Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber & Blue Room, Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5LF. View directions

Contact: Jane Fulton 

Items
No. Item

834.

Welcome

Minutes:

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

835.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

836.

Declarations of interest

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

Minutes:

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. 

           

Name

Town or Parish Council or West Sussex County Council [WSCC]

Councillor Tracy Baker

Littlehampton

Councillor Kenton Batley

Bognor Regis

Councillor Jamie Bennett

Rustington

Councillor Paul Bicknell

Angmering

Councillor Billy Blanchard-Cooper

Littlehampton

Councillor Jim Brooks

Bognor Regis

Councillor Ian Buckland

Littlehampton and WSCC

Councillor David Chace

Littlehampton

Councillor Mike Clayden

Rustington

Councillor Andy Cooper

Rustington

Councillor Alison Cooper

Rustington and WSCC

Councillor Sandra Daniells

Bognor Regis

Councillor Roger Elkins

Ferring and WSCC

Councillor Paul English

Felpham

Councillor Steve Goodheart

Bognor Regis

Councillor Pauline Gregory

Rustington

Councillor June Hamilton

Pagham

Councillor Shirley Haywood

Middleton-on-Sea

Councillor David Huntley

Pagham

Councillor Henry Jones

Bognor Regis

Councillor Martin Lury

Bersted

Councillor Claire Needs

Bognor Regis

Councillor Mike Northeast

Littlehampton

Councillor Francis Oppler

WSCC

Councillor Jacky Pendleton

Middleton-on-Sea and WSCC

Councillor Vicky Rhodes

Littlehampton

Councillor Emily Seex

Littlehampton

Councillor Martin Smith

Aldwick

Councillor Samantha Staniforth

Bognor Regis

Councillor Matt Stanley

Bognor Regis

Councillor Isabel Thurston

Barnham & Eastergate

Councillor Will Tilbrook

Littlehampton

Councillor James Walsh

Littlehampton and WSCC

Councillor Jeanette Warr

Bognor Regis

Councillor Gillian Yeates

Bersted

 

            There were no Declarations of Interest made.

 

837.

Public Question Time pdf icon PDF 403 KB

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

Minutes:

The Chair confirmed that six public questions had been submitted, all of which were from Mr Cosgrove – these have been very briefly summarised below:

           

(1)  To the Chair of the Policy & Finance Committee, Councillor Gunner regarding the Levelling-Up Fund project in Bognor Regis;

(2)  To the Chair of the Policy & Finance Committee, Councillor Gunner in relation to the setting up of a Working Party to look at Regeneration presentations;

(3)  To the Chair of Policy & Finance Committee, Councillor Gunner in relation to the Levelling-Up Fund project in Bognor Regis; 

(4)  To the Chair of the Policy & Finance Committee, Councillor Gunner, in relation to the Levelling-Up Fund and consultation;

(5)  To the Chair of the Housing & Wellbeing Committee, Councillor Pendleton, in relation to the Bognor Regis Youth and Community Centre at Westloats Lane, Bognor Regis; and

(6)  To the Chair of the Economy Committee, Councillor Andy Cooper, regarding local fisherman in Bognor Regis.

 

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 )

 

838.

Questions from Members with Pecuniary/Prejudicial Interests

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

Minutes:

            No questions were asked.

839.

Petitions

To consider any petitions received from the public.

Minutes:

            The Chair confirmed that there were no petitions to present to this meeting.

840.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 275 KB

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

 

·        Special Meeting of the Council – 23 February 2022

·        Special Meeting of the Council – 3 March 2022

·        Full Council – 9 March 2022

·        Extraordinary Meeting of the Council – 14 April 2022

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         Special Meeting of the Council on 23 February 2022

·         Special Meeting of the Council on 3 March 2022

·         Full Council on 9 March 2022

·         Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on 14 April 2022

 

Having been proposed by Councillor Gunner and seconded by Councillor Bower the minutes from the meeting of the Special Council held on 23 February 2022 were approved as a correct record with the Chair confirming that he would sign these at the end of the meeting. 

