Agenda and minutes

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 Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 8 June 2021, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Resolved that the minutes from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 8 June 2021, were approved as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any questions from members of the public.

Questions should be submitted by noon on Friday 9 July 2021 to Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk   

 (Note: Public Question Time will operate for a maximum of 30 minutes)

There were no public questions received in advance of the meeting.

To consider any items the Chairman of the meeting considers to be urgent.

There were no items raised under urgency provisions.

To consider a report from the Interim Chief Executive, a copy is attached as item 5.

Before the Committee was a report by the Interim Chief Executive, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 5.

“Platforms for our Places: Going Further” was the Councils’ ambitious strategic programme designed to help create the healthy, prosperous and well connected communities its residents and businesses had told the Councils they wanted to see.

This was an updated report to the Joint Strategic Committee describing the strong progress made by the Councils in achieving those commitments and ambitions over the past 6 months.

The report reflected the Councils’ shift from pandemic response and reflected the impact of the pandemic on the Platforms ambitions. Whilst progress against some of the commitments had slowed because of the pandemic, most were on track. The impact of the pandemic on other commitments had enabled them to develop further and faster (for example some economic interventions) than might otherwise have been the case. The report also picked up progress against the “And Then …” objectives (Adur & Worthing Councils’ initial response to the easing of the first national lockdown).

Looking forward, the Councils would be embedding the lessons it had learned from the pandemic and the opportunities it had given the Councils to accelerate some of its strategic ambitions into the next phase of work on the Platforms strategy.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Neil Parkin, seconded by Councillor Daniel Humphreys and unanimously supported.

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee considered and noted the 6 months progress report on the implementation of “Platforms for our Places: Going Further” over the period January to June 2021 and agreed to refer the report to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their consideration.

Call In:

The call-in deadline for decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021.

To consider a report from the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy is attached as item 6.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 6.

The report outlined the revenue financial monitoring position for the end of the 2020/21 financial year for the Joint Strategic Committee, Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils. At the time of publication, the Statements of Accounts were completed and with the audit scheduled to commence in August 2021. Any adjustments that emerge would be reported to members later in the year.

The final position for operational services were overspends in Adur District Council £876k and in Worthing Borough Council £3.7m. This was a variation to the projections reported at quarter 3 when operational outturns were predicted to be an overspend of £1.1m in Adur and £3.9m in Worthing.

Overall outturn positions were underspends of £641k in Adur District Council and £1.1m in Worthing Borough Council which were due largely to the level of government support received for the impact of Covid 19. After allowance for proposed carry forward of budgets in 2020/21, this represented a 5% underspend against the budget for Adur and 6.7% for Worthing. Significant variations in the last quarter of the year included lower than estimated expenditure on reactive maintenance and the receipt of additional emergency government funding.

The outturn figures included proposed carry forward requests, detailed in appendix 6, that would need to be met from those underspends. The budgets related to committed spend that was planned for delivery in 2021/22: Adur District Council £189,000 and Worthing Borough Council £242,000.

The outcome was an improvement overall from what was forecasted in the quarter 3 monitoring report ‘3rd Revenue Budget Monitoring Report(Q3)’ when net underspends of £223,000 and £13,000 were being projected in Adur and Worthing respectively. The main movements in the last quarter were set out in appendix 5b, with additional emergency funding and lower maintenance expenditure being the significant factors. The outturn position did help to assist the Councils in managing a difficult financial position in 2021/22 particularly in light of the budget pressures identified elsewhere on the agenda.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Elizabeth Sparkes, seconded by Councillor Angus Dunn and unanimously supported. 

Decision  

The Joint Strategic Committee

2.1       recommended that Adur District Council, at its meeting on 22nd July 2021 and Worthing Borough Council at its meeting on 20th July 2021:-

(a)        NOTED the overall final outturn for 2020/21;

(b)        APPROVED the net appropriations to General Fund Reserves in the year

as detailed in section 6 of the report totalling: Adur District Council  £5,326,227 Worthing Borough Council £8,700,773;

(c)        AGREED the net carry over of revenue budget to 2021/22 funded from reserves as detailed in appendix 6: Adur District Council £189,000 Worthing Borough Council £242,000.

2.2       delegated authority to the Executive Members for Resources in consultation with the Leaders and the Chief Executive the ability to release up to £250k from  ...  view the full minutes text for item JSC1321-22

To consider a report from the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy is attached as item 7.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 7.

The report outlined the financial monitoring position for the end of the 2020/21 financial year for capital schemes included in the capital programmes of the Joint Strategic Committee, Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council.

