Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the municipal year 2020/21

Councillor Andy McGregor was proposed as Chairman by Councillor Neil Parkin which was seconded by Councillor Angus Dunn and approved upon a vote 

            Resolved: That Councillor Andy McGregor be elected Chairman for the municipal year 2020/2021

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the Municipal year 2020/21

Councillor Stephen Chipp was proposed as Vice Chairman by Councillor Carson Albury which was seconded by Councillor Carol Albury an approved upon a vote

                  Resolved: That Councillor Stephen Chipp be elected Vice Chairman for the Municipal year 2020/21

Apologies were received by Councillors Pat Beresford, Clive Burhard and Brian Coomber

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.

There were no declarations made

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 19 May at 12 noon.

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

A Member of the public asked the following question: I note with concern the vacancy in Eastbrook ward caused by the sad death of Cllr Les Alden. Emergency legislation postponed the May 2020 election for a year. This leaves an acute democratic deficit in Eastbrook lasting some 18 months. This situation (or similar) applies across the country at present. These are unprecedented circumstances. Does the Council propose taking any action  to address this reprehensible situation. The Leader told the Council that Section 89(3) Local Government Act 1972 provides that no by-election is held where a Councillor passes away within 6 months of his term of office coming to an end - rather the election to fill the casual vacancy arising is to be held at the next ordinary day of election, which would have been 7th May 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Coronavirus Act 2020 came into force on 25th March 2020 and section 60 of the Act provides that all elections that were due to be held on 7th May 2020 are to be postponed until 6th May 2021. The Secretary of State made further regulations regarding Local Government elections on 7th April 2020. These regulations confirm at paragraph 5 that where a Councillor died giving rise to a casual vacancy that would have been held on 7th May 2020, no by election is to be held, and the election to fill the vacancy will be held at the next ordinary election day which is now 6th May 2021. The regulations are mandatory - they state that the election for this vacancy “is to be held” on the next ordinary election day and therefore there is no discretion for this Council to do anything else. If the Council were to hold a by election any earlier, in respect of the vacancy arising from Cllr Alden’s death, it would be acting unlawfully.

A member of the public asked the following question: Given CV has delayed many plans will the council confirm that tenants will be consulted on responsive repairs policy. The Council was told that it would be working with the ACF to put a summary of the responsive Repairs Policy on their Website. The Council has previously carried out the following to consult residents. Links to the policy and form were posted regularly via social media and on the Adur Homes web pages. Posters were distributed to inform tenants where they could see the policy in hard copy form and fill in a consultation from if unable to get online (Shoreham Centre, Southwick Library, Shoreham Library and Lancing Library) Posters were also put up in flats communal areas - Sompting, Southwick and Fishergate etc. The Head of Housing shared The draft policy was shared with all members of the Adur Homes Management Board and discussed at a meeting.

A Member of the public asked the following question: Tenant engagement has yet again be put on the back burner, understandably so. The ACF, now known as  ...  view the full minutes text for item c/5/20-21

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Council on 20 February 2020, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2020 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman informed the Council of his charities for the forthcoming year.

The Chief Executive told the Council about work undertaken during the Covid-19 lockdown

Resolved: that the Chairman be thanked for his work over the previous 12 months

To consider a report by the Monitoring Officer, copy attached as item 8

Before the Council was a report by the Monitoring Officer, a copy of which was sent to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.

The Council debated the report and being proposed and seconded the recommendations within the report were approved

            Resolved:

That the Council note and endorse the changes made by the Monitoring Officer to:

i) the Council Procedure Rules on 22nd April 2020

ii) the Protocol for Remote Council and Committee Meetings on 22nd April 2020

iii) the Protocol on Public Speaking at Remote Council Planning Committee Meetings on 6th May 2020

iv) The Council’s Petition Scheme on 12th May 2020

v) the Joint Committee Agreement with Worthing Borough Council on 12th May 2020

2. That the Council formally adopt these documents into the Adur District Council Constitution.

To consider a report by the Monitoring Officer, copy attached as item 9

Before the Committee was a report by the Monitoring Officer, a copy of which had been sent to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.

The proposals within the report were proposed seconded and voted upon

            Resolved:

1  That Adur District Council approves Councillor Mear’s absence from Council meetings for a 6 month period from 31st October 2019 to 30th April 2020 and notes the Chief Executive’s use of delegated powers in relation to this absence.

