Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote Meeting via Zoom

Contact: Neil Terry
Democratic Services Lead
01903 221073  Email: neil.terry@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

C/48/20-21

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

The Mayor advised that he had received apologies for absence from Cllr Mike Barrett. 

C/49/20-21

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 Louise Murphy declared an interest as a Non-Executive Director for Worthing Homes.

 

Councillor Hazel Thorpe declared an interest in Item 11 as the president of Worthing Lions.

 

Councillor Heather Mercer declared an interest in Item 11 as a Specialist Cancer Nurse.

 

 

C/50/20-21

Confirmation of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the Council Meetings held on the 14 October and the 20 October 2020, copies of which have been previously circulated. 

Copies are available to view at:-

https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=158&MId=1553&Ver=4

 

https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=158&MId=1503&Ver=4

 

 

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 14 October and the Full Council meeting held on 20 October 2020 be approved as correct records and that they be signed by the Mayor.

C/51/20-21

Questions from the Public

 

To receive any questions from members of the public addressed to Member 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 11 December 2020 at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Minutes:

The following question had been received in advance of the meeting.

 

1.         Question submitted by Becky Griffiths, a Worthing resident

 

To the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing

 

“Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive condition – a third of people die within a year of diagnosis and half within two years and during that time symptoms worsen and needs increase.

 

It is vital to ensure people living a progressive and terminal condition like MND can live in safe and accessible homes, to help them realise their right to independence and quality of life in the short time they have left to live.

 

Faster access in identifying accessibility needs, requesting adaptations, applying for funding, and installing the home adaptations they need can enable them to live at home for longer, maintain their health and wellbeing for as long as possible, and remain engaged with their communities, families and friends.

 

It is our council’s role to ensure that local people with MND are well supported to access home adaptations or move to an accessible home in a timely manner.

 

The MND Association has proposed a set of recommendations and highlighted examples of good practice in their Act to Adapt report that would not only help people with MND, but also many other people who need accessible housing. These recommendations are based on our research and what people with MND, professionals and other experts have said.

 

Will this council commit to taking action to review current systems and implement the recommendations and good practice as set out in the Act to Adapt report to ensure adaptations can happen in a timely, efficient manner with minimum impact on the people they are supposed to help.”

 

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing replied that the Act to Adapt report from the MND Association is a 42 page report that contains a number of recommendations for national and local government in respect of the delivery of adaptations to the homes of disabled persons, especially where the condition is life-limiting.

 

Adur & Worthing Councils, in line with all other lower tier local authorities, have a statutory duty to fund adaptations using Disabled Facility Grants (DFGs). Following a change in the funding stream for these grants, Adur & Worthing adopted additional discretionary DFG measures as part of an ongoing county-wide policy and review and it is the Councils’ belief that the West Sussex authorities already meet or exceed the majority of recommendations set out in the MND report.

 

These include the waiving of £5000 from any calculated contribution, non-means tested hospital discharge grants, the treatment of council tax support as a passporting benefit and the fast-tracking of applicants with life-limiting illnesses. In one case, the Councils installed a stairlift for the benefit of a terminally ill applicant within 8 days from their first contact.

 

In respect of best practice, it is of particular note that Adur & Worthing are the only West Sussex authorities to use an in-house Home Improvement Assistance team, which puts the applicant at the  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/51/20-21

C/52/20-21

Announcements by the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Executive Members or the Head of Paid Service

Minutes:

The Mayor asked for a moment of quiet reflection to remember Past Mayors / Hon Aldermen Bob Clare and Harold Piggott who had passed away recently.

 

The Mayor announced that 2020 had been an unprecedented year and that it had been very quiet by way of mayoral engagements but that he had managed to undertake a few engagements and activities.

 

The Mayor reflected on Remembrance Week and expressed his thanks to the Worthing Veterans and military associations for ensuring that Worthing remembered despite the lockdown.

 

The Mayor took the opportunity to publicly commend everyone in Worthing for their fortitude and resilience. He highlighted that by working together Worthing is in the great position of having one of the lowest Covid rates in the country.

