Agenda item

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

The Committee had before it a report attached as item 7,  a copy of which had been circulated to all Members, a copy of which is attached to a signed copy of these minutes. The report sets out background information on the Portfolios of the Adur and Worthing Leaders to enable the Committee to consider and question the

Leaders on issues within their portfolios and any high-level strategic issues which the Leaders are involved in connected with the work of the Councils and the Adur and Worthing communities. This interview also provides the Committee with the opportunity to discuss with the Leaders how the Councils have been responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Leaders gave a brief introduction on their work to the Committee.

A Member asked the following question: Whilst Worthing Council did a great job in securing emergency accommodation for the homeless and rough sleepers at very short notice at the start of lockdown, and again when the local hotels were unable to continue this, the limited support and monitoring has lead to a huge increase in Anti-Social behaviour, in particular in some residential areas. This has resulted in many residents and communities suffering damage to their property and feeling threatened. What measures have been put in place to support these people going forward to avoid further ASB occurring? The Leader stated that he was sorry that some people were experiencing difficulties. He told the committee that all anti social behaviour was not caused by homeless people and all homeless people did not cause anti-social behaviour. The Councils were working with the police to resolve individual issues as they were the body responsible for enforcement. In terms of moving forward the Councils were building up a workforce and the number of places for emergency accommodation.

A Member asked the following question: Platforms for our places sets out the Councils’ vision for our town, and has been the guide book for a number of years now, in light of the post covid-19 world we find ourselves facing,  how has this vision for our area been adapted, specifically to Platform 1: Prosperous Places, Platform 2: Thriving People and Communities, Platform 3: Tackling Climate Change and Supporting our Natural Environment. Has consideration been given to allowing greater personal spacing for people using retail and social spaces by providing extended outdoor opportunities to trade, reducing traditional motor traffic in our town centres, or encouragement given to the use of electric powered shuttle busses to and from off centre transport hubs? The Leader from Worthing explained that there were a number of linked processes including the cycling and walking action groups and the creation. To some areas formally allocated to vehicles there had been accelerated temporary measures to close these areas off for hospitality businesses. The Councils had long term ambitions with regards to buses including the moving of the depot to a more appropriate location and the introduction of more environmentally friendly vehicles.

A Member asked the following question: The Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance has indicated that a reasonable worst case scenario for a second Covid-19 outbreak this Winter would be 120,000 deaths which would no doubt also be accompanied by a second significant lock-down. Although the Council has performed magnificently to get through the first outbreak despite staffing and financial pressures, given the Leaders close knowledge of the situation, what operational pressure points do the Leaders feel may emerge from a second more significant and perhaps longer outbreak and what plans do they feel should be put in place now to prepare for such an eventuality? Members were told of work with the Sussex resilience forum and the partnership with West Sussex County Council in dealing with the pandemic. It was reported that should there be a ‘second wave’ the same situation would exist along with lessons learned from the first lockdown.

A Member asked the following question: The ‘And Then’ document contains a number of strong strategic place-based activities to think through the next phase of recovery from Covid for the town. I was interested in moves for each platform in the event of a second wave. Cases of Covid 19 are relatively low at the moment, but the BMJ among others have warned that the country must now begin intended preparations for a second wave of coronavirus. Can the leader speak a little about what these strategic moves would look like? The Worthing Leader told the Committee that the Councils’ digital work had allowed the Council to be adaptive such as mass working from home and carry on its democratic functions. There had been an increased need for temporary accommodation which the council had been able to fulfill safely and would be able to do so in the future. Digital advancements had meant that large participatory democeratic events such as the citizen’s assembly would carry on in a remote setting.

A Member asked the following question:   ‘And Then’ points to a repurposing of existing space to provide flexible space for start-ups, small businesses, those needing move on space. In light of some challenges coming our way in continued threat from and fall out from Covid, not least in terms of unemployment, housing and very significant associated issues of wellbeing, can you give a sense of any change in emphasis on how our assets will used or developed to address community health and wellbeing  specifically? We are working with partners to review not only the use of our own assets but also privately owned spaces to provide start up, move on and community space.  Each space provides its own opportunities as well as limitations, therefore how the space is used and the type of tenant (even on a temporary basis) is on a case by case basis.  Current emphasis is about increasing these types of spaces, working with organisations like Community Works to identify organisations that can add both an economic activity (eg independent retail) whilst promoting a community offer/service (eg volunteering or an information point/raise awareness of a health/wellbeing topic.

A Member asked the following question: As Leader what will you do to ensure smoother communications between Adur and WSCC should a second pandemic spike occur and ensure we are at the table in major decision making? Members were told that the Councils were developing this work with WSCC’s Public Health Team. Data is being looked at on a daily basis about the number of cases.  In the case of an outbreak, our staff will be notified and asked to support in the event of an outbreak.  The approach to this was set out in the new WSCC Local Outbreak Management Plan. From a Leadership point of view members were told that bi-weekly West Sussex Leaders meetings were held where challenges could be faced and that the working relationship had functioned well.

A Member asked the following question: I would like to know the top 3 objectives for our joint working with Greater Brighton Economic Board for this budget year and any challenges you might forsee? Members were told that the investment in public broadband and wifi infrastructure, a green focused recovery and the challenge of mass unemployment, particularly around the Gatwick area.

A Member asked the following question: Worthing’s Mutual Aid networks are a real testament to the communities and neighbourhoods in the town.  And Then talks about new approaches to participative and deliberative democracy and how we strengthen democracy across our places. Can you give us a sense of what these look like and how we build on these community connections going forward? Members were told that officers were doing what they could to keep relationships with these groups going.

A Member asked the following question:  I understand that, in light of Covid, there will be an expediting of the next phase of the excellent Opening Doors scheme. Can you give us some concrete details on what this will look like? Members were told that there would be a bigger promotion package and a bigger human resource attributed to the programme.

The Leaders were also asked about Impulse Leisure and the location of test and trace facilities.

A Member of the Committee asked if there could be more detail in future about the Greater Brighton Economic Board. The Worthing Leader agreed that this could be provided in some form in the future.

Resolved: that the Leaders’ interviews be noted