 

            The Chair then turned to the Minutes from the Special Meeting of the Council held on 3 March 2022. Councillor Elkins challenged the accuracy of the minutes in relation to Minute 692 [National Highways’ Proposals for the A27 Arundel Improvements – Response to Statutory Consultation (Grey Route)] in that the amended recommendations on Page 25, Item E did not match the resolutions on Page 27 Item E and he sought an explanation. Given the detailed nature of the challenge, the Interim Group Head of Law & Governance confirmed that this entry would be reviewed with a view to the minutes being re-tabled at the next meeting of the Full Council on 13 July 2022.

 

            The Chair then turned to the Minutes from the Full Council meeting held on 9 March 2022. Councillor Walsh challenged Minute 719 [Appointment of Vice-Chair of the Council for the Municipal Year 2022/23] where it had been reported that the Monitoring Officer had confirmed that there had been 7 spoilt ballot papers.  Councillor Walsh stated that this was not accurate and that the number of spoilt papers had been challenged following the conclusion of that meeting.  Based on this fact, he felt that the minutes should reflect that the ballot papers had been challenged.

 

            Councillor Gunner, as Leader of the Council, responded by outlining that Councillor Walsh was not challenging the accuracy of the minutes he was challenging the outcome of that meeting.  Councillor Gunner sought legal advice as to whether Council could proceed with voting to approve these minutes.

 

            The Interim Group Head of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer outlined that the purpose of presenting minutes for approval was to confirm that the minutes recorded proceedings not whether the outcome was acceptable to everyone.  The minutes accurately reflected what had been announced at the meeting by the Monitoring Officer.

 

            Following further discussion, Councillor Gunner proposed that the minutes be approved and this was seconded by Councillor Bower. A request was then made that the voting to approve these Minutes be recorded.

 

 

            Those voting for were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Caffyn, Chace, Chapman, Clayden, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Daniells, Dendle, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Goodheart, Gunner, Hughes, Kelly, Madeley, Oliver-Redgate, Pendleton, Rhodes, Roberts and Staniforth [24]. Those voting against were Councillors Batley, Coster, Dixon, Gregory, Hamilton, Haywood, Huntley, Lury, Needs, Oppler, Stanley, Thurston, Walsh, Warr, Worne and Yeates [16]. Councillors Brooks, Buckland, Northeast and Stainton abstained from voting [4].

 

            The Council therefore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 840.

841.

Chair's Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Chair outlined that he was delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate Alderman Mrs Stinchcombe’s twenty first anniversary on being made an Honorary Alderman for the District. 

 

842.

Urgent Matters

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.

Minutes:

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

843.

Report of Constitution Working Party - Completing the Transition to a Committee System pdf icon PDF 355 KB

This report contains recent recommendations from the Constitution Working Party (CWP) on continuing amendments to the Constitution designed to smooth the transition from Cabinet to a Committee system of Governance.

 

This report also brings to full Council amendments recommended by the Planning Committee and accepted by CWP relating to Site Visits (Appendix 5) .

This report draws Council’s attention to consequential changes to be made by the Monitoring Officer under delegated powers as a result of organisational and legislative changes (e.g., Part 4, Section 1, Para 7.2 references to Public Health England should be changed to UK Health Security Agency), and change of titles, eg Group “Head of Law and Governance & Monitoring Officer” instead of “Head of Council Advice & Monitoring Officer” and legacy changes which were previously missed but are consequences of decisions made by Full Council to move to a Committee system.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Chair invited Councillor Bower, as Chair of the Constitution Working Party, to present and propose the recommendations from the meeting of the Constitution Working Party held on 11 April 2022 which had been circulated to Members at the meeting, having previously been circulated in advance of the meeting electronically.

 

            The minutes accompanied a report from the Interim Group Head of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer containing a range of recommendations from the Constitution Working Party on continuing amendments to the Constitution designed to smooth the transition from Cabinet to a Committee system form of governance.

