Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Councillors, representatives of the public, press and officers to the Meeting. She extended a special welcome to Honorary Aldermen Mrs Stinchcombe and Mr Dingemans.

            The Chairman announced the sad news that former member of staff Christine Denyer had sadly passed away at the beginning of March 2021.

            Christine had been a long serving staff member joining the Council in 1986 and leaving in December 2014.  Christine had worked as a Customer Liaison Officer at the Bognor Regis Town Hall.

            The Chairman asked Members and those present to join her in sending Christine’s family and friends the Council’s condolences and she asked if they could join her taking part in a minute’s silence.

            Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Batley, Mrs Erskine and Oliver-Redgate and from Honorary Aldermen, Mrs Goad, MBE and Mrs Morrish.

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 Coster declared the following declaration in relation to Agenda Items 14 [Feedback on Presentations Relating to Bognor Regis Regeneration] and 8 [Urgent Matters – HM Treasury Levelling Up Fund]. Councillor Coster stated that he wished to make this meeting aware that prior to his role as a District Councillor he may have been involved in engaging with the community on regeneration for the area through the Bognor Regis Civic Society and that that engagement, and the understanding that had been gained from the experience with the Society, caused him to make comments in the past in connection with this item.  However, he had an open mind regarding this item and would listen and consider all the relevant issues presented and so would reach his decision on merit.  Councillor Coster requested that his role in the Bognor Regis Civic Society be recorded in the minutes as Personal Interest.

Councillor Goodheart declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 14 [Feedback on Presentations Relating to Bognor Regis Regeneration] as he knew the Managing Director of one of the organisations that had provided a presentation to Councillors and had been the co-founder for 4BR.  Councillor Goodheart confirmed that he was no longer involved in any professional way with this organisation and had no pecuniary interest.

Councillor Mrs Daniells also declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 14 as she had a family member that had made one of the submissions being the Plaza Cinema Ltd.  Councillor Mrs Daniells confirmed that she planned to stay in the meeting for the discussion but that she would not take part in the vote.

Councillor Northeast declared a Personal Interest  ...  view the full minutes text for item 472.

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

The Chairman invited questions from members of the public who had submitted their questions in advance of the meeting in accordance with the rules of the Council’s Constitution and the Virtual Meeting Procedure Rules amended by the Council on 15 July 2020.

The Chairman confirmed that fifteen questions had been submitted – these have been very briefly summarised below:

1. From Mr Collins to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding land north of Summer Lane, Pagham
2. From Mr Cosgrove to the Leader of the Council regarding the Place St Maur regeneration project in Bognor Regis
3. From Ms Lownsborough to the Cabinet Member for Planning, regarding planning approval for the Sir Richard Hotham Project and pre-development conditions
4. From Mrs Collins to the Cabinet for Planning regarding the Summer Land development site
5. From Mr Meadmore to the Leader of the Council regarding the presentation to be made by Southern Water Services to the Environment & Leisure Working Group
6. From Ms Jarvis to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding The Arun Local Plan 2018 and strategic allocations at Angmering
7. From Mr Collins to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding
8. From Mr Cosgrove to the Cabinet Member for Commercial and Business Development regarding the London Road Lorry Coach Park, Bognor Regis
9. From Mrs Collins to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding strategic site allocations
10. From Mr Meadmore to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding highways infrastructure improvement imperatives
11. From Mr Collins to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding Arun Local Plan strategic allocations SD1 Pagham South and SD2 Pagham North
12. From Mr Cosgrove to the Leader of the Council regarding Bognor Regis regeneration
13. From Mrs Collins to the Leader of the Council regarding the Council’s new Governance structure
14. From Mr Meadmore to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding the Health Authority in relation to identified infrastructure improvements necessary to support the strategic development sites
15. From Mr Collins to the Cabinet Member for Planning regarding strategic allocations SD1/SD2 – Pagham North and Pagham South and related matters

Having considerably extended the time allowed for Public Question Time to all of the questions to be asked and responded to at the meeting, the Chairman confirmed that if any questioner wished to ask a supplementary question for them to do so in writing outside of this meeting.  It was confirmed that any such questions submitted would be responded to by the appropriate Cabinet Member in writing.

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

The Chairman then drew Public Question Time to a close.

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

There were no questions 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 of the Special Council Meeting held on 17 February 2021, which are attached.

            The Minutes of the Special meeting of the Council held on 17 February 2021 were approved by the Council as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman when normal office functions started again.

            Councillor Huntley confirmed that petitions had been received by the Council but that they were still being validated and so were not ready to be presented to this Council meeting.

