The Chair welcomed Councillors, representatives of the public, press and officers to the meeting.

          The Chair stated that sadly she had to commence her first Full Council meeting by announcing the death of Councillor John Charles who had passed away on 3 July 2022 following a period of illness.

          Councillor Charles had become a Councillor in 2011 and during his time at Arun had been Cabinet Member for Planning and had sat on many different Committees. The Chair outlined that he would be truly missed and she passed on the Council’s condolences to Councillor Charles’ family and friends at this time.

          Various Councillors had indicated to the Chair that they wished to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Councillor Charles.  Tributes were then made by Councillor Gunner, as Leader of the Council, Councillor Walsh, as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and from Councillor Edwards. 

          The Chair then announced the sad death of former Councillor Alan Brownlow who had also been Leader of the Council from 1992 to 1995 and had passed away on 21 May 2022. Various Councillors had indicated to the Chair that they wished to have the opportunity to pay tribute to former Councillor Brownlow. Tributes were then made by Councillor Bower and Councillor Walsh.

          The Council then undertook a minute’s silence in the memory of Councillor Charles and former Councillor Brownlow.

            Apologies for Absence had been received from Councillors Batley, Caffyn, Catterson, Hamilton, Oppler, Pendleton, Purchese, Rhodes, Stanley and Warr and from Honorary Aldermen, Mrs Stinchcombe and Mr Dingemans.

Members and Officers are invited to make any declarations of pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests that they may have in relation to items on this agenda, and are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent.

Members and Officers should make their declaration by stating:

a)  the item they have the interest in

b)  whether it is a pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interest

c)  the nature of the interest

d) if it is a pecuniary or prejudicial interest, whether they will be exercising their right to speak under Question Time

The Declaration of Interest Sheet set out below confirms those Members who had made a declaration of their personal interest as a Member of a Town or Parish Councillor or a West Sussex County Councillor, as confirmed in their Register of Interest as these declarations could apply to any of the issues to be discussed at the meeting. 

            Councillor Bennett declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 13 [Policy & Finance Committee – 30 June 2022 in relation to Minute 109 – Supplementary Estimate to Defend Planning Appeals at Chandlers, Angmering (A/1101/21/PL), Rustington Golf Centre (A/129/21/PL), Worthing Road (A/168/21/PL) and Pagham Road (P/178/21/OUT) Including the cover of the Coasts award at Shripney Road (BE/109/19/OUT) and the Costs Associated with Further Technical Work the Planning Committee has Requested on the Fitzalan Acoustic Barrier. This was in his capacity as Chair of Rustington Parish Council’s Planning Committee which had objected to one of the applications being appealed.

Personal Declarations of Interest on the same Agenda Item and minute were then made by:

·         Councillors Cooper as a Member of Rustington Parish Council

·         Councillor Mrs Cooper as a Member of Rustington Parish Council and Member of its Planning Committee.

·       Councillor Elkins as he had attended the appeal hearing regarding East Preston.             

To receive questions from the public (for a period of up to 15 minutes)

The Chair confirmed that four public questions had been submitted, all of which were to be responded to by Councillor Chapman as Chair of the Planning Committee. These are very briefly summarised below:

(1)  From Mr Pivett in relation to the pursuit of enforcement action against Bellway Homes at Hook Lane, Pagham;

(2)  From Mrs Smith regarding the legal status of the access to the site known as ‘Land West of Fontwell Avenue (AL/121/16/PL);

(3)  From Mrs Smith in relation to planning application AL/122/17/PL;

(4)  From Mrs Smith in relation to the adherence of conditions on planning applications AL/116/18/PL, AL/50/17/DOC and AL/21/21/NMA

Supplementary questions were asked and responded to at the meeting.

(A schedule of the full questions asked, and the responses provided can be found on the Public Question Web page at: https://www.arun.gov.uk/public-question-time)

To receive questions from Members with pecuniary/prejudicial interests (for a period of up to 15 minutes)

No questions were asked.

To consider any petitions received from the public.

            There were no petitions presented to this meeting.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes from the following meetings held (as attached):

·        Special Meeting of the Council – 3 March 2022 [Represented]

·        Full Council – 11 May 2022

·        Annual Meeting of the Council – 18 May 2022

The Chair asked Members to approve as a correct record the Minutes from the meetings held below:

·         Special Meeting of the Council on 3 March 2022

·         Full Council on 11 May 2022

·         Annual Council Meeting – 18 May 2022

            The Chair then turned to the Minutes from the Special Meeting of the Council held on 3 March 2022 which were proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Bower. The minutes were approved

            The Chair then turned to the minutes from the meeting of the Council held on 11 May 2022. Having been proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Edwards, these were approved.