Information was also provided in respect of capital receipts for the 2 constituent authorities.

A member asked questions in relation to the use of ‘right to buy’ receipts and the publication of the capital works programme. Officers advised that receipts could be kept for up to 5 years and were used to finance up to 40% of the cost of a new home. The capital programme was due to be considered in December.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Elizabeth Sparkes seconded by Councillor Angus Dunn and unanimously supported.

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee:

i)          noted the outturn position for 2020/21;

ii)         recommended that Adur District Council at its Council meeting on 22nd July         2021:

a)     Noted the overall capital final outturn for 2020/21.

b)     Agreed the net carry over of General Fund Capital underspends for Adur District Council as detailed in paragraphs 5.3.

c)     Approved the financing of the Adur District Council 2020/21 Capital Investment Programme, including the use of capital receipts as set out in paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2.

d)     Approved the carry forward of Council resources underspends to fund budget pressures as detailed in paragraph 4.2.2. and summarised in paragraph 5.6.

iii)        recommended that Worthing Borough Council at its Council meeting on 20th          July 2021:

a)     Noted the overall capital final outturn for 2020/21.

b)     Agreed the net carry over of General Fund Capital underspends for Worthing Borough Council as detailed in paragraph 5.10.

c)     Approved the financing of the Worthing Borough Council 2020/21 Capital Investment Programme, including the use of capital receipts as set out in paragraphs 5.7 and 5.8.

d)     Approved the carry forward of Council resources underspends to fund budget pressures as detailed in paragraph 4.2.2. and summarised in paragraph 5.15.

Call In:

The call-in deadline for decision (i) will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

There is no call-in for recommendations [2.1(a) to (c)] to Adur and Worthing Councils.

To consider a report from the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy is attached as item 8.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 8.

The report proposed a budget strategy for the development of the 2022/23 budgets against the background of the pandemic. 

It had been a long time since the Council had any certainty during budget setting and 2021/22 looked set to continue this tradition. At present the Councils had no clear idea of how long the pandemic would continue to affect its communities and its economy. The impact of any fairer funding review was likely to be deferred for a further year, but the councils did not know what would replace it for 2022/23; homelessness was on the rise, but forecasting this trend forward remained difficult; and inevitably the difficult economic climate would continue to influence a number of budget lines, from Council Tax revenues to income for services such as car parks.

The Council had had a clear strategy for facing the challenges of rapidly changing local government finance. It was now important to build on that strategy to meet the new and emerging challenges but within the context of supporting its local communities and economies. 

Now more than ever, careful financial management was required to ensure that the Council managed both the emerging in-year pressures and the implications for the future, whilst driving forward with Platforms for Our Places to help regenerate and renew its places. The Councils’ strategy would need to include managed and prudent increases in council tax, and a clear focus on driving efficiency and productivity.

The report set out how the Councils would address the challenges of the next few years, outlining the revenue forecast and setting out its strategic response to the challenges ahead. With the detailed budget proposals for 2022/23 coming forward to the Joint Strategic Committee in December, the report set out the broader context for the detailed work that would be undertaken over the intervening months. 

The Councils would be increasingly reliant on council tax income, business rate income, and its own income generating services. The Councils had a good track record in innovation, working creatively in partnership, transforming their digital capabilities and putting the customer at the heart of their services, in order to continue to deliver their aspirations for their Places. 

Work had been underway for some time to address the financial challenge for 2022/23 and beyond. This would continue over the summer and autumn, and the Organisational Leadership Team would be working to produce new financial plans designed to deliver a balanced budget over the next 3 years. The outcome of the service planning process would be presented to the Joint Strategic Committee for approval in December 2021 as part of the development of the 2022/23 budget. 

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Daniel Humphreys seconded by Councillor Carson Albury and unanimously supported. 

Decision  ...  view the full minutes text for item JSC1521-22

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

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 9.

The report sought the approval of the Council’s Capital Strategy for 2022/25. The Strategy outlined the Councils’ approach to capital investment and how the Council ensured that capital investment was directed to the Councils’ Priorities. It also set out the basis for prioritisation of capital bids included in the 3 Year Capital Investment Programme and the monitoring of the programme.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Angus Dunn seconded by Councillor Elizabeth Sparkes and unanimously supported.

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee recommended to Adur and Worthing Councils that the Capital Strategy 2022/25 be approved.

Call In:

There is no call-in for recommendations to Adur and Worthing Councils.

To consider a report from the Interim Director for Communities, a copy is attached as item 10.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 10.