The Chairman confirmed a change to the order of the agenda which was to bring forward Item 32 [Representation on Outside Bodies] to ensure that changes in representation to some Outside Bodies were approved in view of meetings taking place next week.

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

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

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dr Walsh, confirmed the following changes in representation to Outside Bodies:

(1)  Councillor Stanley would replace Councillor Oppler on the Bognor Regis Regeneration Board;

(2)  As the term of office for the Littlehampton Harbour Board representatives had expired, the Council’s representations would be:

·         Councillor Dr Walsh

·         Councillor Mrs Haywood

·         Roger Spencer [Engineering Services Manager]

·         Leaving one vacancy to be filled

(3)  The following Councillors being confirmed for the A27 Elected Members’ Forum:

·         Councillor Dr Walsh

·         Councillor Mrs Catterson

·         Councillor Dendle

·         Councillor Roberts

These changes to representations on Outside Bodies were then formally proposed by Councillor Dr Walsh and seconded by Councillor Gunner.

The Council

            RESOLVED

That the changes in representation to Outside Bodies as set out above be approved.

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 announced that there was one urgent matter that needed to be considered by the Council this evening on the HM Treasury Levelling Up Fund.  She confirmed that this report had been emailed to all Councillors earlier that afternoon and had been uploaded to the Council’s Full Council web page as a supplement.

            The Chief Executive was invited to introduce this report.  He firstly apologised for its lateness and explained that the full details had only been received last week setting out how the Council could take this matter forward. It was explained that if the Council decided to bid for this fund, then it needed to move very quickly, hence the urgent nature of the report, as bids needed to be submitted by 18 June 2021. There was no clarity provided at the moment in terms of future bidding round dates only that there would be future rounds but it could be confirmed that Arun District Council fitted within Category 2 of the bidding level and that bids could be successful “if they were of exceptional quality”.

The Leader of the Council then provided further detail to the report and formally proposed its recommendations. Councillor Dr Walsh highlighted that this was a very exciting announcement from the Government made only a few days ago announcing a total fund value of £4.8 billion pounds was to be spent by 2024.  The Council was able to bid up to a maximum level of £20 m for projects in the Arun District.  The Government had made it clear that they wished to target these funds on Council’s that had coastal communities and deprived areas so this could include Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. The timetable in place to undertake this work was extremely tight in that the Council had to submit its bids by 18 June 2021, with the Government announcing the outcome of those bids in the Autumn of this year. The Government had also specified that the bids for projects needed to be well worked up so that they were not new projects or concepts. The expectation was that a mini business case would need to be submitted for each of the projects with the Council being able to bid for up to 3 different projects.

 Councillor Dr Walsh outlined that in order to progress this urgent work, he proposed to set up a Levelling Up Fund Working Party, which would have the necessary political balance, and that the Working Party’s remit would be to advise Officers, very quickly, on the project preferences for bidding, including confirming a priority order. It was hoped that approval would be given to establish this Working Party tonight to allow it to meet very soon with Group Leaders confirming membership. Councillor Dr Walsh therefore urged Councillors to support this proposal as it was very unusual for Councils to be given the opportunity to bid for funding of this size.

Councillor Oppler then seconded the recommendations.

            The Chairman then invited debate.  This commenced with various  ...  view the full minutes text for item 480.

To consider any Motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure 14.

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

In accordance with Article 4.2(b) of the Constitution Procedure Rule 18.9, the Council will consider nominations put forward by each of the Political Groups for the position of Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2021/22 and Chairman Elect for 2022/23.  A secret ballot will then be undertaken to determine the appointment.

 In accordance with Article 4 of the Constitution, the Council was requested to appoint a Vice-Chairman and Chairman Elect for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

One candidate, Councillor Samantha Staniforth, had been nominated for the role.  Following a statement made from the Leader of the Council in support of his respective candidate, a secret ballot was undertaken and the results declared by the Committee Services Manager, who announced that Councillor Samantha Staniforth had been selected for the appointment of Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2021/22 and Chairman Elect of the Council for 2022/23.

Congratulations were then extended to Councillor Mrs Staniforth in being appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for 2021/22 and Chairman Elect for 2022/23.

The Localism Act 2011, section 38(1) requires that local authorities prepare an annual Pay Policy Statement.  This paper introduces the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2021/2022 and asks Members to approve it.

(Prior to the vote taking place on this item – Northeast redeclared his Personal Interest made at the start of the meeting).

            The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dr Walsh, presented this report which detailed the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22. Councillor Dr Walsh formally proposed that the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22 be approved for publication onto the Council’s web site by 1 April 2021. This was then seconded by Councillor Oppler.

