Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Gordon Room, Worthing Town Hall

Contact: Neil Terry
Democratic Services Manager & Deputy Monitoring Officer
01903 221073  Email:  neil.terry@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Note: Tax Setting 

Items
No. Item

C/53/23-24

Leader's Announcement

Minutes:

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

 

The Leader advised Council that Councillor Cathy Glynn-Davies would be replaced by Councillor Andy Whight on the Planning Committee with immediate effect. The Leader proposed that Councillor Andy Whight be appointed as the Chairman of the Planning Committee and that Councillor Odul Bozkurt be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee. 

 

The proposals were seconded by Councillor Carl Walker and unanimously supported.

 

C/54/23-24

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Henna Chowdhury, Dan Coxhill, Heather Mercer, Richard Mulholland, Elizabeth Sparkes and Steve Waight.

C/55/23-24

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:

Councillor Nigel Morgan declared an interest in item 6a as the owner of a Buy to Let Property.

 

Councillor Charles James declared an interest in item 6a as a private landlord.

 

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

 

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

 

Councillor Cathy Glynn-Davies declared an interest in item 6a as a private landlord.

 

C/56/23-24

Confirmation of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the Special and Full Council Meetings held on Tuesday 12th December 2023, copies of which have been previously circulated. 

 

 

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of both the Ordinary and Special meetings of Full Council held on 12th December 2023 be approved as correct records and that they be signed by the Mayor.

C/57/23-24

Public Questions and Deputations

C/58/23-24

Questions from the Public

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 15th February 2024 at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk  

Minutes:

Submitted Question from Mr Ian Davey, a Worthing Resident

 

The 2023-24 Capital budget included £60,000 for design and feasibility work for the George V to Sea Lane "cycle lane".

 

The 2024-25 Capital Budget also contains funds to "deliver design and feasibility work"  for this, it also states that: " a delivery plan for full implementation will be worked up during the year". 

 

Assuming that this budget passes? Could you please give reassurance that the design and feasibility work will take place this year, and when you expect that and the delivery plan to be completed.

 

There is a great deal of public interest, with high expectations in this project, so progress on completing this vital "missing link"  would be very welcome.

 

The Leader replied that it was absolutely the intention to deliver the design and feasibility work in the calendar year. In terms of the actual cycle lane being built, that would be significantly more expensive and therefore the intention was to use Community Infrastructure Levy funding provided by developers for this purpose. It was anticipated spend at this stage, so it wasn’t possible to say when the cycle lane would be built. 

 

The Council was working with West Sussex County Council, through the Sustainable Transport Working Group, who were fully aware that this was the Council’s number one priority cycle lane and would seek to apply for Active Travel funding as and when it became available.   

 

C/58/23-24a

Deputation to the Council regarding the conflict in Gaza

To receive a deputation from Parents for Peace Worthing.

 

Minutes:

The following deputation was presented on behalf of Parents for Peace, Worthing. 

 

 

Background  

 

We are submitting this deputation to the council because we are horrified by the continuing violence and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and call for our local council representatives to show solidarity with all people affected by the conflict and lobby the government for an immediate permanent ceasefire and the upholding of international humanitarian law.

 

Latest figures indicate that following October 7th attack in which an estimated 1,200 people  died and up to 138 hostages remain held by Hamas, over 28,000 people have been killed in  Gaza, including more than 11,500 children.1 To put this into context, this is more than the  entire primary school population of Worthing.2  

Over 63,000 people in Gaza have been injured and with health facilities decimated only 4 out of 40 hospitals remain partially functioning in the Gaza strip), access to medical care is severely limited.  

 

According to UN figures, 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, many repeatedly3. Tens of thousands are living in makeshift tents or under plastic sheets with conditions worsened by the cold winter. Current UN estimates suggest 60% of homes have been destroyed or damaged, nine in every 10 schools have suffered "significant damage", and most hospitals have stopped working.  

With closed borders, the UN has warned that famine is imminent, access to safe drinking water is a “struggle” and infectious diseases are spreading4. It states that all children under five in Gaza (335,000) are at high risk of severe malnutrition and preventable death, with estimates that in the coming weeks at least 10,000 children under five will need therapeutic foods to help treat the most life-threatening form of malnutrition and will require urgent treatment.5  

 

The Palestinian people are not Hamas, and the response to the violent attacks by Hamas on 7th October cannot be the mass death of thousands of innocent Palestinians. Humanity is at stake and as parents and fellow human beings, we cannot condone the disproportionate devastation this is having on innocent civilians, particularly children and all upon the UK government to call for a ceasefire.  