 

The Mayor mentioned a few people in Worthing who  were doing fantastic work to support and raise substantial donations for a local charity;  those who went beyond and above their call of duty by assisting the elderly in the community. He also provided a brief overview of the Councils’ Digital Team success story.

 

The Mayor ended by offering his congratulations to the Adur and Worthing Council volunteers who received a Special Recognition Award by the High Sheriff of West Sussex for helping out in the community during the Covid-19 crisis.

 

The Leader wished to place on record his thanks to all Councillors for the work undertaken during a very difficult year and a restful and well earned Christmas break. 

 

The Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services reiterated the Mayor’s thanks to Steve and Nigel in the Environmental Services Team for their sterling work looking after an elderly resident.

 

The Executive Member for Customer Services congratulated the Housing Team for winning an award for the innovative scheme Opening Doors.

 

Cllr Paul High, Planning Committee Chairman, advised that the Planning Committee had met on 16 occasions in the past year, including one of the first Council meetings to be held virtually. He placed on record his thanks to the membership of the Planning Committee and the Council’s Officers who supported the meetings.   

 

The Head of Paid Service virtually presented two certificates, the first being the shortlisting finalist for Council of the Year in the Local Government Chronicle Awards and the other being for the shortlisting in the Municipal Journal Awards. Both Adur and Worthing Councils had been shortlisted in both awards for being in the top 5 or 6 Local Authorities across the UK recognising some of the extraordinary work of the Council’s Officers over the last couple of years.

 

The Head of Paid Service also announced that the Solicitor to the Councils and Monitoring Officer, Mrs Susan Sale, was leaving the Councils after 19 years of service, to take up a post with Oxford City Council.

 

The Head of Paid Service, the Mayor and Councillors wished to place on record their thanks to Mrs Sale for her commitment to Worthing Borough Council, the excellent support and wise counsel that she had provided to both Officers and a  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/52/20-21

C/53/20-21

Items raised under Urgency Provisions

To consider any items the Mayor has agreed are urgent.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

C/54/20-21

Recommendations from the Executive and Committees to Council pdf icon PDF 52 KB

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as 7A(i), 7B(i) to (v). Recommendation 7C(i) is to follow.

 

            Full reports are available on the website as listed below:

 

 

 

Executive / Committee

Date

Item

A

Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee

26 November 2020

i) JOSC Work Programme

B

Joint Strategic Committee

1 December 2020

i) Towards a sustainable financial position - Budget update 

 

ii) Investing in our places - Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2023/24

 

iii) Council Tax Support Schemes for 2021/22

 

iv) WorkspaceAW - Designing a new model of working following Covid 19

 

v) Worthing Local Plan

C

Joint Governance Sub-Committee

10 December 2020

i) Appointment of Independent Persons for Standards

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

Extract of these minutes had been circulated as items 7A(i), 7B(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) and 7C(i)

 

Item 7A(i)        Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 26 November 2020

 

JOSC Work Programme

 

The Chairman of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented the recommendation from the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 November 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Richard Nowak.

 

On a vote: For 22, Against 1, Abstentions 11

 

Resolved

 

That the Council

 

i)          noted the progress in implementing the 2020/21 JOSC Work Programme;  and

 

ii)         noted the changes made to the JOSC Work Programme since it was agreed by the Councils in July 2020.

 

 

Item 7B(i)        Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

Towards a sustainable financial position - Budget update

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Louise Murphy.

 

On a vote: For 27 , Against 0, Abstentions 8

 

Resolved

 

That the Council

 

i)               noted the current 5 year forecasts;

 

ii)              noted the committed growth items as set out in appendix 2;

 

iii)             approved the proposed savings as set out in appendix 3;

 

iv)             approved the use of capital resources to fund savings proposals as set out in the capital flexibilities schedule in Appendix 4.

 

 

 

 

Item 7B(ii)       Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

Investing in our places - Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2023/24

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Kevin Jenkins.

