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 pecuniary interest.

To approve the minutes of the Adur Joint Strategic Sub-Committee meeting held on 10 January 2022, copies of which have been previously circulated.

The minutes of the Adur Joint Strategic Sub-Committee meeting held on 10 January 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any questions from members of the public.

Questions should be submitted by noon on Thursday 2 March 2023 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 submitted.

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

Questions should be submitted by noon on Thursday 2 March 2023 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 urgent items raised

To consider a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copy 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 updated the Joint Strategic Sub Committee for Adur District Council with the latest expenditure and income projections for Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council for the financial year 2022/23, compared to the Revenue Budget approved by both Councils in February. Whilst the 'spend to date' would be the position as at the 30th September 2022, the forecast outturn position would reflect the latest information available to ensure an up-to-date forecast was presented.

Decision

The Joint Strategic Sub Committee for Adur District Council noted the report and projected outturn position for the Joint Committee and Adur District Council against the approved revenue budgets and proposed use of reserves (Appendix 2b).

Call-in

The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on Friday 17 March 2023.

To consider a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copy 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 updated the Adur Sub-Committee of the Joint Strategic Committee on the progress made on the delivery of the 2022/23 Capital Investment Programmes for Adur District Council. The programmes included schemes which supported the delivery of services by the Joint Strategic Committee.

Decision

The Adur Sub Committee of the Joint Strategic Committee

i) Noted the reprofiling of the Adur District Council capital schemes as advised in paragraphs 6.1 and Appendix 2.

ii) Approved the inclusion of the scheme to replace the vehicle compound and fuel storage at Mill Lane Cemetery in the 2023/24 Capital Investment Programme, funded from the budget provision to replace the fencing at Mill Lane Cemetery as detailed in paragraph 6.2.1.

iii) Approved the urgent Health and Safety works at Commerce Way, and the addition of the schemes to the 2023/24 Capital Investment Programme funded from the 2023/24 capital contingency budget as detailed in paragraph 6.2.2.

Call-in

The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on Friday 17 March 2023.

To consider a report from the Director for Communities, a copy is attached as item 8.

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 8.

The report before the Sub-Committee was to inform members that the Director of Communities had undertaken a diagnostic review of the Council’s housing stock (Adur Homes) and its compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing’s standards. A number of gaps in compliance had been identified and the council has as a result referred itself to the Regulator.

The report identified the areas that required improvement and set out the process Adur Council would undertake, in partnership with the Regulator, to improve performance and meet the required standards.

To support the required changes there were proposed changes to the Adur Homes Management Board membership, a new set of interim policies and procedures for Adur Homes for comment and agreement and details concerning the development of an improvement plan.

Members’ approval was sought to extend three housing strategies / policies and to set out a roadmap to renewing those strategies as part of the above improvement plans during 2023/24, including the:

? Housing Strategy: Enabling communities to thrive in their own home” 2020-2023;

? Temporary Accommodation Placement and Procurement Policy, and

? Community Homelessness Strategy 2017-2022

Members discussed the report before them and welcomed the self referral as an important step to drive forward improvements. Members were keen to stress that consultation with tenants and leaseholders should be an important part of plans moving forward.

Decision

The Adur Sub Committee of the Joint Strategic Committee

i) Noted areas of non compliance with social housing standards and endorse the decision to refer Adur Homes to the Housing Regulator.

ii) Approved the time scales for bringing an improvement plan to the Adur Joint Strategic Committee Sub-Committee and requires further updates on progress from the Director for Communities.

iii) Approved the new and revised policies and procedures for Adur Homes attached in Appendix 1 and to delegate authority to the Director for Communities to make minor amendments to these policies and procedures as required, in consultation with the Adur Homes Management Board, tenants and leaseholders.

iv) Approved changes to the Adur Homes Management Board membership and require the Board to provide progress updates to the Joint Audit and Governance Committee on a quarterly basis.

v) Updated the Joint Audit and Governance Committee on the decision to refer Adur Homes to the Housing Regulator and recommend to the Committee the proposed changes to the Housing Board and to consider the revised interim policies and procedures.

vi) In relation to Adur Housing Strategy Roadmap, the Adur Sub Committee of the Joint Strategic Committee:

? Agreed to extend the following strategies/policies until the end of March 2024:

? Housing Strategy: Enabling communities to thrive in their own home” 2020-2023 to March 2024;

? Temporary Accommodation Placement and Procurement Policy; and

? Community Homelessness Strategy 2017-2022

vii) Noted and agreed to the roadmap for the development of  ...  view the full minutes text for item JSS-C(A)/48/22-23

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 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 9.