 

            Councillor Bower reflected upon the Member seminars that had been delivered by external consultants in January and March 2022 assisting Officers with the review of the new Committee style Constitution. As these had not been attended by every Member of the Council, he had decided to postpone consideration of some of the more controversial items such as proposals for the reduction in the number of Committees and the reduction in the number of Full Council and Committee meetings. The Working Party had agreed to defer their consideration until after the first cycle of meetings in the new Municipal Year.

 

            The Interim Group Head of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer then presented his report confirming that it set out the recommendations for Council to consider from the meeting of the Constitution Working Party held on 11 April 2022. The purpose of the recommendations was to continue the decision made by Members to move from the Cabinet form of governance to the Committee form of governance. It was important that the Constitution mirrored that proposed transition. The report also contained recommendations previously made by the Working Party on 7 February 2022 relating to changes to the procedure for organising Planning Committee site visits. The proposals for change had been agreed by the Planning Committee at its meeting held on 7 February 2022, with the proposed changes then being reported to the Working Party on 11 April 2022.  Other recommendations for change related to organisational and other legislative changes designed to ensure that the Constitution was keeping on track in terms of accuracy.

 

            The Chair confirmed that there were twelve recommendations for consideration which were briefly explained. Members would then be invited to ask questions.

 

            The recommendations before Members were:

 

·         (1) Amendments to the Articles (Part 2 Article 14.2) (Changes to the Constitution) – as set out in Annex 1 and Appendix 1 of the report.

·         (2) That Full Council accepts the amendment to the Articles (Part 2 of the Constitution 1.0 to insert the following sentence after the first sentence “no person shall be eligible for nomination as Chair or Vide-Chair for as long as they hold a position of responsibility as Leader or Deputy Leader within a Political Group (Appendix 1)

 

            On a Point of Order about the procedure to be followed, the Chair confirmed that there would be a general discussion and questions and that following this, each of the recommendations would then be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 843.

844.

Economy Committee - 29 March 2022 pdf icon PDF 209 KB

The Chair, Councillor Cooper, will present the minutes containing recommendations from the meeting of the Economy Committee held on 29 March 2022.

 

There are recommendations to consider at:

 

·         Minute 781 [Littlehampton Public Realm Improvements – Phase 1 (Terminus Road) Contractor Appointment] – the Officer’s report is attached.

·         Minute 786 [River Road Garage Site, Arundel Wet Sussex] – the Officer’s report is attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Chair, Councillor Cooper, presented recommendations from the meeting of the Economy Committee held on 29 March 2022.

 

            Councillor Cooper alerted Councillors to three recommendations contained within Minute 781 [Littlehampton Public Realm Improvements – Phase 1 [Terminus Road Contractor Appointment] which he duly proposed.  The recommendations were then seconded by Councillor Gunner.

 

            The Council

 

                        RESOLVED – That

 

(1)          It accepts and draws down £1.253 m from West Sussex County Council (WSCC) to complete the Phase 1 (Terminus Road, Littlehampton) works and add the expenditure and funding to the 2022/23 Capital Programme.

 

(2)          It approved authority to enter into a collaboration agreement with WSCC that sets out the billing regime for the funds in Recommendation (1) approved by the Committee and approves the drawdown and expenditure of external funding and that the terms and conditions are agreed by Legal Services and in consultation with the Monitoring Officer; and

 

(3)          As per Part 4 – Officer Scheme of Delegation (4.3 to 4.7 refers) and Under Part 7 of the Council’s Constitution, delegated authority be given to the Director of Place to plan, draw down and make budgetary decisions on the expenditure on this phase in accordance with the terms and conditions and in consultation with the Chair of the Economy Committee.

 

            Councillor Cooper then alerted Councillors to a recommendation at Minute 786 [River Road Garage Site Arundel, West Sussex] highlighting that this would provide much needed holiday accommodation within the community and would go some way to assisting tourism need in the area.  Councillor Cooper then proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Gunner.

