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

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

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

To consider any petitions received from the public.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council held on 19 February 2020, which are attached.

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

(i)           Appointment of Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2020/2021

In accordance with Article 4.2(b) of the Constitution Procedure Rule 18.9, the Council will conisder nominations put forward by each of the Political Groups for the position of Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2020/21 and Chairman Elect for 2021/22.  A ballot will then be undertaken to determine the appointment.

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 Chairman, Councillor Bennett, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 8 January 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Chairman, Councillor Dr Walsh, will present the Minutes from the meeting of Cabinet held on 13 January 2020.  There is one recommendation at:

o   Minute 370 – [Audit & Governance Committee – 21 November 2019 – Minute 311 – Update on Progress of the Council’s Property Investment Fund] – to view the Officer’s report please click on this link - Report

The Chairman, Councillor Coster, will present the Minutes from the Special Meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 14 January 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Chairman, Councillor Coster, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 28 January 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Chairman, Councillor B Blanchard-Cooper, will present the Minutes from the Licensing Committee held on 24 January 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Chairman, Councillor Stanley, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Bognor Regis Regeneration Sub-Committee held on 4 February 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Chairman, Councillor Bennett, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 5 February 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Chairman, Councillor Bennett, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Housing & Customer Services Working Group held on 6 February 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Chairman, Councillor Dr Walsh, will present the Minutes from the meeting of Cabinet held on 10 February 2020 with the exception of Minute 433 [Council Budget 2020/21] which was dealt with at the Special Meeting of the Council held on 19 February 2020.  There are therefore no recommendations.

The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Jones, will present the Minutes from the Electoral Review Sub-Committee held on 11 February 2020.  There are no recommendations.

The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Mrs Haywood, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Audit & Governance Committee held on 13 February 2020.  There are recommendations at:

o   Minute 442 [Capital Strategy] – to view the Officer’s report – please click on this link - Report and Appendix

o   Minute 443 [Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy] – to view the Officer’s report and appendices – please click here – Report

The Chairman, Councillor English, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 20 February 2020.

The Minutes will be circulated separately any recommendation will be reported to the meeting.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Yeates, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Planning Policy Sub-Committee held on 25 February 2020. 

The Minutes will be circulated separately any recommendation will be reported to the meeting.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Staniforth, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Environment & Leisure Working Group held on 27 February 2020. 

The Minutes will be circulated separately any recommendation will be reported to the meeting.

The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Ms Thurston, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 4 March 2020.

The Minutes will be circulated separately any recommendation will be reported to the meeting.

The Chairman, Councillor Dr Walsh, will present the Minutes from the meeting of Cabinet held on 9 March 2020.

The Minutes will be circulated separately any recommendation will be reported to the meeting.

The Chairman, Councillor Coster, will present the Minutes from the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 10 March 2020.

The Minutes will be circulated separately any recommendation will be reported to the meeting.

The following Motion has been received from the Green Group in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.1 and 14.2, the detail of which is set out below:

Introduction

In the face of the internationally recognised Biodiversity Crisis, part of our work on Climate Change must be to protect and enhance the natural habitats in the district.  The UK is one of the more nature depleted countries in the world, with more than half of our species in decline.  The rate of species extinction, caused by climate change and human activity, is alarming.  Despite efforts to date, this continues. The Government’s Environment Bill, currently going through Parliament, proposes a Nature Recovery Strategy, together with funding for local authorities who bring in extra measures to protect and enhance bio-diversity.  This motion will put Arun in a good position to start work straightaway. 

Our Local Plan says the right things about protecting our landscapes and habitat, but caveats mean that currently we see too many examples of this advice being overridden. Too often we see a wildlife site marooned, surrounded by developments.  Locally we face a worrying decline of bee species, butterflies, dormice and hedgehogs as habitat is lost.   Many species of bat are found in Arun, and water voles are living precariously in pockets of stream land habitat.  Bird populations will suffer as feeding grounds are developed, for example, Brent Geese at Pagham and Lapwing at the Saltbox Field. In the area, we have rare chalk streams, a river valley and a floodplain, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on our beautiful but fragile coastline and traditional farmland.  We are under pressure to build on some of these areas we have and surround them by urban development.  It is time we admitted that unless we act to protect our wildlife and its habitats by putting them first in every case, we will cause irreversible damage to our District and wildlife we share it with.

Motion

The Council declared a Climate Emergency at Full Council in January 2020.  Whilst welcoming much good ecological work that is ongoing, such as tree planting and the planned creation of Green Infrastructure, the Council will review and update the bio-diversity process within the Local Plan, concentrating on Policies DM4 and DM5 and bringing together existing action and new targets to create a Bio-Diversity Action Plan 2020-2025.

To include:

·         A local Nature Reserve site map, showing existing wildlife areas, parks, green spaces, woods and marine protected and other areas such as churchyards and school fields, to inform new development and ensure habitat is joined up.

·         Reviewing recognised and potential wildlife corridors and areas of protection and looking at ways of joining them to provide wider foraging areas.

·         Supplementary Planning Documents covering new guidelines for developers on including wild areas and ‘pocket parks’ as part of planting as well as ensuring the areas are maintained.  With such high levels of building, these areas will ensure stepping stones of bio-diversity across the District.

·         Ensuring the increased planting of wild areas  ...  view the full agenda text for item 27.

To consider general questions from Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.3.

The Localism Act 2011, Section 38(1) requires that local authorities prepare an annual Pay Policy Statement.  This statement explains what the Council’s policies are on a range of issues relating to the pay of the workforce.  The statement is prepared for each financial year and requires approval at Full Council for publication on the Council’s website on 1 April 2020.

This report seeks an amendment to Part 5, Section 1 of the Council’s Constitution to remove the practice of substitution rules applying to the membership of the Licensing Committee in line with legal advice.

The Leader of the Council will report any changes to Committee Memberships that need to be noted by the Council.

The Council is asked to approve any changes to its representation on Outside Bodies.  Any changes can be reported verbally to the meeting by the Leader of the Council.