In February 2021, the Director for Communities presented a Report titled “Covid Benefit Measures impact on Vulnerable Residents” to the Joint Strategic Committee. That report described the financial impact of the Covid pandemic on the councils’ more financially vulnerable residents, and set out how, through the proactive use of data, the councils planned to mitigate that impact. 

Since March 2021, the Councils had developed and tested a simple pathway for providing proactive support to residents that its data told it was experiencing financial hardship. The Councils’ focus for the next six months would be to explore how it could undertake that work on a larger scale. 

The report was therefore an update report to set out progress made since the February 2021 JSC report and to outline next steps. 

Members welcomed the report, endorsing the power of data to target what we know to the delivery of key services. 

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Kevin Boram seconded by Councillor Heather Mercer and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee received and acknowledged the report and requested that the Director for Communities report back in 6 months as to progress on the roadmap / next steps outlined in the paper.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021.  

To consider a report from the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy is attached as item 11.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 11.

Members were asked to reconfirm that war pensions should be fully disregarded as a source of income when calculating entitlement to Housing Benefit.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Emma Evans seconded by Councillor Heather Mercer and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee 

a)     Noted the content of this report; and 

b)     agreed that the war pensions described in paragraph 4.6 of the report should continue to be fully disregarded as a source of income by both Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council when claims for Housing Benefit are assessed.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

To consider a report from the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy is attached as item 12.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 12.

The report updated the Committee on progress made around the successful implementation of SustainableAW 2020-23, the councils’ shared framework for action on sustainability, and  presented members with an improved version of SustainableAW for the 2021-23 period. This version introduced new shared actions put forward by the wider community of groups, organisations, business and landowners. It also had new actions put forward by the councils.

The new actions reflected the extraordinary and coordinated level of activity across the Councils’ communities on climate and ecology which would act as a showcase for Adur & Worthing as a hub of excellent practice, and would assist in increasing engagement and momentum. It followed an extensive period of engagement with council officers and the wider community, with over 60 actions being put forward and over 200 organisations involved in the process.

The new plan pulled together many of the actions that were put forward at the successful community-led Zero 2030 Climate Conference (March 2020) and the Food, Land & Learning event (September 2019).

The plan also helped to address many of the eighteen recommendations which were put forward at the Adur & Worthing Climate Assembly. This was an important deliberative democracy process that the councils engaged in to listen to and understand the views of local residents towards climate change.

Approval was being sought from members to adopt the new Draft SustainableAW 2021-23, a shared action plan between council and community, which showcased much of the important climate and nature-related work going on across Adur and Worthing. 

SustainableAW was intended to provide a framework to address the crisis in natural ecosystems and the Climate Emergency declared by members at the Joint Strategic Committee on 9 July 2019.

To address the Climate Emergency, greater collaboration on climate action was proposed through enhanced engagement with community, business and public sector partners; developing joint ownership of a refined SustainableAW plan; and creating clearer methods of joint working.

A member asked a question about how this work was being communicated to local residents. Officers advised that information was available on the Councils’ website and that the Sustainable AW Magazine had been designed to celebrate the work undertaken and tell the story. 

The Committee welcomed the proposals and thanked the team for all of their work.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Daniel Humphreys seconded by Councillor Neil Parkin and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee

1.     Noted the success of SustainableAW 2020-2023; 

2.     Approved the adoption of SustainableAW 2021-23; 

3.     Approved a report being brought back to Joint Strategic Committee in autumn 2022 with an update on progress; 

4.     Approved the referral of the report to the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 15 July 2021 for noting. 

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will  ...  view the full minutes text for item JSC1921-22

To consider a report from the Director for Digital, Sustainability & Resources, a copy is attached as item 13.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 13.

The report noted that progress had been made on the strategic opportunity for Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils to introduce a large scale bike and e-bike share scheme to Adur and Worthing through Brighton & Hove City Council’s new BTN Bikeshare Procurement Framework.

This presented the opportunity to benefit from one of the most successful bike share schemes in the UK outside London, which could transform the way local people travel; open cycling to a wider audience; help reduce congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions; improve the health of local communities; benefit the visitor economy and increase connectivity across our places.

Adur & Worthing Councils and Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) had worked closely together on procurement specifications and governance arrangements since the approval by Joint Strategic Committee in February 2021 to become party to the BTN Bikeshare Framework.

