Constitution at Paragraph 5.

C/30/24-25

Report of the Leader on decisions taken by the Executive pdf icon PDF 114 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:

The Leader of the Council presented his report on decisions taken by the Cabinet since the last meeting of the Council, which were detailed in Item 8.

 

Questions were raised in relation to Buckingham Park and the provision of Temporary Accommodation, including an award for the development in Albion Street.

 

C/31/24-25

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 21 October 2024 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

 

Cllr Carol Albury asked the following question:

 

As the ward Councillor for Manor Ward, and being very actively involved with the beautiful and extremely busy Manor Park, I am very disturbed over the lack of seemingly any  budget that is allocated in replacing old and broken play equipment.

 

This playground is incredibly well used, certainly the busiest and main playground  in Lancing and yet we had one large piece of equipment that had to be removed leaving a large gap in the younger use play area.....and in the older use playground we have one large zip wire unusable that is waiting to be removed and another smaller area where long ago, a stand on, bouncy apparatus was removed .........In this smaller area it was agreed a wooden picnic table would be put in place which is desperately needed.

 

For the picnic table I have been waiting over two years .. !! There appears to be no budget even for this.

 

How can our Rangers effectively look after their designated parks if they have no idea of what the budget is and how they can best work within this looking to bring our Parks up to the standard that is needed.

 

In the past a budget has always been given and Parks and play equipment prioritised. 

This no longer seems to be the case.

 

Could the Cabinet Member please give an update on how the budget is being managed and in particular when we can expect new equipment to be discussed for our playground.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Health replied that the play equipment had been installed in 2006. It was identified through routine inspection that some of the playground equipment in Lancing Manor Park was at the end of its life. In particular this related to those items with timber frames some of which have been removed over the last year as they had become unsafe or beyond economic repair. However, new timber frames were installed for the swing sets earlier this year to extend their life and repairs were carried out to safety surfacing.

 

In anticipation of this ageing equipment coming to the end of its life an investment of £150K was made in a new playground at Manor Park which was installed in 2022 and alongside ongoing repairs to the serviceable equipment in the existing playground the park is well equipped for play

 

In regard to budget allocation in October of 2023 the Parks & Foreshore Service Manager instigated the completion of a Condition Survey of all playgrounds in the district. The survey was conducted by the Park Ranger team who inspected and rated each park providing their expert opinion on the current condition of each playground. Playgrounds were rated Red, Amber or Green and this has provided a solid platform and a clear and accurate picture of the condition of each playground allowing the service manager, in consultation with Park Rangers, to allocate available funding for playground equipment on a priority basis. 

 

Cllr Shinn asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/31/24-25

C/32/24-25

Motion on Notice (AM) pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To consider a Motion on Notice, submitted by the Proper Officer on behalf of Councillor Andy McGregor, detailed as item 10.

Minutes:

Before the Committee was a motion on notice proposed by Cllr Andy McGregor and seconded by Cllr Carson Albury.

 

The motion was debated and there followed a request for a recorded vote, by Councillor Bellasis, which was supported by five councillors. The outcome of the vote was recorded as follows:-

 

For (7): Councillors: Carol Albury, Carson Albury, Bellasis, Evans, McGregor, Neocleous and Watts.

 

Against (17): Councillors; Allinson, Baine, Corston, Cowen, Flower, Fuhrmann, Gardner, Harvey, Higgins, Jan, Jenner, Lowe, O’Neal, Sluman, Stainforth and Sweet.

 

Abstentions (3): Councillors; Loader, Shinn and Thompson. 


Resolved: That Adur District Council Council did not support the motion.