2 That Adur District Council approves Councillor Monk’s absence from Council meetings for a period of 6 months from 31st October 2019 to 30th April 2020 and notes the Chief Executive’s use of delegated powers in relation to this absence.

3  That Adur District Council approves Councillor Metcalfe’s absence from Council meetings for a period of 6 months from 31st October 2019 to 30th April 2020 and notes the Chief Executive’s use of delegated powers in relation to this absence.

4  That Adur District Council approves Councillor Beresford’s absence at Council meetings since 19th December 2019.

5  Should Councillor Haywood be absent from the Adur District Council meeting on 21st May 2020, that the Council approves her absence at Council meetings since 19th December 2019.

6  That the Council notes the cancellation of the Adur District Council meeting scheduled to take place on 23rd April 2020 and the Chief Executive’s use of delegated powers in this regard.

To consider a report by the director of communities, copy attached as item 10

Before the Council was a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which was circulated by all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes.

The recommendations within the report were proposed and seconded and debated. A proposal was made that an alternative opposition Chair be appointed for the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The proposal was seconded but not supported when voted upon.

The recommendations and proposals within the report were voted upon and approved.

            Resolved:

1.          That the Council confirms the Terms of Reference of the Council, Executive, Committees and Sub-Committees as outlined in Part 3 of the Constitution including those relating to Joint Committee Agreements.

2.           That the Council appoints to the Committees in accordance with the wishes of the Political Groups on the Council, as detailed in Annex B.

3.          That the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Committees be appointed until the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2021.

4.          Under Council Procedure Rule 39, Council notes the appointment of the Leader of the Labour Group on the Council as the Leader of the Main Opposition.

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as 11.  Full reports are available on the website as listed below:

A) Adur Homes Responsive Repair Policy

The Leader proposed that the matter be postponed to allow for further consultation.

Resolved: that the matter be postponed to allow for further consultation with the Adur Consultative Forum.

B) Adur and Worthing Councils Housing Strategy 2020-2023: ‘Enabling communities to thrive in their own home’

The Leader introduced the issue to the Council and moved the recommendation which was seconded

On a vote the recommendations were approved

            Resolved: that the new Adur and Worthing Housing Strategy for 2020-2023 be adopted by Adur District Council

C) Strategic Property Investment Fund 2020 and the Annual Commercial Property Investment Strategy 2020/21

The Leader answered questions relating to the status of the fund given the Covid-19 lockdown and introduced the recommendation to the Council

The Council debated the matter and on a vote the recommendations were approved

            Resolved: That Adur District Council adopt the Commercial Property Investment Strategy for 2020-2021;

To consider a report by the Leader, copy attached as item 12

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 copy of these minutes as item 13.

There were no statements made by the Executive and there were no questions under this item.

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 Tuesday 19 May 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

Cllr Cowen asked the following question: A recent council press release ( https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/news/pr20-044.html ) praised residents for increasing recycling rates across both councils. This was due to a combination of fortnightly refuse collections, warm weather and COVID-19, but without going into much detail about the weighting of those factors. There's no doubt this year is an outlier because of COVID-19. The press release then goes on to say that general waste was down 150 tonnes and recycling waste up by 255 tonnes. That means we're actually throwing away 105 tonnes more. Does the executive member agree with me that an overall increase in waste of 105 tonnes is no cause for celebration? The Executive Member for the Environment told the Council that there had been a reduction in residual waste and an increase in recycling. The Council had managed to maintain a 100% service during the lockdown period and the service overall was a cause for celebration.

To consider any items the Chairman has agreed are urgent

There were no urgent items

To consider a report by the Director for Communities, copy attached as item 15

Before the Council was a Motion received from Councillor Lee Cowen and seconded by Councillor Ann Bridges. Members debated the motion and an on a vote the motion was carried

Resolved:

This Council abhors racism in all forms and is particularly concerned at the rise in profile and frequency of antisemitism nationally.

Adur District Council wishes to join with the Government and other local authorities across the UK in signing up to the internationally recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance guidelines on antisemitism which define antisemitism thus:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred

toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed

toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish

Community institutions and religious facilities.”

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot  be regarded as anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

The guidelines highlight manifestations of antisemitism as including:

? ‘calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion

? making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions

? accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

? denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust)

? accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust

? accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

? denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour

? applying double standards by requiring of it behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation

? using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis

? drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis

? holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel’