Agenda and minutes

The Mayor received apologies for absence from Councillors Mike Barrett, Margaret Howard and Charles James.

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 of interest.

To approve the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on Tuesday 19 July 2022, copies of which have been previously circulated.

A copy is available to view at

https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=158&MId=1717&Ver=4

A Member raised a point of accuracy in regards to the minutes from the Full Council meeting held on the 19th July 2022.

It was suggested that the responses provided to questions asked in relation to PSPOs under the Leaders Report had been omitted and therefore the minutes were not an accurate record of that meeting.    

Following a vote on the accuracy of the minutes (19 in Favour, 12 Against & 3 Abstentions)

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 19th July 2022 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Mayor.

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 Borough, except no questions may be asked in relation to

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 minutes; questions will be taken in the order of receipt.

The deadline for submission of questions is Friday 14 October 2022 at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk  

The Mayor advised that 2 questions had been received in advance of the meeting.

1.         Question submitted by Mr Connell Loggenberg, a Worthing Resident  

Central to every function of Council, is and must be Equality — it’s an accepted constitutional and statutory duty.

In June 2020, I wrote to Council about my concern for the Council’s poor, if not lack of, practical Promotion of Racial Equality.

At the time, I referenced the monument at Steyne Gardens, erected in 1902, a period in which any emphasis of importance pertaining to the lives of people of so-called Black or Coloured Ethnicity was brazenly dismissed.

The real history represented by the monument, is a painful reminder of lives lost — in that they were, in the words of Council, “…lions led by donkeys”, and that “Those who led the charge for war in South Africa were not doing so with virtuous aims…”

Soldiers and others fighting on the British side, were made to believe that they were fighting a noble cause, but they were misled — it was for commercial gain for a very small minority.

In addition, in this ruthless pursuit for commercial gain, was the careless loss of life of a people down rightly dismissed as unimportant — People who were labelled as Black and Coloured…because of the colour of their skin.

So unimportant they were, that many monuments erected in remembering the fallen, does not even mention them. The monument in Steyne Gardens is a prime example.

Council further told me in reply,

“…I support the campaigns to promote a more inclusive and fairer society in which race and skin colour should never be a basis for discrimination.”

“I will work with colleagues and approach the management of Worthing Museum to assess the public facing displays relating to this time and explore options for adding to the information provided in Worthing that gives the proper context. An information board explaining the history of the war near the memorial or in the museum or Town Hall may be appropriate.”

I followed up this matter in subsequent Council meetings and asked the question as to who exactly the colleagues in Council are that are working on this, when and how the museum were contacted  and what progress had been made.

To date, the awkward silence from Council on this point, stirs a bitter reminder of how people who look like me, should remember our place…that we are unimportant and do not deserve a mention on or by monument display — we are to be seen, but not heard. And where we are heard, not to be understood.

And where there’s understanding, that’s as far as it goes.

Question:

Does Council consider the lives, or at least, the story of the lives of the People labelled as black and coloured, who also fought alongside the British, were also misled and also died, important enough to be visibly and permanently inscribed on, next to or near the monument at Steyne Gardens as  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/28/22-23

The Mayor provided a summary of the events that she had attended and supported since the last Full Council meeting and details of the upcoming Mayor’s charity events. 

The Cabinet Member for the Environment announced the follow

(i)         Bathing Designation at Beach House - the beach surveys required for the DEFRA application had now been completed. The Cabinet Member wished to publicly thank the citizen scientists who took part. Collectively, the volunteers completed 20 hours of observations which were recorded on 43 individual beach survey sheets. The complete application would be submitted by the Councilors Environmental Health Protection Officers by the 30th October.

(ii)        Launch of Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment - the new service, to collect small electrical items from the curbside launched across the Borough on the 3rd October. The Wte Team had reported great uptake of the service with approximately 2.5 tonnes of material collected in the first week alone. 

(ii)        The Cabinet Member for Resources advised that a new round of funding had been launched in October for small business and apprenticeship grants across both Worthing and Adur. The grants had been very successful in the past and aimed to help micro and small businesses. This time, the Council was prioritising applications with a strong green or sustainable element and from businesses that had not previously accessed funding. This was part of the Council’s drive to encourage green growth of the local economy and stimulate new employment opportunities.  