Turning to the minutes from the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 18 May 2022, having been proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Bower, they were approved.

To receive such announcements as the Chair may desire to lay before the Council.

The Chair outlined that it gave her the greatest of pleasure to be able to present to Councillor Brooks his Past Chairs’ badge as it had not been possible to make this presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Council.

To deal with business not otherwise specified in the Council summons which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Council (in consultation with the Chief Executive), is business of such urgency as to require immediate attention by the Council.

            The Chair confirmed that there were no items for this meeting.

To consider general questions from Members already submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.3 [as attached].

The Chair referred Councillors to the Questions from Members that had been adjourned from the meeting of Full Council held on 11 May 2022, submitted in line with Council Procedure Rule 14.3.

            Four questions had been submitted by Councillor Coster as bullet pointed below:

(1)  To the Chair of the Policy & Finance Committee, Councillor Gunner, regarding the meeting of the Housing & Wellbeing Committee held on 17 March 2022 and the increased budget for the proposed new integrated housing management system;

(2)  To the Chair of the Economy Committee, Councillor Cooper, regarding the meeting of the Economy Committee on 29 March 2022 and beach hut provision;

(3)  To the Chair of the Environment Committee, Councillor Edwards, regarding the Place St Maur project in Bognor Regis; and

(4)  To the Chair of the Environment Committee, Councillor Edwards and the Chair of the Planning Policy Committee, Councillor Bower, regarding Natural England’s advice that new residential development must achieve ‘nutrient neutrality’.

            Supplementary questions and responses were asked and provided to all four questions asked.            

A copy of the Member Question schedule would be uploaded to the Full Council web page following the meeting.

The Leader of the Council will report any changes in Committee Memberships which the Council will be asked to note.

            The Chair confirmed that this was a standing item adjourned from the last meeting of Full Council held on 11 May 2022 but was repeated later as a standing item for this meeting and so would be considered at that point in the agenda.

The Council is asked to approve any changes to its representation on Outside Bodies. 

            The Chair confirmed that this was a standing item adjourned from the last meeting of Full Council held on 11 May 2022 but was repeated later as a standing item for this meeting and so would be considered at that point in the agenda.

The Chair, Councillor Bower, will present the Minutes containing recommendations from the meeting of the Planning Policy Committee held on 7 June 2022.

There is a recommendation for Council to consider at:

·           Minute  52 [Arun Local Plan Update – Six Month Review] – the Minutes and the Officer’s report is attached.

            The Chair of the Planning Policy Committee, Councillor Bower, presented and formally proposed a recommendation at Minute 52 [Arun Local Plan – Six Month Review] from the meeting of the Planning Policy Committee held on 7 June 2022.

            The recommendation was seconded by Councillor Hughes.

            Councillor Bower in presenting the recommendation to Councillors outlined that to approve that the local plan be resumed held considerable implications for the council and so this was why many Members had abstained from voting at the Planning Policy Committee on 7 June 2022. The major implications in resuming updating the local plan were explained. Councillor Bower confirmed that this would add 6,000 new homes to the council’s housing target that was already a challenge. Also, there were some 6,000 planning permissions unimplemented in the district so in total somewhere in the region of about 12,000 additional homes was the figure to seriously look at.  Councillor Bower outlined that since the meeting of the Planning Policy Committee on 7 June, future arrangements for dealing with local plans had become opaque due to national matters and so he would be voting against the recommendation in anticipation that the changes hoped for would come to fruition.

            Debate on this recommendation saw similar views being expressed as a reason to not support the update of the local plan to be resumed.  It was anticipated that the reforms to the planning process expected from central government would still be forthcoming and so it was too soon to make a decision to resume updating the local plan. 

            Other Councillors spoke in support of the recommendation siting that it was a dangerous move to assume that the wished for reforms would occur. Councillors needed to remember that the council was in presumption leading to developers making speculative planning applications on sites outside of the local plan, worsening an already bad situation in the district. This was seen as more of a risk to take with the council needing to take control in terms of where houses should be built. Further concerns surrounding infrastructure and sewage discharge were also highlighted coupled with the need for the council to continue with the already commenced work on evidence gathering and updating policies that would form an updated plan.

