Agenda item

To consider a report by the Directorfor Digital, sustainanbility and Resources, copy attached as item 7

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which had been sent to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 7.The Chief Executive introduced the report and gave the committee information relating to the progress of Platforms for our Places.

A Member asked the following question: You mention the resilience of public systems on page 10 (Paragraph 5.2). In what ways have the extraordinary nature of the last 12 months highlighted areas of strong and weak resilience in our operational delivery to residents? The Chief Executive told members that Examples of strong resilience during this period include our speedy and responsive work with individuals and communities where we have coordinated and supported volunteering, community organising, running a food depot and food drops and providing support for vulnerable people. We have also for example maintained waste and recycling collections and achieved a 5 percentage point increase in recycling, equal to a 17% increase in recycling levels. Our digital team was able to respond at speed enabling staff to work effectively from home, to maintain democratic decision making and to create digital platforms for our residents and business to access support, advice and grant support. With regard to sustainability and economic development we have taken opportunities to move further and faster in many areas. For example we have been able to progress development at a number of key sites that will support future economic recovery and in many cases, provide much needed housing, including Lancing Police Station, Teville Gate, Union Place and New Monks Farm. We established our successful Sustainability Assembly digitally and have progressed key projects such as the purchase of New Salts Farm.  A key challenge during this period has been the resources available to both keep services running and respond to new service demands created by the pandemic. Our digital resilience in the area has made all the difference, enabling us to work differently and so release resources for these new areas of work. Our approach to working with communities has been very successful but has highlighted some gaps in this area. We are in response developing an asset based approach to our work going forward and seeking to support and strengthen key areas, including food resilience and our engagement with marginalised communities.

A Member asked the following question: Page 11 Paragraph 6.2 - we have provided strong leadership (jointly with others) - can you provide an update on your work with Greater Brighton Economic Board please?  Adur & Worthing Councils continue to be active partners of the Greater Brighton Economic Board and, currently, are chairing the Board through Cllr Dan Humphreys (WBC). The Board have had a number of successes in the last 12 months, despite the pandemic, this includes the approval of Energy and Water Plans for the region, the continued delivery of the digital / fibre infrastructure and new work strands around inward investment and establishing an innovation ecosystem. We have also actively worked with Greater Brighton in the creation of 10 city region pledges to help tackle the climate change crisis. In using this combined authority, lobbying power, expertise and knowledge Adur and Worthing, through Greater Brighton, is progressing work on a range of environmental issues chiefly concerning water and energy conservation.  Finally, the Board has also actively engaged with the Coast to Capital LEP in terms of positioning the region for future investment. All elements will directly contribute to Adur and Worthing.

A Member asked the following question: What incentives are there to encourage landlords to sell or develop commercial properties that have empty floors above them and convert the space to much needed housing. Would the Council consider purchasing them to undertake the conversion of the upper floors to housing? Members were told that opportunities to develop housing provision above commercial premises is part of Adur and Worthing’s approach to increasing housing supply. The Council has for example had active discussions with two landlords with commercial properties that have empty floors above them for the purpose of creating more affordable residential homes (Beals and Poundland sites). The location and suitability of the property is important especially when seeking to develop such properties for residential accommodation. The option exists to let these properties as permanent homes through the Opening Doors Scheme or use them as temporary accommodation. The Council has bought sites on Rowlands Road, a former care home and Downsview, a former pub in West Worthing and will consider other sites if they are suitable.

A Member asked the following question: Paragraph 7.6 on page 14 notes that ‘the Council has taken the opportunity to show leadership and drive regeneration on the site forward (about Teville Gate) after ‘development has been stalled for decades’. Why has this decision been taken now and what number of residents on our waiting list are likely to benefit? Several years ago the Council went through a competitive process to secure funding from Coast to Capital LEP to make the site ‘development ready’.  You will recall that this involved a considerable investment to secure the demolition of the former car park to prompt the landowner to formalise plans for development.  Planning permission was secured last year, but when the landowner indicated they may not be able to bring these to fruition, the Council stepped in to form a joint venture with a registered partner able to deliver affordable homes.  This imaginative approach involves the Council underwriting an element of risk on the sale of market homes to ensure that even more affordable homes are provided, including a proportion for residents on our waiting lists.  The scheme itself and the exact number of new homes and the mix of tenures will be prepared over the coming months.