Brighton & Hove City Council were exploring options to build flexibility into the BTN Bikeshare Operator Framework to facilitate future e-scooter integration into the contract. This could provide some local control of the safety and sustainability of e-scooter rental if integrated into the bike share scheme, while maintaining scheme viability. 

This report brought detail of the options appraisal, the funding strategy that had been produced and requested approval to progress to the procurement stage to seek an Operator for an Adur and Worthing scheme in parallel with the Brighton & Hove scheme. 

Members welcomed the report and were interested to see how an e-scooter scheme would work in Worthing, acknowledging that both e-scooter legislation and local infrastructure needed to catch up. 

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Sean McDonald seconded by Councillor Kevin Boram and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee :

1.     Approved that Adur District and Worthing Borough Council proceed to procure a bike share Operator for an Adur and Worthing scheme, using call off contracts from the Brighton & Hove City Council Framework; noting that a report would be brought back to Joint Strategic Committee in December following the outcome of the procurement process to approve the award to the successful operator. 

2.     Noted the proposed finance strategy for funding bike share, subject to final approval at Committee in December 2021; and noted the indicative map of hub locations. 

3.     Delegated authority to the Director of Digital, Sustainability & Resources in consultation with the relevant Executive Members from Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils to approve the inclusion of e-scooters in the call off BTN Bikeshare contract for Adur & Worthing should B&HCC include this option within their Framework.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

To consider a report from the Interim Chief Executive, a copy is attached as item 14.

Before the Committee was a report by the Interim Chief Executive, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 14.

The report proposed a new policy on payment options for the Adur District Council homes leaseholders that reflected current best practice.

The report sought approval to consult leaseholders on the Major Works Payment Options Policy.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Carson Albury seconded by Councillor Angus Dunn and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee agreed that Adur District Council consult leaseholders on the proposed Major Works Payment Options Policy.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021.

To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 15.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for the Economy, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 15.

A report was taken to the Joint Strategic Committee on 7th July 2020 with regard to an application from the Shoreham Beach Neighbourhood Forum which sought redesignation of the Forum, in order that it might progress a Neighbourhood Plan. 

The item was deferred in order that further information be brought to a future meeting. This report both addressed and provided the additional information. The original application was also attached at Appendix 1.

The Committee was advised that if designation was made, no other body or organisation may be designated for this neighbourhood area until that designation expired or was withdrawn. 

The Committee welcomed the additional information whilst seeking reassurance in regards to the Forum’s governance arrangements. Officers advised that the Forum were committed to holding an AGM within 2 months of redesignation and were very aware that they needed to be clear on governance moving forwards. 

Members reaffirmed the importance of good governance and wished to see the Forum demonstrate that they had complied with their governance and constitution before the Council put any officer time or resource into this activity.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Angus Dunn seconded by Councillor Kevin Boram and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee designated the Shoreham Beach Neighbourhood Forum for the purposes of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021.

To consider a report from the Interim Chief Executive, a copy is attached as item 16.

Before the Committee was a report by the Interim Chief Executive, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 16.

The report introduced members to the refurbishment and redevelopment options that had been considered at the vacant sheltered housing block at Ashcroft; updated them on the results of the consultation exercise with residents seeking their comments on these options and sought agreement on the preferred option for redevelopment of the site along with approval of a budget to progress this option.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Carson Albury seconded by Councillor Emma Evans and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee 

1.     Approved the preferred Option A for a New Build at Ashcroft; 

2.     Approved the release of a budget of £540,000 from the development programme contingency to enable the project to progress;

3.     Delegated authority to the Head of Major Projects & Investment to enter into all necessary contracts to carry out the matters referred to in clause 2.2;

4.     Noted that a further report would be brought back to JSC in early 2022 following the grant of planning permission and following the completion of the procurement process to present and agree a Full Business Case to deliver the preferred option through to completion of new build properties. 

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

* At 8.02pm Adur Councillors Parkin, Boram, Dunn and Evans left the meeting in accordance with the Joint Committee Agreement.

To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 17.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for the Economy, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 17.

The report presented a review of the first full year of operation of Worthing Theatres and Museum Trust.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Daniel Humphreys seconded by Councillor Heather Mercer and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee

1.     acknowledged and welcomed the achievements of Worthing Theatres and Museum over the year, mindful of unprecedented operating conditions and the severe impact of the Pandemic on the creative industries; and 

2.     referred the report to the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee for noting.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 18.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for the Economy, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 18.

The report sought approval of the Strategic Outline Business Case and Outline Business Case (OBC) for the development of Decoy Farm site for industrial development and to progress the project through to Full Business Case (FBC) in readiness for project delivery. 

