Agenda and minutes

Any substitute members should declare their substitution.

There were no substitute members.

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 as interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

Members and Officers may seek advice upon any relevant interest from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting.

Councillors Paul High and Noel Atkins declared an interest as elected Members of West Sussex County Council.

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 midday on Monday 18 January 2021.

Where meetings are held remotely, no question will be permitted from the public unless such notice has been given.

Questions should be submitted to Democratic Services –

democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

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

Susan Belton, Chair of the Worthing Society, had been due to attend the meeting however, due to connectivity issues, an Officer read out the following question on her behalf:-

On behalf of the Worthing Society Committee and members, I would like to ask the Council whether they can confirm a commitment to retaining the traditional fishermen's lockers situated at the promenade at East Beach.  The Society has received concerns from the local community that these lockers, which are part of Worthing's maritime history, and important to the local economy, may be removed.

The Head of Planning and Development responded as follows at the meeting:-

The Council’s Head of Environment was looking into opportunities to enter into Licence Agreements with the fishermen to retain the lockers on the seafront.  The Council had also received a request to consider adding the fishermen’s lockers to the List of Community Assets.  The Officer added that one of the issues was the shingle movement on the beach and the need for the Council to have regard to the need to ensure appropriate coastal defences and this may require at some point in the future for the lockers to be relocated. 

It was agreed with the Chair that a full response from the Officer be sent to Susan Belton following the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings of the Committee held on  Wednesday 16 December 2020, which have been emailed to Members.

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 16 December 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

A recorded vote was taken by the Democratic Services Officer which was as follows:

For: Councillors High, Atkins, Baker, Deen, Silman, Westover & Wills

Abstention: Councillor Martin McCabe

To consider any items the Chair of the meeting considers urgent.

There were no items raised under urgency provisions.

To consider the reports by the Director for the Economy, attached as Item 6.

An application was considered, see attached appendix.

To consider the report by the Director for the Economy, attached as Item 7.

The Head of Planning and Development introduced the report and advised Members that it was a new Government requirement for all Councils to provide an annual IFS. 

The Officer stated there had been some concern at a perceived lack of transparency regarding the s106 process and felt the Statement would assist the public in advising what money the Council had collected and what that money was spent on.  The Officer’s recommendation was for the Committee Members to note the publication of the IFS 2019-20 and the accompanying Developer Contributions Data on the Councils’ website.

Decision

The Planning Committee unanimously agreed to note the publication of the Worthing Infrastructure Funding Statement 2019-20 and the accompanying Developer Contributions Data on the Council’s website.

To consider the report by the Director for the Economy, attached as Item 8.

The Planning Policy Manager introduced the report and stated it was a requirement for local planning authorities to have a Local Development Scheme in place.  The Officer advised that, in summary, it was a three year project plan which set out the work programme for the Planning Policy team and the Local Development documents for advancement over that period. 

The Officer reminded Members that the pre-submission consultation for the draft Local Plan would begin on Tuesday 27 January 2021 for 8 weeks, and then Officers would be on the path to submit the Plan to the Inspector and the Secretary of State towards the end of April 2021.  The Officer advised they were hopeful the Local Plan could be adopted in early 2022. 

Following the presentation, one Member asked whether there was scope for the current Tall Buildings SPD to be reviewed.  The Officer advised the Tall Buildings SPD had been discussed with the Local Plan Working Group and there was the potential to update the document.  He advised that given the density pressures within Worthing, and the proposals coming forward, the Officer felt there would be a need for greater clarity and therefore would be worthy of review.  

Decision

The Planning Committee unanimously agreed to note the work programme as outlined in the report and as set out in the revised Local Development Scheme (Appendix A),  prior to its approval by the Executive Member for Regeneration.