Agenda item

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital and Resources, a copy of which had been circulated to all Members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 8. 

The report set out background information on the Portfolios of the Adur and Worthing Leaders. The information in the report sought to enable the Committee to consider and question the Leaders on issues within their portfolios, as well as, high level strategic issues which the Leaders are involved in which was connected with the work of the Councils and the Adur and Worthing communities.

A Member asked the following question: Noting the reference to reputation management/public consultation in paragraph 4.1, do the Leaders believe the recent changes in waste collection have been a triumph in this respect? Members were told that it was believed that the best available choice was made in respect of the waste collection. There was no evidence to suggest that the decision had any reputation management implications. 

A Member asked the following question: The recent LGA review report opened by describing the changing face of Worthing's demography - e.g. younger profile of people moving in from other areas. How do the Leaders feel that W&A Councils are responding to this changing situation as a high level strategic issue? The Worthing Leader stated that claims about changing demography had been exaggerated to some extent and that there was an aging population. Steps had been taken in conjunction with West Sussex County Council to increase capacity in schools by supporting the creation of a new school and building extra capacity in existing schools. Members were also told of the improvement of existing and building of new leisure facilities  and the improvements to the Borough’s play areas.

A Member asked the following question: Media/Comms & Public consultation - Many of our constituents are concerned with a lack of transparency & democracy issues (for me personally it is the number one concern too) with regard to council engagement with public. Perceiving consultations as a “tick in the box exercise, lack of feedback on consultation comments a dismissive nature towards their concerns when attending committee meetings”. A case in point is the complete lack of public consultation regarding a wider discussion of the use of taxpayer owned public land under the stewardship of Adur District Council. Ie a discussion on what locals would like to see - before it becomes a prescribed developer-led planning application. What work will you do to ensure the public’s concerns are addressed and are allowed to become real stakeholders in these projects? And what will you do to ensure consultations on said public land projects are more prominent on the website, addressed through council and councillor communications and a provision of suitable plan viewings and discussions at a time and date suited for all demographics? Members were told that there had been extensive engagement during the local plan process and that major development within the District were subject to a consultation process. Members were reminded that JOSC had recently completed a review of consultation which the JSC had considered. Members were given a further update in relation to a specific site mentioned.

A Member asked the following question: What has happened as a result of the LGA review? It raised a number of high level strategic issues for both Councils, many of which have been discarded. The Committee was told that the Finance review conducted by the Local Government Association had been examined the Executive Members and by the Joint Governance Committee. Some of the findings of the review were disagreed with. 

A Member asked the following question: Energy management and sustainability – Whilst we recognise the great work to rollout EV charge points and the solar panel roofs on Shoreham Community Centre. Some opportunities have not been captured ie: Sussex Yacht Club & Ham Road Focus Building a large funding of which is coming from Coast to Capital (national tax payer funding due to increase local jobs and economic growth), as we move forward to the ex Civic Centre site and components of Pond Road redevelopment – can we include Solar PV here or Combined Heat and Power – services paid to local companies and in some cases any excess into the national grid income generating for the Council? Members were told that The Adur Local Plan required all new non-domestic floorspace must achieve a minimum BREEAM standard of ‘very good’.  BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) was an accredited, independent method of assessing the environmental performance of non-domestic development. Among the areas assessed in the energy use and efficiency of a building. The commercial elements of the approved Free Wharf scheme, as well as other key developments in the District. Including the redevelopment of the site at Pond Road and the former Adur Civic site. The plan would also require a minimum of 10% of energy requirements to be met through onsite renewable energy generation, such as solar. Regarding new Focus House on the former Adur Civic Centre car part site;  Solar photovoltaic panels had been installed on Focus House. The roof mounted photovoltaic array is a 19.25 Kilo watt peak PV system consisting of 70 Modules. In addition,heating and cooling would  be supplied by Air Source Heat Pumps, these are considered a low or zero carbon technology. It would not be practical to install Combined Heat & Power (CHP) when air source heat pumps are proposed as they are both heat generating technologies. Both were low carbon. Focus House has also targeted a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating as required by Adur LP. Finally Sussex Yacht Club: The proposed new clubhouse will target a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’. Energy consumption would be reduced through passive design, natural daylighting and ventilation and fabric efficiency measures. The building would have a high demand for hot water. Solar thermal panels will preheat water for sanitary equipment and underfloor heating.

Members questioned the Leaders further on the status of devolution and were given updates on the status of the Greater Brighton economic board and the wider political context of devolution.