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 declaration of interests made

There were no substitute members

To approve the minutes of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of

held on 28 January 2021, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the 28 January be approved as the correct record

So as to provide the best opportunity for the Committee to provide the public with the fullest answer, questions from the public should be submitted by 12.00pm Tuesday XX XX XX

Where relevant notice of a question has not been given, the person presiding may either choose to give a response at the meeting or respond by undertaking to provide a written response within three working days.

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

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

A Member of the public asked the following question: Worthing's first mental health/friendship seating bench cluster in West Park, Worthing, was looking distinctly possible, especially after Dr Catherine Howe recently gave her approval, subject to a "light touch" consultation. Following Councillor Val Turner's enthusiasm for such projects in October, despite lacking any real idea or plan as to its workings, but with the caveat of it being unlikely that there was Borough Council funding available for it, this project was placed onto the West Sussex County Council's crowdfunding platform, Spacehive, in order to access the Community Initiative Fund via the Worthing Council Local Committee and leverage in funding in that manner, as is perfectly normal practice.  Given that this project was largely dependent on this grant, it is now likely to fail, at best it has been severely undermined by these actions. Is Councillor Turner in agreement with the narrative around this rejection, that this is not something that WSCC should fund and that it is a Borough Council funding responsibility? (Despite this being a break with previous convention and putting Worthing CLC out of step with the other CLCs). Will Councillor Turner now, as a matter of urgency, given the funding window for this project closes in a month, arrange a meeting with the Director of Communities, Dr Catherine Howe, and request that Worthing Borough Council now fund the remainder of this project.  Would Councillor Turner now agree to formulate a consistent message about the funding of projects that are not a statutory responsibility of the Borough Council, but which are capable of being funded by the Borough Council - and is she in agreement with her colleagues, that this is a Borough funding responsibility? The Executive Member for Wellbeing told members that the Council continued to be supportive of the idea of friendly benches but want to make sure  that they were placed where they have broad community support plus the community networks needed to support the befriending aspect of the bench. The Director for Communities had been in touch to discuss the consultation process with respect to West Park which would be designed with stakeholders and the consultation would be key to determining these benches, before any questions about resources can be considered. The councils’ position with respect to funding of projects is that it was sought to support community activity where the Council could and in line with strategic objectives. The funding decision was a West Susses decision and the Council was unable to comment on that matter.

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

There were no urgent items

There were no call-ins

To consider a report by the Directorfor Digital, sustainanbility and Resources, copy attached as item 7

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which had been sent to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 7.The Chief Executive introduced the report and gave the committee information relating to the progress of Platforms for our Places.

A Member asked the following question: You mention the resilience of public systems on page 10 (Paragraph 5.2). In what ways have the extraordinary nature of the last 12 months highlighted areas of strong and weak resilience in our operational delivery to residents? The Chief Executive told members that Examples of strong resilience during this period include our speedy and responsive work with individuals and communities where we have coordinated and supported volunteering, community organising, running a food depot and food drops and providing support for vulnerable people. We have also for example maintained waste and recycling collections and achieved a 5 percentage point increase in recycling, equal to a 17% increase in recycling levels. Our digital team was able to respond at speed enabling staff to work effectively from home, to maintain democratic decision making and to create digital platforms for our residents and business to access support, advice and grant support. With regard to sustainability and economic development we have taken opportunities to move further and faster in many areas. For example we have been able to progress development at a number of key sites that will support future economic recovery and in many cases, provide much needed housing, including Lancing Police Station, Teville Gate, Union Place and New Monks Farm. We established our successful Sustainability Assembly digitally and have progressed key projects such as the purchase of New Salts Farm.  A key challenge during this period has been the resources available to both keep services running and respond to new service demands created by the pandemic. Our digital resilience in the area has made all the difference, enabling us to work differently and so release resources for these new areas of work. Our approach to working with communities has been very successful but has highlighted some gaps in this area. We are in response developing an asset based approach to our work going forward and seeking to support and strengthen key areas, including food resilience and our engagement with marginalised communities.

A Member asked the following question: Page 11 Paragraph 6.2 - we have provided strong leadership (jointly with others) - can you provide an update on your work with Greater Brighton Economic Board please?  Adur & Worthing Councils continue to be active partners of the Greater Brighton Economic Board and, currently, are chairing the Board through Cllr Dan Humphreys (WBC). The Board have had a number of successes in the last 12 months, despite the pandemic, this includes the approval of Energy and Water Plans for the region, the continued delivery of the digital / fibre infrastructure and new work strands around inward investment and establishing an innovation ecosystem. We  ...  view the full minutes text for item JOSC/72/20-21

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

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which had been sent to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 8. The report sets out background information on the Portfolios of the Adur and Worthing Executive Members for Health and Wellbeing to enable the

Committee to consider and question the Executive Members on issues within their portfolios and any other issues which the Executive Members are involved in connected with the work of the Councils and the Adur and worthing communities.