 

1 Reuters article, Feb 10th, 2024  

2 7,682 primary school students in Worthing 2023/24  

3Israel-Gaza War: 'Displaced Gazans living in the open' UN says BBC News article 30/12/23 

4 Famine in Gaza is being made 'inevitable', says UN Rapporteur Guardian News article, 28/01/24 

5 Statement by UNICEF on the risk of famine in the Gaza strip 22/12/23 


This is a matter that is causing great concern to people in our community. Local groups have been established to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, with vigils and events well attended, demonstrating the strength of feeling among our community on this issue.6 Feedback from those attending these events has highlighted frustration within our community at the lack of an adequate governmental response.  

 

We understand that international issues do not fall under the council’s jurisdiction. However, other  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/58/23-24a

C/59/23-24

Items raised under Urgency Provisions

To consider any items the Mayor has agreed are urgent.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items raised under the urgency provisions.

C/60/23-24

Recommendations from the Cabinet and Committees to Council pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D.

 

Reports are available on the website as listed below:

 

 

 

Cabinet / Committee

 

 

Date

 

 

Item

 

A

 

Worthing Cabinet

 

6th February 2024

 

Council Tax Premiums and Discounts for Empty Properties and Second Homes

 

 

B

 

Worthing Cabinet

 

6th February 2024

 

Budget Estimates 2024/25 and Setting of the 2024/25 Council Tax

 

 

C

 

Worthing Cabinet

 

6th February 2024

 

Investing in our Places - Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27

 

 

D

 

Joint Strategic Committee

 

8th February 2024

 

Joint Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2024/25 to 2026/27, Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council had, before it, recommendations from the Worthing Cabinet and the Joint Strategic Committee.

 

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

 

Item 6A           Worthing Cabinet - 6 February 2024

 

Council Tax Premiums and Discounts for Empty Properties and Second Homes

 

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded by Councillor Emma Taylor-Beal and supported following a vote (In Favour 24, Against 0, Abstentions 7).

 

Resolved, 

 

The Council approved, 

 

1.    That from 1 April 2024 to continue to levy the maximum level of premium for empty properties as follows noting the change for empty homes after 1 year:-

 

·         Premium of 100% for dwellings which are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished (Empty Homes Premium) after 1 year up to 5 years of becoming empty; 

·         Premium of 200% for dwellings which are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished (Empty Homes Premium) between 5 years and up to 10 years; and 

·         Premium of 300% for dwellings which are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished (Empty Homes Premium) for 10 years or more.

 

2.    From 1 April 2025, the application of a premium for second homes (Second Homes Premium) of 100% for all dwellings that are no persons’ sole or main residence and which were substantially furnished.

3.    (Exceptions to premiums) that mindful of the current consultation by government which recommends exceptions in certain circumstances, to the second homes premium to be charged, and subject to the outcome of that consultation, that the Section 151 Officer being given delegated authority to implement this Council’s policy on premiums in line with statute and any following guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

 

4.    No changes to existing Council Tax Discounts. 

 

 

Item 6B           Worthing Cabinet - 6 February 2024

 

Budget Estimates 2024/25 and setting of the 2024/25 Council Tax 

 

The Mayor advised that the recommendations from Worthing Cabinet would be considered under Item 9 on the agenda.

 

 

Item 6C           Worthing Cabinet - 6 February 2024

 

Investing in our Places - Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27

 

The Mayor advised that the recommendations from Worthing Cabinet would be considered under Item 9 on the agenda.

 

 

Item 6D           Joint Strategic Committee - 8 February 2024

 

Joint Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2024/25 to 2026/27, Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council

 

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council which was seconded by Councillor John Turley and supported unanimously following a vote (In Favour 31, Against 0, Abstentions 0).

 

Resolved, that the Prudential Indicators and Limits, and MRP Statements be approved.

 

C/61/23-24

Members Questions under Council Procedure Rule 12

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 15 February 2024 at 12 noon.

