Agenda and minutes

The Mayor used her discretion to enable the Leader to announce a change to the membership of the Planning Committee.

The Leader advised Council that Councillor Emma Taylor would be replaced by Councillor Samuel Theodoridi on the Planning Committee with immediate effect.

Apologies were received from Councillors Roy Barraclough and Richard Mulholland.

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.

Councillor Richard Nowak declared an interest in item 6a as a private landlord. 

Councillor Kevin Jenkins declared an interest in item 6a as a private landlord.

Councillor Nigel Morgan declared an interest in item 6a as a private landlord.

Councillor Hazel Thorpe declared an interest in item 6a as a private landlord.

Councillor Steve Waight declared a personal interest as a Member of West Sussex County Council.

Councillor Noel Atkins declared a personal interest as a Member of West Sussex County Council.

To approve the minutes of the Special and Full Council Meetings held on Tuesday 13th December 2022, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Resolved that the minutes of both the Ordinary and Special meetings of Full Council held on 13 December 2022 be approved as correct records and that they be signed by the Mayor.

To receive any questions from members of the public addressed to Members of the Cabinet 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 16th February 2023 at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk  

1.    Submitted Question from Claire Hunt, a Worthing Resident

I’m in complete support of your plans to seek bathing water designation for the section of sea next to Beach House Park. Is there any progress or outcome on the application for designation (which was to be made in October 2022), and is there any reason why a similar application could not be made for a section of sea in Goring-by-Sea - which is ranked 5th in the top 10 beaches in West Sussex in the UK Beach Guide 2023.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment replied that the Council had yet to receive feedback from Defra on its Beach House Bathing Water application. It was anticipated that a response would be received before Easter.

The Council proposed to submit an application for a bathing water designation at Goring later in the year. Both the Environment Agency and Southern Water were in support of the proposal. The Council would begin collecting the data needed to support an application at the start of the forthcoming bathing season (which runs from May to September).

2.    Submitted Question from Claire Hunt, a Worthing Resident

I am pleased to see that concern for the Climate and Ecological Emergency are being considered in the plans for extending the Memorial Garden at Worthing Crematorium. I would like to ask if there could be any future provision of a natural burial site in or close to Worthing, or to allocate part of existing sites for natural burials? Interest in natural burial is increasing but there is currently only one in West Sussex, at Clayton Wood, near Hassocks, 15 miles away. They are clearly a much more environmentally-friendly option than cremation or traditional burial, and can be easily combined with woodland or meadow creation and management, so could this be built into future plans, reducing fossil fuel use, carbon emissions, and toxic emissions of things like mercury.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment replied that the Council was currently actively appraising the most viable and cost effective options for a natural burial site within its own asset portfolio. This was a high priority for the service and would be subject to technical reports and financial forecasting and service modelling.

3.    Submitted Question from Mr Ian Davey, a Worthing Resident

The A27 presents a significant physical barrier that severs most of the people of Worthing from the South Downs National Park. It also  restricts access to amenities such as Worthing College and sports pitches.

In their proposals that are currently open to consultation,  National Highways predict, and aim to provide for, a 25% increase in traffic by 2041. Government plans for a new Arundel bypass will help make this a self fulfilling prophecy. Despite this, National Highways admit that their proposed solutions in Worthing will all "under deliver".

What impact does the Leader of the council think that the implementation of any of the current National Highway proposals will have on congestion, pollution and severance in Worthing.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/55/22-23

To consider any items the Mayor has agreed are urgent.

There were no urgent items raised under the urgency provisions.

To consider urgent recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F and 6G . Reports are available on the website as listed below:-

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

Extracts of these minutes had been circulated as items 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F and 6G.

Item 6A           Worthing Joint Strategic Sub-Committee - 12 January 2023

Outcome of the public consultation in respect of the locally-determined 100% one-month Council Tax discount in respect of unoccupied & substantially unfurnished properties

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded by Councillor Emma Taylor and supported following a vote (In Favour 23, Against 0, Abstentions 12).

Resolved,

The Council approved that, with effect from 1 April 2023, the one-month 100% discount should be discontinued.

Item 6B           Worthing Joint Strategic Sub-Committee - 12 January 2023

Memorial Gardens

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded by Councillor Vicki Wells and supported unanimously following a vote (In Favour 35, Against 0, Abstentions 0).

Resolved,

That the Council approved the creation of a new capital budget of £315,000 funded through prudential borrowing with total repayment costs of £407,940 over the lifetime of the project which will be funded from the income generated by the sales of the memorials and to delegate to the Director for Communities authority to procure and enter into all necessary contracts (in consultation with the Cabinet Member) for the delivery of the memorial garden and repairs to the Munthan Estate Walls as incorporated in the design providing always the spend is within the approved budget.

Item 6C           Joint Audit & Governance Committee - 24 January 2023

Scheme of Allowances for Worthing Borough Council

The Chairman of the Joint Audit & Governance Committee introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded by Councillor Samuel Theodoridi and supported following a vote (In Favour 22, Against 1, Abstentions 12).

During debate of the item, Members considered the proposals from the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel, the affordability of an increase in allowances and the number of Members sitting on the Cabinet.

An amendment to the recommendations was proposed and seconded but not supported following a vote.

Resolved,

That the Council  accepted the report and recommendations of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel, including an amendment proposed by the Joint Audit & Governance Committee to remove paragraph 4.2.6 from the Independent Panels recommendations.

Item 6D           Cabinet -  1 February 2023

Investing in our Places - Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2025/26

The Mayor advised that the recommendations from Worthing Cabinet would be considered under Item 8 on the agenda.

Item 6E           Cabinet -  1 February 2023

Budget Estimates 2023/24 and setting of the 2023/24 Council Tax

The Mayor advised that the recommendations from Worthing Cabinet would be considered under Item 8 on the agenda.