The Executive Members for Health and Wellbeing were present to answer questions

A Member asked the following question: Q1. What has it been like for you being Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing during the pandemic? The Executive Member explained that it had been an eye opening experience and was humbled by the response by staff to challenges posed by the pandemic.

A Member asked the following question: Over your last year in the role what would you consider the key strengths and weaknesses of our Councils’ health and wellbeing work? The Executive Member told the committee that there had been a strong community response to the pandemic and staff had worked well to engage and support this. More work needed to be done with regards to Social Inequality.

A Member asked the following question: What progress has been made implementing a “Chat Bench” scheme for Worthing to tackle Social Isolation? Members were told that the Councils continued to be supportive of the idea of friendly benches but wanted to make sure that they are placed where they have broad community support plus the community networks needed to support the befriending aspect of the bench. 

A Member asked the following question: Our current public health strategy (Start Well, Live Well, Age Well) expires this year. The current plan articulates 5 strong priority areas, including good mental wellbeing and emotional resilience (at all life stages). Can the member give us an early outline of the priorities of the next strategy and how tackling health inequalities and post-covid recovery may feature in this? Members were told that the focus would be on good housing, good work and good health and wellbeing. Prevention and early intervention was also important.

A Member asked the following question: With the consultation out on WSCC family centres and that consultation making it clear the centres of lancing, Fishersgate, Sompting and Worthings Wave are to close, how do you see this impacting your designated issues of children and young people and family intervention (when so many family liaison  meetings take place in these centres). Members were told that there were a number of buildings that those services and meetings could be delivered from

A Member asked the following question: What are your 3 priorities in your role? Members were told that these were opening up communities safely following the pandemic, reviewing the outcome of the pandemic on women and  ...  view the full minutes text for item JOSC/73/20-21

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

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which was circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 9. The report provided the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) with information on the work of the Adur & Worthing Safer Communities Partnership (A&WSCP) in order for JOSC to scrutinise the work of the A&WSCP and interview the Executive Members for Health and Wellbeing who represent the Councils on the Partnership. 

The Executive Members were present to answer questions from the Committee.

A Member asked what plans there were to tackle anti-social driving and was told that this was an issue for safer roads sussex although there were such methods as building good relationships with young people and travel plans to reduce traffic.

The Committee discussed street drinking and were told by the Executive Member that not all street drinkers were homeless, great work had been achieved by outreach workers in this regard. During the pandemic an opportunity had been taken to help some people address their drinking habits although this was a complex issue.

The Committee questioned the Exec Members further on bikeability, anti-social behaviour and the role of the Police and Joint Area Action Groups.

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

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which had been distributed to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 10. The report before members report provides the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) with background information on the West Sussex Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee (HASC) and a summary of the recent work undertaken by the HASC. This information will enable JOSC to question the Councils’ representatives on the HASC, Councillors Joss Loader (Adur) and Karen Harman (Worthing), about the work of the HASC and issues affecting Adur and Worthing.

A Member asked the following question: Have the HASC investigated the post code lottery where Adur & Worthing are excluded from the Commissioning arrangements for Admiral Nurses in West Sussex? Members were told that Admiral nurses covered all of Sussex and came from different areas

A Member asked the following question: Can an explanation be given of the " rationale for the continuation of  mixed sex wards ", bearing in mind that the Government made a pledge in 2011 to abolish all mixed sex N.H.S. hospital accommodation in England. Members were told that there was a difference between single sex wards and single sex dormitories.

To consider a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copy attached as item 11

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

The report before members  outlined progress in implementing the work contained in the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) Work Programme for 2020/21. The report also contains a draft JOSC Work Programme for 2021/22 for consideration.

The Committee discussed the report and programme. Suggestions were made for possible future reviews and it was agreed that these be considered in the new municipal year using the formal application procedure

Resolved:

·       that the progress in delivering the JOSC Work Programme for 2020/21 be noted;

·       that the JOSC Work Programme for 2021/22 be approved;

·       that the proposed JOSC Work Programme for 2021/22 be reported to the Council meetings in April 2021 for approval.