The report before Members updated the Sub-Committee on progress with Adur Council’s New Salts Farm and Pad Farm nature restoration projects on the Adur River.

Members were informed of the successful award of two year project development funding (£500k) from the DEFRA Landscape Scale Recovery Pilot Programme for the wider Adur River, in partnership with the Knepp Wildland Foundation and other landowners, becoming one of the 22 flagship projects in the UK.

The Sub-Committee was provided with progress with Sussex Bay, the vision for blue nature restoration across Sussex rivers, coast and sea being incubated by Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils and recommended steps to be taken in 2023, subject to external funding.

An overview was given of the Solent & Sussex Bay Research Partnership (4 local universities) that Sussex Bay has facilitated, and its success in securing £173k funding from the Natural Environment Research Council. To underpin the commitment of Adur District Council to drive the recovery of nature in the area, it was proposed that its Climate Emergency Declaration be extended to also declare an Ecological Emergency

Members lauded the work undertaken by the Councils and noted the local, national and international recognition for that work.

Decision

The Adur Sub Committee of the Joint Strategic Committee

i) Noted the contents of the report and the progress being made.

ii) Agreed to extend the Council’s existing climate Declaration to include the Ecological Emergency.

Call-in

The call-in deadline for the decision will be 5.00pm on Friday 17 March 2023.

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

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 10.

The purpose of this report before the Committee was to provide members of the Joint Strategic Committee Sub-Committee with an opportunity to respond to the A27 Worthing and Lancing improvements scheme Options consultation currently being undertaken by National Highways.

Members discussed the report and expressed disappointment at the lack of investment or improvement that was proposed as part of the scheme. It was opined that the money would be better spent on active travel options particularly as proposed improvements hinted at walking and cycling infrastructure improvements but provided no funding for this. Support was given to the proposal to convert Upper Brighton Road into a one-way road.

Members agreed to recommend that the Director for the Economy be delegated to draft an additional recommendation in relation to walking and cycling infrastructure in consultation with the Leader

Decision

The Adur Sub Committee of the Joint Strategic Committee authorised the Council’s response to National Highways consultation on the A27 Worthing and Lancing improvements scheme Options consultation in the following terms:

i) That National Highways stated aim of making sure potential future improvements to transport in the Worthing and Lancing area can still happen is welcomed;

ii) That the limited scope of the project and reduction in the finances available to deliver it, even compared with the RIS1 scheme, mean that Consultation Options do not reflect the strategic ambition set out on Transport for the South East’s Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) and in particular, the SIP’s emphasis on integrating transport, digital and energy networks, together with a high-quality, reliable, safe, and accessible transport network;

iii) That the absence of any proposed improvements to the Grinstead Lane roundabout is a significant concern given the level of congestion experienced by those using this junction;

iv) That the proposal to convert Upper Brighton Road into a one-way road eastbound and stop vehicles using this road as a ‘rat-running’ opportunity is welcome;

v) That the proposals for improving the Busticle Lane Junction, including those improve access across the A27 for walkers and cyclists are welcome; but there is a significant concern that these improvements are recorded in the consultation as offering poor value for money and therefore unlikely to be implemented;

vi) That the principal benefits of the scheme appear to be reduced travel times between the key junctions on the A27 in Worthing; and that whilst significant in terms of the Department for Transport’s Benefit Cost Ratio analysis, these represent only a modest improvement and would require a year-long construction period;

vii) That it is disappointing that only slight improvements are recorded for air quality and noise and the accident level impact is recorded as only neutral.

viii) That the Director for the Economy be delegated to draft an additional recommendation in relation to walking and cycling  ...  view the full minutes text for item JSS-C(A)/50/22-23