 

On a vote: For 24 , Against 3, Abstentions 8

 

Resolved

 

That the Council

 

a)         considered the General Fund Capital Investment Programmes for 2022/23 and 2023/24 and confirmed the schemes to be included as detailed in Appendix 2, 3 and 4;

 

b)         approved the changes to the General Fund Capital Investment Programme for 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix 2 and 3;

 

c)         recommended the full programme detailed at Appendices 5 and 6 for approval by the respective Councils on the 17th December 2020 (Adur) and 15th December 2020 (Worthing).

 

d)         noted the amendments and additions to the reserve lists as detailed in Appendices 7 and 8;

 

 

Item 7B(iii)      Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

Council Tax Support Schemes for 2021/22

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Elizabeth Sparkes.

 

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Maragret Howard, seconded by Councillor Bob Smytherman but not supported.

 

Following debate on the substantive motion, a vote was taken:

For 21 , Against 12, Abstentions 2

 

Resolved

 

That Worthing Borough Council approved the Council Tax Support scheme in respect of working age customers for 2021/22

 

i.                to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/54/20-21

C/55/20-21

Designation of the Monitoring Officer pdf icon PDF 125 KB

To consider a report by the Director of Digital, Sustainability and Resources.

Minutes:

The Council received a report from the Head of Paid Service, which had been circulated to all members and a copy of which is attached to the signed version of these minutes.

 

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

 

The recommendation in the report was proposed by Councillor Daniel Humphreys, seconded by Councillor Ed Crouch and unanimously supported by the Council.

 

Cllr Crouch wished to place on record that he recognised the role of Monitoring Officer was not an easy one, especially when the role itself and post holder were subject to robust challenge. Passionate people sometimes challenge passionately, on a personal level Cllr Crouch had agreed with Ms Sale the majority of the time but passionately disagreed some of the time. Cllr Crouch wished the outgoing Monitoring Officer well in her new role.

 

Resolved

 

That Worthing Borough Council agreed to designate Maria Memoli as the Council’s Monitoring Officer with effect from 11th January 2021.

C/56/20-21

Report of the Leader on Decisions taken by the Executive pdf icon PDF 134 KB

To receive a report from the Leader as item 9. The report contains decisions taken by the Executive, Executive Members and the Joint Strategic Committee since the last Council meeting.

 

There will be up to 15 minutes for Executive Members to make any statements on the report. There will also be up to 15 minutes for Executive 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 9 have been previously circulated and can be viewed here on the Council’s website

https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/meetings-and-decisions/)

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council presented his report on decisions taken by the Executive since the last Ordinary meeting of the Council, which were detailed in Item 9.

 

Questions were received regarding the property investment portfolio, redevelopment of the Teville Gate site, further consideration in relation to the declaration of a poverty emergency and the level of debate at meetings of the Joint Strategic Committee.

C/57/20-21

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 Friday 11 December 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 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:

The Mayor announced that the Proper Officer had received 10 questions from Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12. He 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 4 rotations of speakers possible. At the end of 30 minutes the Mayor explained that he would extend the time to conclude the current rotation of questions.

 

The Mayor announced that the following Councillors had submitted questions:

 

Councillors Sally Smith, Hazel Thorpe, Charles James, Karen Harman, Louise Murphy, Jim Deen, Henna Chowdury and Tim Wills

 

First rotation:

 

Question from Councillor Sally Smith to the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing

 

Under the Equality Act (2010), there are nine protected characteristics, yet the Council website only signposts one local service, dementia awareness. While this is of course very valuable, Worthing is becoming more culturally, economically and socially diverse. To support and encourage diversity and promote inclusion in Worthing, is it not time that the website should be urgently updated?

 

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing replied that providing information and services to ensure that the Council was supporting and reaching its communities remained vitally important. The website included a range of information and links to support and services such as disabled access to buildings, disabled facilities grants, disabled parking, accessible toilets, council tax exemptions, Adur & Worthing Councils as a disabled confident employer, accessible community transport, advice for disabled voters, disabled access to beaches, accessible play, hate incidents and how to report them and local census information on specific groups.