            Following further debate, a recorded vote was requested on the voting of the recommendation.

            Those voting for the recommendation were Councillors Bennett, Blanchard-Cooper, Brooks, Buckland, Gregory, Haywood, Lury, Needs, Thurston, Walsh, Worn and Yeates (12).  Those voting against were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Chace, Chapman, Clayden, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Dendle, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, Gunner, Hughes, Kelly, Madeley, Oliver-Redgate, Roberts, Stainton, Staniforth [19]. Councillors Coster, Daniells, Dixon, English, Goodheart, Huntley and Northeast abstained from voting [7].

            The Council

                        RESOLVED

                        Not to resume the Arun Local Plan update.

            The Chair then called a fifteen minute adjournement.

The Chair, Councillor Gunner, will present the Minutes containing recommendations from the meeting of the Policy & Finance Committee held on 30 June 2022.

            Please note that the minutes containing recommendations for the Council to consider will be circulated separately to this agenda.

            There will be recommendations for Council to consider at:

·         [Supplementary Estimate to Defend Planning Appeals at Chandlers, Angmering (A/1101/21/PL) Rustington Golf Centre (A/129/21/PL), Worthing Road (A/168/21/PL) and Pagham Road (P/178/21/OUT) – the Officer’s report is attached.

·         [Combined Cleansing Services Contract Extensions – Financial Implications] – the Officer’s report is attached.

            The Chair of the Policy & Finance Committee, Councillor Gunner, presented recommendations from the meeting of the Policy & Finance Committee held on 30 June 2022.  It was explained that the minutes from this meeting had been circulated separately to the agenda having already been uploaded to the Council’s web site and circulated to Members on 12 July 2022.

            Councillor Gunner turned Members’ attention to Minute 109 [Supplementary Estimate to Defend Planning Appeals at Chandlers, Angmering (A/110/21/PL, Rustington Golf Centre (A/129/21/PL), Worthing Road (A/168/21/PL) and Pagham Road (P/178/21/OUT). This will also cover the costs award at Shripney Road (BE/109/19/OUT). It will also cover costs associated with further technical work that Planning Committee has requested on the Fitzalan acoustic barrier. Councillor Gunner formally proposed the recommendation with it being seconded by Councillor Cooper.

            A request was received from Councillor Bennett for the voting on the recommendation to be made in two parts, with the vote on including Rustington Golf Centre (A/129/21/PL) being taken separately.

            Having completed this action,

            The Council

                        RESOLVED

That a supplementary estimate of £100,000 is agreed in order to defend appeals taken on planning applications A/110/21/PL and A/168/21/PL, A/129/21 PL and P/178/21/OUT to cover the costs award in respect of BE/109/19/OUT and to carry out further work required on the Fitzalan Acoustic Barrier.

The Band D equivalent for a £100,000 supplementary estimate is £1.58.

            Councillor Gunner then turned to two recommendations contained within Minute 110 [Combined Cleansing Services Contract Extensions – Financial Implications] which he duly proposed.  The recommendations were then seconded by Councillor Cooper.

            The Council

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)          It approves a supplementary revenue budget of £180k in 2022/23 to fund the increase in cost of the contract indexation as agreed for year 6 of the current contract and 2 months of the new contract.  This equates to a Band D equivalent tax of £2.86; and

(2)          It approves a further supplementary revenue budget of £109k (£655 full year effect) plus appropriate indexation in 2022/23 to fund the increased cost of continuing current weekly refuse collections in February and March 2023.  The £109k for 2022/23 equates to a Band D Council Tax of £10.40

To consider any Motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure 15.

            The Chair confirmed that no Motions had been submitted for this meeting.

To consider general questions from Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.3.

            The Chair confirmed that no questions had been submitted for this meeting.

Any changes to Committee Memberships that need noting by the Council will be reported at the meeting.

            The Leader of the Council, Councillor Gunner, confirmed the following changes to Committee Memberships which were noted:

(1)  That Councillor Warr would replace Councillor Tilbrook as a Member of the Planning Committee; and

(2)  That Councillor Chace would replace Councillor P English as a Member of the Beach Access Working Party.

The Council is asked to approve any changes to its representation on Outside Bodies.

The Chair confirmed that there were no changes to representation on Outside Bodies for the meeting to consider.