Agenda item

Questions from the Public

 

To receive any questions from members of the public addressed to Member of the

Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11. There is up to 5 minutes

for each question, one supplementary question may be asked arising from the

original question.

 

Questions must relate to any matter the Council has power or which affects the

Borough, except no questions may be asked in relation to

 

a) A specific planning or licensing application

b) A specific staffing appointment or appeal, or Standards determination

 

Director for Communities:

Mary D’Arcy

Adur & Worthing Councils,

Town Hall, Chapel Road,

Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1HA

 

 

Public question time will last up to 30 minutes; questions will be taken in the order

of receipt. The deadline for submission of questions is Friday 13 December 2019 at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Minutes:

The Mayor announced that there was 1 registered question for the meeting.

 

Q1 - Susan Belton, a Worthing resident, asked a question in four parts:-

 

1.Will a Full Business Case be raised and a Public Consultation take place very shortly to include  the views of stakeholders and local residents and will computer generated images of the proposed works be presented?

 

2.Whilst we appreciate the need to strengthen future sea defences can further consideration be given to the viability of replacement wooden groynes. Alternatively could a combination of rock and wooden groynes be Considered?

 

3. Can more technical detail be provided regarding the viability of replacement wooden groynes and comparative costings.

 

4. Has due consideration been given to the wider impact on the setting of the seafront sections of the Marine Place and Hinterland Conservation Area and the South Street Conservation Areas as per the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.  The wooden groynes are an important aesthetic feature contributing to the seaside character and tourist economy of the town.

 

The Executive Member for Regeneration replied that since the report was submitted to Joint Strategic Committee on 7th November, Officers had been in dialogue with senior colleagues at the Environment Agency (EA) and agreed the EA would lead a local partnership with Worthing Borough Council to address the key Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management challenges in Worthing.

 

A joint project team would be established of Council and Flood and Coastal Risk Engineers to work collaboratively on the project.

 

The team would carry out a re-appraisal of the scheme (the Outline Business Case) taking into account future government funding and works required in the short term (over the next 5 years) to continue to protect our coastline and a future longer term scheme to take into account climate change and changes in guidance regarding erosion protection benefits.

 

The joint project team would focus on community/stakeholder engagement and consultation on the schemes proposed. The consultation was planned for middle/end of 2020. Images would form part of the consultation.

 

The Outline Business Case (OBC) would provide technical details and comparisons of the capital and maintenance costs and life expectancy of both wooden groynes and rock. Combinations of rock and wooden groynes may form part of the OBC. 

 

 

Q2 - Mr Baeza, a Worthing resident, asked a question regarding how the Council would be helping the most vulnerable after Brexit, given that Brexit would hit the vulnerable the most and that the number of food parcels required had increased by 23% since last year.

 

The Leader of the Council replied that there were people in society who needed the Councils help. He pointed out that West Sussex County Council had some large responsibilities but wanted to assure residents that the Worthing Borough Council was aware of its responsibilities and would push for more support from central government. 

 

Mr Baeza asked a supplementary question regarding what alternative support or contingency plans could be activated to help.  

 

The Leader of the Council replied that there were a number of things on the agenda to tackle the drivers whilst acknowledging that the deficit reduction programme had reduced the Council’s budgets. The Council was committed to helping people where it could within its powers and to the delivery of joined up services with other partners. 

 

 

Q3 - Pauline Fraser, a Worthing resident, asked a question in relation to the proposed WICC development with the NHS about the use of a fleet of electric buses for staff and patients.

 

The Leader of the Council replied the Sussex Transport Partnership were already providing travel to doctors surgeries and other destinations but the Council would look to support electric vehicle use through the installation of more charging points around the town.  

 

A supplementary question was asked in relation to the number of car parking spaces provided as part of the proposed development. 

 

The Leader of the Council replied that he didn’t agree with the suggestion that there should be no parking provision for the proposed development. 

 

 

Q4 - Christine McCormick, a Worthing resident, asked whether the Council could support local food banks through the provision of desperately needed premises. 

 

The Leader of the Council replied that he was not in a position to make promises at the meeting but would be happy to sit down with the questioner to see how the Council could help.