Following some discussion on the gender pay gap,

            The Council

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)          The Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 be approved for publication on the Arun website by 1 April 2021;

(2)          Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Corporate Support to make changes to the Pay Policy Statement which might arise from new legislation concerning employee severance payments should this be introduced later this year.

The Felpham Neighbourhood Development Plan 2019-2031 passed Examination in December 2020.  The Examiner of this modified Plan concluded that the Plan passed the Examination and that the material modifications do not change the nature of the Plan and it does not require a Referendum so should proceed to be ‘made’.

This ‘making’ of the plan will give it legal force and it will form part of the statutory Development Plan for that area.  Consequently, decisions on planning applications in the neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the Neighbourhood Development Plan or Order, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

(Prior to the discussion on this item, Councillor English declared a Personal Interest as a Member of Felpham Parish Council).

            The Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Lury, firstly congratulated Felpham Parish Council for its work undertaken on this project.  He then provided some background confirming that the Felpham Neighbourhood Development Plan 2019-2031 passed Examination in December 2020.  The Examiner of this modified Plan concluded that the Plan passed the Examination and that the material modifications do not change the nature of the Plan and it did not require a Referendum so should proceed to be ‘made.

            The ‘making’ of this Plan would give it legal force and it would form part of the statutory Development Plan for that area.  Consequently, decisions on planning applications in the neighbourhood area would need to be made in accordance with the Neighbourhood Development Plan or Order, unless material considerations indicated otherwise.

            Councillor Lury formally proposed the ‘making’ of this Plan which was seconded by Councillor Dr Walsh.

            In considering this matter, many congratulations were extended to Felpham Parish Council as this was one of the first Neighbourhood Development Plans that had been updated without the need for a referendum.  The work of Arun’s Planning Officer Team was also praised.

            The Council

                        RESOLVED

That it ‘makes’ the Felpham Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2031 and it becomes part of the Development Plan for Arun District Council.

Attached is a report on the eleven presentations given to Members on Bognor Regis Regeneration so that the Council can identify what steps it wishes to take to advance this project.

(Prior to the discussion on this item, Councillors Coster and Goodheart redeclared their interests made at the start of the meeting).

            The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dr Walsh, outlined that the Council had received the presentations which had been summarised in the documentation included as part of the report.  What was now needed was to set a clear way forward.  He confirmed that Group Leaders had decided that a Members’ Seminar be organised where all the presentations and Member impressions from these would be considered in much greater detail than what could be achieved tonight. Councillor Dr Walsh therefore proposed that a Members’ Seminar be organised in the very near future allowing all Members of the Council to have the opportunity, virtually, to take part in that debate which would allow for Officers to sit in and provide advice as necessary and from that to prepare a report for Full Council distilling Members views into a series of options or an option for the Council to consider.  This was his proposal which was an alternative to having a very long debate on the presentations now which might not lead to an easy conclusion.  Councillor Dr Walsh concluded by thanking those who had attended and given presentations to the Council and had provided summaries setting out the detail of their presentation.

            Councillor Oppler then seconded this proposal.

            The Chairman then invited debate on this proposal.  Councillor Goodheart confirmed that he had a proposal to put forward.  This was “that the Council commissions an independent consultant, working alongside officers, to devise a shortlisting selection criterion and to mark the presentations against the criteria and report to the next Full Council with a recommendation on which scheme to take forward and project initiation plans.  Councillor Goodheart confirmed that he had a list of fundamental areas that should be covered by the consultant and officers. 

            A Point of Order was then raised, and clarification sought as it was felt that Councillor Goodheart’s proposal could not be classed as an amendment, as it was a completely new proposal. Advice from the Interim Monitoring Officer was sought.

            The Interim Monitoring Officer referred to the Director of Place’s report which had no set recommendation, it was asking Full Council to provide a steer on what type of regeneration activity the Council might want to pursue in Bognor Regis following debate. Councillor Dr Walsh had proposed a separate motion and Councillor Goodheart’s proposal was an amendment to Councillor Dr Walsh’s motion.

            Councillor Dendle then seconded Councillor Goodheart’s proposal.

            In view of the length and detail of Councillor Goodheart’s amendment, a request was made to share this to the meeting. Councillor Goodheart’s amendment was then shared to the screen.

            The wording of Councillor Goodheart’s amendment was confirmed as follows:

            “Commissioning an independent Consultant working alongside Officers to devise a shortlisting and selection criteria to mark the presentation against that criteria and to present a report to the next Council Meeting with a recommendation on which scheme to take  ...  view the full minutes text for item 485.