Members expressed their support for the proposals having given consideration to the associated risks.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Kevin Jenkins seconded by Councillor Daniel Humphreys and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee 

1.     approved the Outline Business Case for the Decoy Farm Development; 

2.     delegated authority to the Head of Major Projects and Investment to make the necessary consultancy appointments to prepare the Full Business Case, to submit a planning application for the development and to tender the construction of the development; 

3.     allocated £600,000 in the 2021/22 Capital Programme for the development of a Full Business Case, funded from the Strategic Property Investment Fund.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 19.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for the Economy, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 19.

The report updated Members on the approach to the Montague Place public realm scheme and outlined that Worthing Borough Council (WBC) would act as the lead design agency for West Sussex County Council (WSCC) under the terms set out in this report. 

The report presented the rationale for WBC designing the project, the approach being undertaken to deliver temporary works to help inform the long term design of Montague Place and sought the release of budget to cater for the temporary works and main public realm design works to enable WBC to have a fully consulted, designed and costed scheme.

Members welcomed the proposals which sought to create a sense of place, reinvigorate this space and provide an opportunity to release CIL funding to benefit the town.

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Kevin Jenkins seconded by Councillor Edward Crouch and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee

1.     Agreed to WBC taking on the project management and design responsibility of Montague Place Public Realm work, supported by WSCC and if required to enter into a collaboration agreement to support that relationship; 

2.     Delegated authority to the Director for the Economy, in consultation with the Executive Member for Regeneration, the authority to procure and award all contracts necessary to complete the Phase 1 temporary works and main public realm design schemes, within the approved budgets;  

3.     Approved the creation of a budget of £163k within the Worthing Borough Council revenue budget fully funded by the Welcome Back Fund to complete the temporary works (Phase 1); and 

4.     Approved the creation of a budget of £200k within the Worthing Borough Council capital programme, fully funded by Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), to complete the main design works (Phase 2).

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021.

To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 20.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for the Economy, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 20.

The report updated the Committee on the work undertaken to restore Brooklands Lake, improve landscaping, develop a new play area and new café within the park. 

The report advised members of the Committee of progress made to secure a partner to deliver a new family leisure facility on the south western corner of the park. 

It set out how officers were working with emphasis on activities and events within the park to improve community engagement and deepen relationships with local stakeholders who would provide long term stewardship for Brooklands in conjunction with Worthing Borough Council. 

The Committee expressed support for the proposals, thanking both Officers and the Friends of Group for their endeavours. 

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Edward Crouch seconded by Councillor Kevin Jenkins and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee :

1.     Noted the contents of the report including the progress being made against the three workstreams of the project; and 

2.     Noted the revised procurement and commercial strategy set out in paragraph 4.8

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 21.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for the Economy, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 21.

The report sought the acquisition of the Teville Gate site by the Borough Council for the purpose of redevelopment to deliver new homes and employment opportunities. 

The Committee gave consideration to the volatile construction market, in particular, how this was being profiled; the reasons for taking this course of action at this time and the speed in which the proposals could be taken forwards. 

The recommendations set out in the report were proposed by Councillor Kevin Jenkins seconded by Councillor Elizabeth Sparkes and unanimously supported. 

Decision

The Joint Strategic Committee  

       i.         Approved the acquisition of the Teville Gate development site at Teville Road, Worthing for a residual land price of up to £7,725,000 subject to approval of a budget by full Council;

     ii.         Delegated authority to the Head of Major Projects & Investment to agree detailed terms of the transaction as set out in the Heads of Terms (appendix A) and enter the contract for the purchase subject to satisfactory legal and technical due diligence; 

    iii.         Delegated authority to the Head of Major Projects & Investment to make all necessary consultancy appointments and contracts necessary to implement the proposed development strategy set out in the Strategic Outline Business Case; 

    iv.         Agreed to create a budget of £50,000 to support meanwhile and/or pop-up uses on the site as proposed at paragraph 5.4 while the full scheme was being brought forward through the planning and development process funded from the resources previously released from reserves; and

     v.         Recommended to Worthing Borough Council to: 

a)     approve an overall budget of £8.12m to meet the costs of acquisition funded from prudential borrowing. 

b)     amend the minimum revenue provision policy as set out in paragraph 7.4.

c)     to increase the operational and authorised borrowing limits by £8.12m. 

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for decisions (i) to (iv) will be 5.00pm on 23 July 2021. 

There is no call-in for recommendations [v(a) to (c)] to Adur and Worthing Councils.