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure announced that the Worthing Festival would be held in 2023 from the 10th to 18th June. This followed discussions with both the artists and the creative sector and many of the major businesses and venues within the town.    

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration announced that the next instalment of the Big Clean was taking place on Sunday 23rd October. All were welcome with equipment supplied. There would be a beach clean from 10.00am until 12 noon (meeting at the coast office) followed by a community litter pick at Victoria Park (equipment available by the play park).   

The Deputy Leader announced that the first phase of the Big Listening campaign had concluded, the second phase was currently under development and he thanked all those who had taken part.

There were no announcements from the Leader or the Chief Executive. 

To consider any items the Mayor has agreed are urgent.

There were no urgent items raised under the urgency provisions.

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

Full reports are available on the website as listed below: 

Council had, before it, recommendations from the Joint Governance Committee, the Joint Strategic Committee and the Worthing Joint Strategic Sub-Committee.

Extracts of these minutes had been circulated as items 7A(i) & (ii), 7B, 7C(i) & (ii) and 7D.

Item 7A(i)                   Joint Governance Committee - 28 July 2022

Audit Committee with Independent Non-Voting Members

The Vice-Chair of the Joint Governance Committee, Cllr Hermitage, proposed the recommendations from the meeting held on 28 July 2022. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Dr Beccy Cooper and following a vote (For 34, Against 0, Abstentions 0):

Resolved: That Worthing Borough Council

1.    Approved the change of the name of the Councils’ Joint Governance Committee to the Joint Audit and Governance Committee;

2.    Approved the appointment of two Independent co-opted Persons to the Committee to assist with the Councils’ with the audit function.

Item 7A(ii)      Joint Governance Committee - 28 July 2022

Conferment of Honorary Alderman - Sean McDonald and Robert Smytherman

The Vice-Chair of the Joint Governance Committee, Cllr Dan Hermitage, proposed the recommendation from the Joint Governance Committee meeting held on 28 July 2022.

It was noted that the Joint Governance Committee had approved the nominations (rather than approved the granting) for Honorary Aldermanship of the Borough of Worthing to former Mayors Sean McDonold and Robert Smytherman and that the vote on this item was 5 in favour, 0 against and 11 abstentions.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Kevin Jenkins and following a vote (For 28, Against 0, Abstentions 6):

Resolved: That Worthing Borough Council approved that a special meeting of the Council be arranged under section 249(1) of the Local Government Act for the specific purpose of conferring the title of ‘Honorary Alderman’ to Sean McDonald and Robert Smytherman.

Item 7B           Joint Governance Committee - 27 September 2022

Modernising and Updating the Councils’ Constitutions

The Vice-Chair of the Joint Governance Committee, Cllr Dan Hermitage, proposed the that the recommendations from the Joint Governance Committee meeting held on 27 September 2022 be amended to include the following additional wording:-

‘that the new constitution be implemented from the 1st November 2022 to allow for the constitution to be checked, formatted and published on the Councils’ website’.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Dr Beccy Cooper.

Cllr Jenkins proposed an amendment in relation to Council Procedure Rule 12.1(d), ‘that Council invites the Monitoring Officer to review CPR 12.1(d) to find parity in regards to the rotation of questions and bring back a proposal in relation to it’.   

The proposed amendment was seconded by Cllr Steve Waight and unanimously supported by Council.

Councillors thanked the Monitoring Officer and the Working Group for all of their work over the summer drafting the revised constitution.

The proposal, as amended, was supported following a vote (For 33, Against 0, Abstentions 1).

Resolved: That Worthing Borough Council approved the revised Constitution and that it be implemented from the 1st November 2022.

Item 7C(i)       Joint Strategic Committee -  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/31/22-23

To receive a report from the Leader as item 8.

The report contains decisions taken by the Cabinet, Cabinet Members, the Joint Strategic Committee and the Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Worthing) since the last Council meeting. 

There will be up to 15 minutes for the Leader and Cabinet Members to make any statements on the report. There will also be up to 15 minutes for Cabinet Members to respond to questions on the report. These questions will not be the same as any to be asked under Item 10. 

(Note: Papers relating to items under 7 and 8 have previously been circulated and can be viewed on the Council’s website)

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

Members raised an enquiry on the entitlement to pink papers in order to ask questions under the Leader’s Report. The MO confirmed there was a restriction on the papers as they contained exempt information, the statement confirming that the papers had been shared with all Members was erroneously included in the Leader’s Report.  The Leader was willing to share the papers subject to advice from the Monitoring Officer.

