Agenda item

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as 7A(i), 7B(i) to (v). Recommendation 7C(i) is to follow.

 

            Full reports are available on the website as listed below:

 

 

 

	Executive / Committee	Date	Item
A	Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee	26 November 2020	i) JOSC Work Programme
B	Joint Strategic Committee	1 December 2020	i) Towards a sustainable financial position - Budget update    ii) Investing in our places - Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2023/24   iii) Council Tax Support Schemes for 2021/22   iv) WorkspaceAW - Designing a new model of working following Covid 19   v) Worthing Local Plan
C	Joint Governance Sub-Committee	10 December 2020	i) Appointment of Independent Persons for Standards

 

Council had, before it, recommendations from the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Joint Strategic Committee and Joint Governance Sub-Committee.

 

Extract of these minutes had been circulated as items 7A(i), 7B(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) and 7C(i)

 

Item 7A(i)        Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 26 November 2020

 

JOSC Work Programme

 

The Chairman of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented the recommendation from the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 November 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Richard Nowak.

 

On a vote: For 22, Against 1, Abstentions 11

 

Resolved

 

That the Council

 

i)          noted the progress in implementing the 2020/21 JOSC Work Programme;  and

 

ii)         noted the changes made to the JOSC Work Programme since it was agreed by the Councils in July 2020.

 

 

Item 7B(i)        Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

Towards a sustainable financial position - Budget update

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Louise Murphy.

 

On a vote: For 27 , Against 0, Abstentions 8

 

Resolved

 

That the Council

 

i)               noted the current 5 year forecasts;

 

ii)              noted the committed growth items as set out in appendix 2;

 

iii)             approved the proposed savings as set out in appendix 3;

 

iv)             approved the use of capital resources to fund savings proposals as set out in the capital flexibilities schedule in Appendix 4.

 

 

 

 

Item 7B(ii)       Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

Investing in our places - Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2023/24

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Kevin Jenkins.

 

On a vote: For 24 , Against 3, Abstentions 8

 

Resolved

 

That the Council

 

a)         considered the General Fund Capital Investment Programmes for 2022/23 and 2023/24 and confirmed the schemes to be included as detailed in Appendix 2, 3 and 4;

 

b)         approved the changes to the General Fund Capital Investment Programme for 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix 2 and 3;

 

c)         recommended the full programme detailed at Appendices 5 and 6 for approval by the respective Councils on the 17th December 2020 (Adur) and 15th December 2020 (Worthing).

 

d)         noted the amendments and additions to the reserve lists as detailed in Appendices 7 and 8;

 

 

Item 7B(iii)      Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

Council Tax Support Schemes for 2021/22

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Elizabeth Sparkes.

 

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Maragret Howard, seconded by Councillor Bob Smytherman but not supported.

 

Following debate on the substantive motion, a vote was taken:

For 21 , Against 12, Abstentions 2

 

Resolved

 

That Worthing Borough Council approved the Council Tax Support scheme in respect of working age customers for 2021/22

 

i.                to be based upon the scheme for 2020/21 with the £5.00 weekly restriction retained; and

ii.              the discretionary budget to support those in severe financial difficulties should be retained; and

iii.             that no other changes should be made beyond necessary technical amendments required to keep the scheme consistent with the national rules in respect of Housing Benefit.

 

 

Item 7B(iv)      Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

WorkspaceAW - Designing a new model of working following Covid 19

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Ed Crouch.

 

Following discussion on the item the proposals were unanimously supported.

 

Resolved

 

That Worthing Borough Council

 

a)     noted the feasibility work undertaken to date, which concluded that there were significant opportunities to reduce the Council's office footprint, realise financial savings whilst delivering Good Services and creating an effective flexible working environment;

 

 

b)     noted the expected net annual savings of approximately £179,740;

 

 

c)     noted that project budget allocations were indicative at this stage, with 20% optimism bias and subject to detailed cost analysis and procurement;

 

 

d)     approved a capital budget of £2,335,720, on an invest to save basis, as set out in section 7.5 of the report;

 

 

e)     agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Members for Resources to review the final business case and give authority to proceed;

 

f)      approved the use of capital receipts to fund the revenue costs associated with the project utilising the capital flexibilities as set out in paragraph 7.4 of the report.

 

 

Item 7B(v)       Joint Strategic Committee - 1 December 2020

 

Worthing Local Plan

 

The Leader presented and proposed the recommendation from the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 1 December 2020.

 

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Kevin Jenkins.

 

On a vote:

For 31 , Against 3, Abstentions 0

 

Resolved

 

That Worthing Borough Council

 

i)          considered the officer’s report, comments made by the Planning Committee (11/11/20), the key changes made to the Local Plan (Appendix 1) and the Proposed Submission Worthing Local Plan (Appendix 2).

 

ii)         was satisfied that the preparation of the Worthing Local Plan had complied with the relevant regulatory requirements.  As such, the Council approved the Regulation 19 Pre-Submission Local Plan for publication in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.  Representations would be invited on the soundness and legal compliance of the plan.

 

iii)        delegated authority to the Head of Planning & Development in consultation with the Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Regeneration, to make minor changes to the plan (if necessary), prior to the formal publication of the Local Plan for consultation.  These would be limited to typographical, formatting, statistical updates and other minor amendments. Any such changes would be recorded in a schedule and published for transparency.

 

iv)        delegated authority to the Head of Planning & Development in consultation with the Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Regeneration, to submit the Local Plan to the Secretary of State for independent Examination under section 20(7C) of the Planning Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) together with the submission documents prescribed by Regulation 22 of the 2012 Regulations, following the conclusion of the Regulation 19 publication and a review of the representations received.

 

v)              authorised the Head of Planning & Development in consultation with the Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Regeneration, to submit a schedule of proposed minor modifications (where it was necessary to correct any errors and aid clarity) and any proposed main modifications to the submitted Local Plan and associated documents to address any issues relating to soundness and legal compliance.

 

vi)        authorised the Head of Planning & Development in consultation with the Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Regeneration, to make any main and additional modifications as part of the examination process and undertaking consultation that may be necessary on any consequential changes to the Submission version of the Local Plan (and associated documents) so that a post-Examination Adoption version could be finalised in advance of taking the Local Plan back to Full Council for approval to be adopted.

 

 

Item 7C(i)        Joint Governance Sub-Committee - 10 December 2020

 

Appointment of Independent Persons for Standards

 

The Council considered the recommendation from the Joint Governance Sub-Committee meeting held on 10 December 2020.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Steve Wills and seconded by Cllr Daniel Humphreys.

 

A Member expressed their support for the proposals and their disappointment that the Council only had 1 Independent Person for Standards prior to these proposed appointments. From a public perspective point of view, it was important to have more than 1 Independent Person and a decent pool of individuals to assist with this work.

 

Cllr Cooper wished to place on record her agreement with the points raised.

 

On a vote: For 33 , Against 0, Abstentions 1

 

Resolved

 

That the Council approved

 

1)     the appointment of two Independent Persons to act on behalf of both authorities, namely, John Bateman and Lindsay Viljoen;

 

2)     that the Independent Persons be appointed for a term of four years from the 1st January 2021, subject to the Full Councils being able to deselect an Independent Person on reasonable grounds;

 

3)     recommended to the Member Officer Working Group that the Joint Governance Committee hold a formal meeting with the Independent Persons on at least an annual basis to discuss their experience, observations, recommendations and feedback to the Committee from their roles.