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 9. 

The report before Members with an overview of progress on the delivery of the commitments set out in ‘Platforms for our Places’ over the period July to December 2018. The Chief Executive, Leaders and relevant Executive Members were present to answer questions at the meeting. The Chief Executive gave Members a precis of progress to date. 

A Member asked the following question: Resources: Why not simply say in these paragraphs that we have been starved of resources from Central Government for too long in this period of austerity? The Worthing Leader told Members that he didn’t think the preposition of the question was true. 

A Member asked the following question: Will the investment in our car parks be completed ahead of the summer tourist season? The committee was told that essential maintenance works to the Grafton Multi Storey Car Park are due for completion at the end of May 2019. Further investment in Buckingham Road MSCP was planned towards the end of the 2019/20 financial year and Officers were working on the technical brief for this project. Investment in the High Street MSCP was planned for the following financial year, 2020/21. All works would be staged to ensure adequate provision is maintained during any period of works.

A Member asked the following question: What is the total number of priorities in Platforms for our Places? Are they all of equal priority? Members were told that there were 38 commitments and 146 actions. Priorities were avoided so some actions were not downgraded at the expense of others

A Member asked the following question: Do you agree that this approach to working with the County Council would appear to have failed completely, given the cuts to services and long term under investment in Worthing and Adur? Members were told that the relationship had not failed and sited successful projects such as ultrafast broadband, growth deals and the Worthing Public Realm the relationship with West Sussex County Council added value to the work of the Councils. 

A Member asked the following question: How confident are we that the current number of rough sleepers identified in the recent count is accurate and robust?  Members were told that there was confidence that the number recorded on the night the count was taken was accurate. 

A Member asked the following question: As housing is so important, what can be done to address the target in the Local Plan which falls far short of the actual needs target? Members were told that in relation to worthing work was ongoing with the local plan to look to maximise development potential and ensure that the Council could  deliver as much housing as possible. However, given its geographical location it was clear that the Borough had insufficient land. This meant that there was a need to work with neighbouring authorities although this brought its own challenges. The authorities were working with registered providers and private sector landlords to meet the needs of those in greatest need. Information was also given. A new scheme is currently being piloted to increase the number of private rented sector accommodation.

A Member asked the following question: With regard to town centre progress described here, how is this reflective of areas such as the Montague Centre or the Stagecoach site? Members were told that the Council was working with new River Retail on the Montague Centre.  There had been steps to revitalise the environs outside of the stagecoach area. Work was ongoing concerning options for possible future Stagecoach sites. 

A Member asked the following question: How confident can we be that the £2.17m budget for disabled facilities Grants is meeting the needs of those requiring adaptations to their homes? Members were told that The £2.17m figure for the budget for disabled adaptations was slightly misleading in that it incorporated the annual Better Care Fund (BCF) from West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and the carry-forward of uncommitted funds from previous years as agreed with WSCC. All the needs identified to the council could be met this year and the Councils were encouraged that, albeit based on predictions, the Councils would have sufficient funding to meet the needs of those persons requiring adaptations. 

A Member asked the following question:  It is admitted in Paragraph 4.7.1 that every year is going to get more difficult. How are you communicating this to the people of Worthing, who have recently received their Council Tax bills, with increases above inflation? The Worthing Leader told that the Council had a responsibility to deal with the issues before it. 

The Leaders were questioned further concerning work with West Sussex County Council and the appearance of the Town Centre.

Resolved: That the Leaders’ interviews be noted