Questions were received in relation to the Council Tax Support Scheme for Worthing Borough Council in 2023/24, Investing for our future - Capital Strategy 2023/26 and a commitment to maintain all frontline services and service capacity made at the July meeting of the Joint Strategic Committee.

A Member sought clarification in regards to who could reply to questions asked in under the Leaders Report. The Monitoring Officer advised Council that the constitution did state who could be asked a question but did not stipulate who should answer.

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

Before the Council was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy of which was circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 9.

The purpose of the report was to formally designate the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

The Leader of the Council wished to place on record her thanks to the outgoing Monitoring Officer, Geoff Wild, for all of his work in supporting the Council and proposed the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Samuel Theodoridi and was unanimously supported.

Resolved,

The Council designated Joanne Lee as the Council’s Monitoring Officer with effect from 28th October 2022.

Members question time will last up to 30 minutes, with questions being taken in the order of receipt and in rotation from each political group on the Council. The deadline for submission of questions is Friday 14 October at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Questions can be asked of the following:

a)    The Mayor

b)    A Member of the Cabinet

c)    The Chairman of any Committee

d)    The Council’s representative on any outside body

Questions cannot be asked in relation to the following:

a)    A specific planning or licensing application

b)    A specific staffing appointment, appeal or Standards determination

The Mayor announced that the Proper Officer had received 14 questions from Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12. She advised that one supplementary question could be asked which must arise out of the original question, or, the reply. 

Questions would be asked in rotation of the Groups represented in the Chamber and there were 30 minutes allowed for questions with 10 rotations of speakers possible.

The Mayor announced that the following Councillors had submitted questions:

Councillors Barraclough, Cochran, Jenkins, Mercer, Nowak, Sparkes and Thorpe.

First rotation

Question 1 from Councillor Richard Nowak to the Leader

Cllr Cooper to your knowledge, are Persimmon Homes pursuing its Court of Appeal challenge to the High Court decision that granted the successful appeal by Worthing Council against the Planning Inspectorate's decision to allow development of the land at Chatsmore Farm?

The Leader replied that yes, she could acknowledge that Persimmon Homes were pursuing the Court of Appeal challenge to the High Court decision that granted the successful appeal by Worthing Borough Council against the Planning Inspector's decision to allow development of the land at Chatsmore Farm. The Council had recently been informed that Persimmon Homes had been granted leave to appeal the High Court decision.

Question 2 from Councillor Hazel Thorpe to the Cabinet Member for Citizen Services

“The Household Support Fund”, a pot of money which Councils can dish out at their discretion to alleviate residents’ hardship is mentioned in the Borough’s hardship Road Map. This fund is currently £500m nationally - how much is Worthing Borough being allocated?

The Cabinet Member replied that the overall Household Support Fund (round 3) for West Sussex was £4,870,362. It was noted that a request for the value of the apportioned amount for Worthing had been made to colleagues at County. The Council was informed that this was not available and not how the funding formula is reported on.

Second rotation

Question 3 from Councillor Elizabeth Sparkes to the Cabinet Member for Resources

Cllr Turley, do you agree with me that the Strategic Property Investment Fund set up and developed by the previous administration forms an integral part of this Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy? A comprehensive and varied portfolio has secured the Council’s financial future for the past 5 years and I wonder therefore now that the property investment rules have been changed by CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) whether you are intending to continue to expand the portfolio locally by building on the previous administration’s investments within the Borough?

The Cabinet Member replied that ideally, the Council should never have had to set up a Strategic Property Investment Fund (SPIF). Councils had been forced to look for other sources of income due to the Government’s squeeze on local authority funding which had already been referenced earlier in the meeting.

The income from the SPIF had certainly played an important role in helping to manage the Council’s finances. However, the Council shouldn’t have had to rely on rental income from  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/34/22-23

To consider a Motion on Notice, submitted by the Proper Officer on behalf of Councillor Jon Roser, detailed as item 11.

Members had a motion before them proposed by Councillor Jon Roser and seconded by Councillor Helen Silman.

Resolved:

In accordance with the Constitution, the Motion was noted and immediately referred to the Joint Strategic Committee.