Agenda and draft minutes

Any substitute members should declare their substitution.

In the absence of the Chair, Councillor Andy Whight, Councillor Helen Abrahams chaired the meeting.

Councillor Rosey Whorlow substituted for Councillor Andy Whight.

Councillor Nigel Morgan substituted for Councillor Noel Atkins.

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.

Cllr Nowak declared he was a member of the Worthing Society who had commented on the planning application being heard tonight but he was not predetermined on the matter.

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 Friday 6 December 2024.

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 last for a maximum of 30 minutes)

There was one pre submitted question received from the public.

Susan Belton, Chair of the Worthing Society asked -

My question refers to the Beach Project and the installation of the columns within the town centre for the Mobile Phone Network. I have received representations from the Society's Committee and members that the white cells attached to the columns which act as communication masts are very unsightly.

Can the Council please advise whether the cells on these masts can be painted black so that they match the columns and are less obtrusive?

This would be less harmful to the 'setting' of the Conservation Areas in which the columns are located.

The Interim Head of Planning and Development replied -

This is a matter that had already come to the attention of Officers before the cells were installed on the poles and Officers have requested that the two poles outside Heene Terrace and St Pauls in particular were to be painted black or camouflaged. The response from the County Council was that the company Dense Air were willing to investigate this possibility but it needed to be tested at their testing facility first, to ensure that the signal would not be affected. That was approximately a month to six weeks ago. I have chased this up this afternoon and I understand that testing is still taking place and so I will continue to pursue this with them.

Susan Belton asked a supplementary question -

Are there any further phases planned for the Beach Project in other parts of the town or within conservation areas?

The Interim Head of Planning and Development replied -

Previously there were further phases planned and the next phase should have begun by now but it hasn’t. I understand that we may hear more at the end of the financial year in March 2025. I am still committed to consulting the Worthing Society if and when further phases come forward.

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

Questions should be submitted by midday on Friday 6 December 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 approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on  Wednesday 16 October 2024, which have been emailed to Members.

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 16 October 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chair.

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 Assistant Director for Regenerative Development, attached as Item 7.

The applications were determined as set out in the attached appendix.