 

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

 

Questions can be asked of the following:

a)    The Mayor

b)    A Member of the Executive

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

Minutes:

First rotation: 

 

Question 1 from Cllr Richard Nowak to the Deputy Leader - Cllr Carl Walker

 

As you are no doubt aware, age is a protected characteristic under the 2010 Equality Act. Given the recently announced reduced hours of operation of the Customer Call Centre and a two year commitment to services redesign which will no doubt see more and more interactions with residents being redirected via the internet, how does this administration propose to protect the many older residents of this town from becoming disengaged, disregarded and unlawfully discriminated against?

 

The Deputy Leader referred the question to the Cabinet Member for Housing & Citizen Services - Cllr Emma Taylor-Beal on the basis of portfolio responsibility. 

 

Cllr Taylor-Beal replied that age was indeed a protected characteristic under the Equality Act, although it was a bit of a stereotype, to assume that age in itself was a barrier to accessing online services. There will be some older residents who lack the confidence or the will to engage online which was understandable and fine. However, digital poverty was as much, if not more, of a barrier to people of all ages accessing online services.     

 

The current change to the contact centre, had been carried out to ensure that the Council's hard working and dedicated staff were able to focus on prioritised calls and follow up admin appropriately. It was anticipated that once citizens got used to the new and slightly reduced access hours, they would see an improvement in the number of people available to take calls within that time. 

 

The next phase of the organisational redesign, will see the Council go out to consultation with service users and speak to partners about how they can help the Council deliver the best possible service for all citizens. It would be at this point that a full equality impact assessment will be completed. The results of which would be considered when making choices about which and how many functions go online. There was no intention at all to stop people being able to call in if they wanted to. Instead, those who wish to help themselves online, will be able to when they like and support themselves without needing to speak to someone. This will free up the Council's highly skilled teams, to be able to help those who want and need this service and really value speaking to somebody.             

 

Question 2 from Cllr Hazel Thorpe to the Cabinet Member for Resources - Cllr John Turley

 

What contingency plan and budget does the Council have in place should the funding from Homes England not materialise? 

 

The Cabinet Member for Resources referred the question to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration - Cllr Caroline Baxter on the basis of portfolio responsibility. 

 

Following the September 2023 Worthing Joint Strategic Sub Committee, the Council had been exploring the potential sale of Teville Gate to Homes England.  Cllr Baxter looked forward to reporting on the outcome of this work at the March Joint Strategic Sub Committee, but as you  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/61/23-24

C/62/23-24

Suspension of Council Procedure Rules

The Council is asked to suspend Council Procedure Rules for consideration and determination of item 9 on the agenda, where they conflict with the Budget Procedure Rules in accordance with paragraph 7.2 of the Budget Procedure Rules.

Minutes:

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 Carl Walker, the Council unanimously agreed to suspend Council Procedure Rules for the consideration of Item 9 on the agenda. 

 

* The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 11.45am and reconvened at 12.02pm

C/63/23-24

Council Tax 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 4 MB

To consider and set the Council Tax for 2024/25.

 

A separate budget pack, produced by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, is attached as item 9, and the recommendations from the Cabinet, at item 6B and 6C, will also be considered as part of this item.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor introduced the item explaining that items 6B and 6C, 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.

 

* Councillor Noel Artkins left the meeting during consideration of item 9 at 12.25pm 

* Councillor Daniel Humphreys left the meeting during consideration of item 9 at 12.45pm

 

The Green Party Councillor Claire Hunt addressed the Council. 

 

The Liberal Democrat Councillor Hazel Thorpe addressed the Council. 

 

Members in the Chamber debated the proposed budget. 

 

In accordance with Budget Procedure Rules, the Leader was given a right of reply. 

 

The Mayor put the substantive motion, including Appendix A & Appendix B (as amended), to the Council for a vote. A recorded vote was taken, the results of which, are set out below:-

 

For (24): Councillors Abraham, Barrett, Baxter, Bozkurt, Choudhury, Cooper, Cox, Garner, Glynn-Davies, Hermitage, Howard, Hunt, Overton, Roser, Schan, Smith, Taylor-Beal, Theodoridi, Thorpe, Turley, Walker, Wells, Whight & Whorlow

 

Against (4): Councillors  James, Jenkins, Morgan & Nowak

 

Abstentions (0): None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolved 

 

1.

It be noted that on 6th February 2024, the Executive calculated the Council Tax Base 2024/25 as 39,330.7 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)];

2.

The Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2024/25 is £10,527,260.

3.

That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2024/25 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)

£71,118,506

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.

 

(b)

£60,591,246

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)

£10,527,260

being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R), in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

(d)

£267.66

being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/63/23-24