 

As part of the Council’s  Covid Community response it was updating its web pages to ensure they reflected the diversity of need across the communities in relation to Covid need.

 

The Council knew it needed to do more work on its web pages overall to ensure this reflected the diverse needs of its communities and would be doing more work on this in the new year.

 

Cllr Smith asked a supplementary question regarding the accessing of services by phone.

 

The Executive Member replied that there was a good signposting system in place.

 

Question from Councillor Hazel Thorpe to the Leader

 

On the Ist December of this year “Hear My Story” / Adur Worthing Poverty Truth Commission were invited to participate in the first online All Political Parliament Group on Poverty meeting.

 

They heard a Social Metrics Commission presentation from Mathew Oakley -  a respected economist and expert on welfare reform and the future of the welfare state, on the Commission’s new methodology for measuring poverty as well as findings from their latest report.

 

The discussion was around the solutions needed to end child poverty for good.

 

The Department of Work and Pensions, however, have unfrozen repayment loans to be paid while under the pandemic to those on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) . This has hit the poorest  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/57/20-21

C/58/20-21

Motions on Notice pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Motion from Councillor Martin McCabe - Check your Baubles 

 

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

Minutes:

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, which had been circulated to all members and a copy of which is attached to the signed version of these minutes.

 

An amended motion was proposed by Councillor Martin McCabe and seconded by Councillor Bob Smytherman.

 

During consideration of this item, Members acknowledged the importance of raising awareness of breast cancer and testicular cancer and unanimously supported the motion.

 

Resolved,

 

That Worthing Borough Council urged men this Christmas season, as advised by Testicular Cancer UK, to:

 

CHECK YOUR BAUBLES

 

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer for men aged 15 to 49.

 

There are more than 2,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

 

Testicular cancer is a killer.

 

The survival rates for those who reach 'stage three' are only 57 percent.

 

But if caught early it is one of the most easy cancers to treat. 98 percent of men who get it survive.

 

This is just one of many cancers or long term health problems that can be successfully treated if identified early. Unusual lumps or skin changes, changes in bowel habits, pain or discomfort are all symptoms. So take up health screening when offered and get a medical check when experiencing any of these symptoms.

 

Men, and women, don't be shy.

 

Check regularly. And go to the doctors if you find a lump.

 

For more information, you can see the NHS guidance online at: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/mens-health/what-should-my-testicleslook-and-feel-like/

 

C/59/20-21

Motions on Notice pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Motion from Councillor Bob Smytherman - Thank you to the People of Worthing

 

To consider a Motion on Notice, submitted by the Proper Officer on behalf of Councillor Bob Smytherman, detailed as item 12.

Minutes:

 

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, which had been circulated to all members and a copy of which is attached to the signed version of these minutes.

 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Bob Smytherman and seconded by Councillor Martin McCabe.

 

The motion was unanimously supported by Council.

 

Resolved,

 

That Worthing Borough Council wished to place on record our profound gratitude and admiration to the people of Worthing for their dedication to the safety of our community and for the unstinting work and bravery of all local frontline workers throughout the profound challenges of 2020.

 

These include those from the NHS, the care sector, blue light services, teachers and school staff, transport workers, essential retail workers, post and parcel deliverers, the Armed Forces, the borough’s many volunteers and, not least, our own workforce and our contractors.

 

They have been a lifeline to many and an inspiration to us all, showing Worthing at its finest.

 

We thank you all.

C/60/20-21

Motions on Notice pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Motion from Councillor Carl Walker - Children and Young People’s Mental Health 

 

To consider a Motion on Notice, submitted by the Proper Officer on behalf of Councillor Carl Walker, detailed as item 13.

Minutes:

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, which had been circulated to all members and a copy of which is attached to the signed version of these minutes.

 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Carl Walker and seconded by Councillor Sally Smith.

 

Resolved,

 

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