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 7 December 2023, copies of which have previously been circulated.

Resolved: that the minutes from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 7 December 2023, be approved as the correct record

To receive any questions from members of the public.

Questions should be submitted by noon on Monday 5 February 2024 to Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk   

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

There were no questions from the public.

Pre-submitted Members questions are pursuant to rule 12 of the Council & Committee Procedure Rules.

Questions should be submitted by noon on Monday 5 February 2024 to  Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk   

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

There were no pre submitted questions from Members.

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 by the Director for Sustainability and Resources, copy attached as item 6

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Place, 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.

This report before members was the final budget report of the year, the culmination of the annual budgeting exercise, and asks members to note the full update on the impact of the annual grant settlement as detailed in section 5, The final revenue estimates for 2024/25; and an updated outline 5-year forecast.

The budgets reflected the decisions taken by members to date in relation to agreed savings proposals and any committed growth. The budgets were still to be adjusted for the proposals to balance the budget detailed in Appendix 2  of the report which were considered by the Cabinets in the previous week. The draft estimates for 2024/25 had been prepared, as always, in accordance with the requirements of the Service Reporting Code of Practice for Local Authorities (except in relation to pension cost adjustments that do not impact either on the Budget Requirement or the Council Tax Requirement).

In light of the challenging context in which the councils found themselves, the report also outlined risks and key assumptions underpinning the budget proposals as well as risk mitigation actions which were planned.

Decision

1.     That the proposals for savings and the invest in services outlined in Appendix 2 which were considered at meetings of both Adur and Worthing Cabinets in early February be noted;

2.     That the proposed 2024/25 budget detailed in Appendix 3 be noted. The respective council shares had been approved by the Adur and Worthing Cabinets. It was noted that the budget would be adjusted for any changes to the Investment in Services proposals agreed by each Cabinet at the February meetings

3.     That the proposed use of capital receipts to support the delivery of the budget as set out at section 9.2 and Appendix 5 be noted. These were considered at the Adur and Worthing Cabinet meetings in early February .

Call In: The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on 20 February 2024

To consider a report by the Director for Sustainability and Resources, copy attached as item 7

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for 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

This report asked Members to approve and adopt the contents of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25 to 2026/27 for Adur and Worthing Councils, as required by regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003.

Decision 

1.     That the TMSS and AIS for 2024/25 to 2026/27 be approved and adopted, incorporating the Prudential Indicators and Limits, and MRP Statements. Including the addition of State Street Global Advisors MMF as an approved counterparty, to be governed within the same limits as other Money Market Funds and proposed changes to specified investment limits as detailed in 6.1.3.

2.     That the Prudential Indicators and Limits, and MRP Statements of the report be forwarded for approval by Worthing Council at its meeting on 20 February 2024, and by Adur Council at its meeting on 22 February 2024.

Call In:

The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on 20 February 2024

There is no call in for item (2) as this is a decision for Council

To consider a report by the Director for Sustainability and Resources, copy attached as item 8

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for 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

Adur & Worthing Councils declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019. As part of the declaration, Members committed to work towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030.The Carbon Neutral Plan was adopted in December 2019, setting out pathways for the councils to achieve the target. In the intervening years significant progress had been made reducing carbon emissions and further developing the recommendations set out in the Carbon Neutral Plan to develop the pipeline of projects that would ensure the councils met their commitment on carbon emissions.

Decision 

1.     That the progress made on projects and recommendations since the publication of the Carbon Neutral Plan be noted

2.     That Carbon Management Plan be approved and adopted it be published on the councils' website

Call In:

The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on 20 February 2024

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

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for 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 National Waste Strategy adopted in 2018 set ambitious targets for recycling and waste minimisation. The Environment Act formed one of the vehicles for the delivery of the strategy, and after numerous consultations and delays, the Government published its proposals in relation to ‘simpler recycling’ in October 2023.The simpler recycling scheme had significant operational and financial implications for our residential waste and recycling services as well as for commercial services.

The report identified key risks including: Simpler recycling placed additional burdens on the Councils, the most significant one being the requirement to provide food waste collections from all residential properties by 1 March 2026. The Government had made a commitment to new burdens funding, and ongoing funding through extended producer responsibility (a levy raised on the manufacturing industry). On 9 January the Government announced the capital funding awarded to councils the councils were awaiting information on revenue funding. Given the financial position of the Councils, introduction of the new services, and compliance with the new statutory requirements could only take place if they were fully funded in terms of both revenue and capital.

The Committee expressed that it was broadly supportive of the recommendations of the National Waste strategy however  considerable concern and disappointment was expressed in recognition of the significant financial and operational risks associated with the proposed insufficient government funding of the scheme.  Members agreed unanimously that the Leaders should be delegated to write to the Secretary of State expressing those concerns

Decision: 

1.     That the the requirements set out under the simpler recycling scheme be noted

2.     That the significant additional obligations both financially and operationally and the risks to the Councils associated with non-compliance be noted.

3.     That, informed by the new statutory requirements and the aspirations set out in Our Plan and the priorities of the individual Councils, the development of a Waste and Resources strategy for Adur and Worthing be approved.

4.     That the Leaders write a letter to the Secretary of State expressing concerns over funding of the scheme

Call In:

The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on 20 February 2024

To consider a report by the Director for Sustainability and Resources, copy attached as item 10

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for 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 before Members provided updates on the management of the Councils’ Corporate Risks and Opportunities.

The Councils recognised that there were risks and opportunities involved in everything that they did and there was a duty to manage those risks and opportunities in a balanced, structured and cost-effective way.

Decision:

1.     That the progress in managing the Corporate Risks and Opportunities be noted;

2.     That the Committee agree to receive a further annual progress report in Autumn/Winter 2024/25.

Call In:

The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on 20 February 2024