 

            The Council

 

 

 

 

                        RESOLVED

 

That a supplementary estimate of £485,625 be included within the capital programme to carry out the demolition and replacement of the garages at River road, Arundel with a holiday let property [Option 5].

 

845.

Policy & Finance Committee - 31 March 2022 pdf icon PDF 136 KB

The Chair, Councillor Gunner, will present the Minutes containing recommendation from the meeting of the Policy & Finance Committee held on 31 March 2022.

 

There are three recommendations for the Council to consider at Minute 805 [Council Vision – Performance Management 2022-2026] – the Officer’s report is attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Chair of the Policy & Finance Committee, Councillor Gunner, presented recommendations from the meeting of the Policy & Finance Committee held on 31 March 2022.

 

            Councillor Gunner referred Councillors to three recommendations at Minute 805 [Council Vision – Performance Management 2022-2026 which he duly proposed.  The recommendations were then seconded by Councillor Pendleton.

 

            The Council

 

                        RESOLVED – That

 

(1)          The proposed indicators to measure the outcomes for the council vision key themes be agreed;

 

(2)     The proposed Key Performance Indicators be agreed; and

 

(3)              These KPIs be refined to include more customer relevant feedback at the earliest opportunity.

 

846.

Motions [30 Minutes]

The following Motion has been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure 15 [Notices of Motion].

 

Proposer: Councillor Staniforth

Seconder: Councillor Edwards

 

Mental Health Support Services for Young People

 

 

My motion is to propose the Council request a presentation from West Sussex County Council to outline what services it currently provides for children and young people in the district and its plans for future provision.  We may then identify key priorities as a district council to support the wellbeing of children and young people.

 

Minutes:

            The Chair confirmed that one Motion had been submitted for this meeting.

 

            Points of Order were then raised by two Councillors seeking advice as to whether this Motion should stand deferred to an appropriate Service Committee. The Interim Group Head of Law & Governance outlined that as the subject matter of this motion did not fall within the terms of reference of any service committee it could be presented to and debated at Full Council.

 

            Further Points of Orders were raised on whether this Motion should be presented or referred straight to the Housing & Wellbeing Committee.  As the meeting was approaching the guillotine, the Chair ruled that the Motion was in order and that Councillor Staniforth should be allowed to present it.

 

            Councillor Staniforth then presented her motion stating that this was an incredibly important matter which was particularly relevant at this time as it effected a certain age group within the district, being teenagers and young people, who were not quite adults, but old enough to be experiencing life’s pressures.

 

Covid had undoubtedly affected this age group separating them from their peers during lockdown. They had missed a lot of school learning, and now had to endure extra sessions after school on weekdays and even on Saturdays and Sundays to catch up on work for upcoming exams, all adding extra pressure.  

 

Half of all mental health conditions presented themselves by the age of 14, and three quarters by the age of 24 and so this was why early intervention was crucial.  Often young people did not want to access school led services, meaning there was an enormous opportunity to help openly in the district’s towns, and to bring mental health issues out of the shadows.  

 

Mental health and suicide awareness was still not talked enough about, and sadly, there was still a link between mental health and social injustice, which often lead to isolation.  This was why it was so necessary to bring this Motion to council now to show that the council wanted to offer support to people of this age, within the district.  

 

There were many agencies that dealt with this issue with the County Council taking on a big role, but these services were hugely under-funded.  As a district council, it was felt that the reliance should not just be on these agencies as there was much more that the council could do, including highlighting the help that was available; making services easy to find; and not expecting people to be passed from pillar to post to find support.   

 

            Another crucial element was that mental health pressures affected everyone at some point. Talking about this openly was key, as was to acknowledge what was happening and to try to see as a council, if further support could be offered.  

 

Councillor Staniforth concluded by stating that she had undertaken some training with this council alongside the Samaritans, to further understand the issue. She wanted to see what the council could do in addition to the work of local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 846.