Item 6F           Joint Strategic Committee - 7 February 2023

Council Tax Support Fund in respect of 2023/24

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded by Councillor Emma Taylor and supported following a vote (In Favour 23, Against 0, Abstentions 12).

Resolved,

The Council approved that  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/57/22-23

The Council is asked to suspend Council Procedure Rules for consideration and determination of Item 8 on the agenda, where they conflict with the Budget Procedure Rules in accordance with paragraph 7.2 of the Budget Procedure Rules.

The Council was asked to suspend Council Procedure rules where they conflicted with the budget procedure rules in accordance with paragraph 7.2 of the budget procedure rules.

Having been proposed by the Leader, seconded by Councillor Andy Whight the Council unanimously agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rules for the consideration of Item 8 on the agenda.

To consider and set the Council Tax for 2023/24.

A separate budget pack, produced by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, shall be circulated as item 8, and the recommendation from the Cabinet, at items 6D and 6E, will also be considered as part of this item.

The Mayor introduced the item explaining that items 6D and 6E, recommendations from the Cabinet, would be considered as part of this discussion with the full proposed recommendation being contained in the papers circulated with the agenda.

As required by the Regulations there would be a recorded vote on any amendments to the proposed budget together with a final vote on the substantive motion.

The Mayor clarified that the item would be dealt with under the budget procedure rules and therefore, ordinary rules of debate did not apply.

The Mayor invited the Leader of the Council to address the Chamber. 

The Leader of the Council introduced the budget and setting of the council tax to members and a copy of the Leaders budget speech is appended to these minutes as Appendix A.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor John Turley.

The Leader of the Conservative Group on the Council, Councillor Kevin Jenkins, addressed the Council and proposed an amendment to the budget, appended to these minutes as Appendix B.

The proposed amendment was seconded by Councillor Elizabeth Sparkes. 

Liberal Democrats Councillor Hazel Thorpe addressed the Council.

Members in the Chamber debated the proposed budget and budget amendment.

In accordance with Budget Procedure Rules, the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader were given rights of reply.

The Mayor put the amendment to the Council for a vote. A recorded vote was taken, the results of which, are set out below:-

Vote 1 - Amendment

For (13): Councillors  Atkins, Cochran, Coxhill, Harman, Humphreys, James, Jenkins, Mercer, Morgan, Nowak, Sparkes, Thorpe, & Waight

Against (22): Councillors Barrett, Choudhury, Chowdhury, Cooper, Deen, Garner, Glynn-Davies, Hermitage, Howard, McCabe, Overton, Roser, Silman, D Smith, S Smith, Taylor, Theodoridi, Turley, Walker, Wells, Whight & Whorlow

Resolved that the amendment was not supported.

As the amendment was not supported, the Mayor put Appendices A & B (the substantive motion) to the Council for a vote. A recorded vote was taken, the results of which, are set out below:-

For (22): Councillors Barrett, Choudhury, Chowdhury, Cooper, Deen, Garner, Glynn-Davies, Hermitage, Howard, McCabe, Overton, Roser, Silman, D Smith, S Smith, Taylor, Theodoridi, Turley, Walker, Wells, Whight & Whorlow

Against (6): Councillors  Coxhill, Humphreys, James, Mercer, Morgan & Waight

Abstentions (7): Councillors Atkins, Cochran, Harman, Jenkins, Nowak, Sparkes and Thorpe

Resolved 

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 16th February 2023 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

As the meeting had been running for nearly 3.5 hours, the Mayor proposed that written responses be provided to the 8 Member Questions which had been received in advance of the meeting and that the responses be included in the minutes of the meeting.

First rotation:

Question 1 from Cllr Russ Cochran to the Cabinet Member for the Environment - Cllr Vicki Wells

As both a councillor for the ward and a football coach I truly welcome the investment made in longcroft parks' new Football Goals as several training sessions for various teams and clubs occur regularly there for teams and mini soccer as well as casual use.

Together with our highly regarded park rangers team I had previously tried in vain, since 2021, to save the council some money sourcing some Square post replacements to the matching footings bedded in the ground, yet after 34 years sadly the manufacturer had switched to round posts, it was a literal; Round hole - square peg situation!

I am sure we can all agree that with sustainability constantly at the forefront of our intentions, Local residents have had a quite astounding amount of use from this heavy duty product, which was put in by the developer many years ago.

May I ask if we are going to see other investments in similar facilities for sport in our green spaces in future across the borough and if so would these planned improvements be achieved to the same standard as demonstrated in the recent investment in Longcroft Park? Also if so how much will be invested over the coming financial year?

The Cabinet Member replied that ‘as a new administration and also as residents of Worthing, we understand well the managed decline that we have inherited as a Council. This is particularly evident in the condition of some of the parks across Worthing. None more so than at Longcroft Park.

The heavy gauge, square steel goal posts at Longcroft - which were 35 years old - had totally rotted away at the base were unsafe and unstable.

Residents - and evidently yourself - have been frustrated for a number of years at their poor and frankly dangerous state. It’s alarming that this issue wasn’t resolved years earlier by the previous administration.

The good news is that in the short time we have been in administration, we have worked with rangers and the sports team to provide FA approved size goals made from Heavy Duty (76mm) Steel. These are the strongest which were available and have finally replaced their decrepit predecessors. 

In addition an extra pair of junior posts were provided adjacent to the children’s playground. The playground itself was also in a state of poor repair, so while addressing the goal posts -  the burnt out and vandalised roundabout was replaced with a disabled and buggy accessible model. While we were at it we removed the old concrete fencing posts that were cracked and broken with rusted reinforcing rods dangerously exposed.

Given the funds  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/60/22-23