A Member asked the following question: Page 13 Prosperous places: Paragraph 7.2 - you state you are supporting micro start ups, can you give examples where in Adur please? The Small Business Growth Grant has been running for the last 12 months and the Council have supported over 30 businesses to start and grow. Further to this, the Council have supported the recruitment of 8 new apprentices in Adur. Examples included ‘The Distillery’, ‘Forgotten Cuts’ and ‘Cloth Control’.

A Member asked the following question: Paragragh7.3 - Page 13 - The Kickstart scheme offers valuable work experience to young people yet many smaller businesses cannot offer this opportunity because they do not fit the criteria. Are there any plans to expand the Kickstart programme so smaller businesses can offer the same opportunity to our young people? Members were told that kickstart is indeed invaluable for those under 25 years old at risk of long term unemployment.  At the start of the scheme, a business needed to be creating more than 29 placements to apply for access for this funding (or go through a ‘gateway’ employer) however, this requirement has now been removed so now any business can submit an application directly to DWP.  There are several gateway organisations with sufficient capacity to support businesses if they do not wish to apply by themselves - these include Chichester College and the Sussex Chamber of Commerce. Adur & Worthing Councils are creating 45 initial kickstart placements - our first placement will be starting on 29 March 2021. We know that a thorough support plan and robust training is required for these posts to result in the young people moving onto further employment, training or education after their time with us and so are focusing on the support required for these placements.  If in time we have the capacity to provide the level of support required to our own placements and the wider business community, we will open up as a gateway organisation to other organisations in Adur and Worthing. However, given that there are other gateway organisations operating well in our area, we are not expanding our programme at this moment in time.

A Member asked the following question: In Paragraph 7.26, page 19 ‘Time for Worthing’ and ‘Find your balance’ are mentioned as ways to draw inward investment. How are these schemes likely to draw investment in, how will they be evaluated and what impact are they estimated to have on developing Worthing Town Centre? Time for Worthing (T4W) has been established to accommodate and showcase opportunities around Invest, Discover and Live. The Time for Worthing Management Group, supported by the Council and using independent advice on domestic and foreign investment approaches has recently finalised an Inward Investment Report (in February 2021) that provides a framework for investment and guides the Council in terms of creating sector clusters, thus strengthening Worthing’s economy, including the town centre.  The Time for Worthing website will be updated in the Spring to reflect this approach to inward investment.  Value propositions will be developed around priority sector clusters, notably Creative and Med Tech Industries, in readiness to actively move into the inward investment market.The Find Your Balance campaign looked to capitalise on the growing trend of businesses / people relocating out of the cities (notably London) as a result of the pandemic and new ways of remote working. Worthing needs to be positioned in this conversation, whilst the town has been referenced in a number of regional and national articles about this ‘quality of life’ experience, notably the Guardian in summer 2020. A number of leads have already been established as a result of the campaign.

A Member asked the following question: Pages 13 - 14 Paragraphs 7.4-7.7 - Regeneration is so Worthing focused, Paragraph 7.8 notes housing only within Adur. The retailers in Adur are crying out for a vision for our town centres, when will Adur benefit from the advice of LCR? We are pursuing a regeneration agenda with a focus on our places in both Adur & Worthing and this is well illustrated in our quarterly magazine Building AW.  The vibrancy of the retail offer in Southwick illustrates the potential out there among our local retailers and the support from residents to a strong offer.  We will be working closely with retailers in Lancing to improve North Road and strengthen the connections with the Business Park.  Our ‘And Then’ commitments highlight the changing nature of our own and village centres and signal the opportunity we have to acquire land and buildings to assist.  You will be aware that the purchase of the former Lancing Police station has now been completed and we look forward to bringing a development forward there to contribute to the regeneration of Lancing.

A Member asked the following question:. What plans are in place should the developers not come forward to help develop land in areas of Worthing? Members were told that the Council has developed the capability to work with a range of partners to ensure that appropriate development will come forward.  Working in partnership with government agencies to secure public investment where necessary will continue to be helpful as has proven to be the case with Teville Gate and Union Place.  Equally important will be the need to send a clear message to private sectors investors about the quality of our places and the importance we attach to stewarding them well.  This will help not just in securing investment in new homes, but also in growing the employment opportunities that support our economic well being.

The Chief Executive was questioned further on Electric Charging Points and Adur Homes