Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Helen Burt 

Note: The full recording of this meeting is now available, please click the link below to watch. 

Media

Items
No. Item

219.

Welcome

Minutes:

The Director of Growth and Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) explained that he was opening the meeting as the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee were unable to be in attendance. He explained the first business would therefore be for the Committee to appoint a Chair and Vice-Chair for the evening. He welcomed Councillor Stanley, who was substituting for Councillor Worne; Councillor Birch, who was substituting for Councillor Wallsgrove; Councillor O’Neill, who was substituting for Councillor May; and Councillor Turner who was substituting for Councillor Elkins.

220.

Appointment of Chair and Vice-Chair for the Meeting

Minutes:

The Director of Growth and Interim CEO explained that as stated in Part 5, Section 2, 3.1 (i) of the Constitution, the Committee needed to ‘appoint a person to preside if the Chair or Vice Chair are not present’.

 

Councillor Stanley proposed that Councillor Birch Chair the meeting, which was seconded by Councillor Wiltshire.

 

Following a vote, this was declared CARRIED, and it was confirmed that Councillor Birch would Chair the meeting.

 

Councillor Wiltshire proposed that Councillor O’Neill should act as Vice-Chair for the meeting, which was seconded by Councillor Stanley.

 

Following a vote, this was declared CARRIED, and it was confirmed that Councillor O’Neill would act as Vice-Chair for the meeting.

221.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Wallsgrove, Worne, May and Elkins.

222.

Declarations of Interest

Members and Officers are invited to make any declaration 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 items 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 interest and/or prejudicial interest

c)             the nature of the interest

 

Minutes:

Councillor Stanley declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 10 as a Member of Bognor Regis Town Council.

 

Councillor Brooks declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 10 as a Member of Bognor Regis Town Council.

 

Councillor Warr declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 10 as a Member of Bognor Regis Town Council.

 

Councillor Blanchard-Cooper declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 10 as a Member of Littlehampton Town Council.

 

Councillor O’Neill declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 10 as a Member of Littlehampton Town Council.

 

Councillor Wiltshire declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 10 as a Member of Littlehampton Town Council.

223.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 156 KB

The Committee will be asked to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Environment Committee held on 15 June 2023.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2023 were approved by the Committee. These would be signed at the end of the meeting.

224.

ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING IS OF THE OPINION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A MATTER OF URGENCY BY REASON OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Minutes:

The Chair confirmed that there were no urgent matters for this meeting.

225.

Public Question Time pdf icon PDF 85 KB

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

 

Minutes:

The Chair confirmed two questions had been submitted, which are briefly summarised below:

 

1-2              From Joanne Hains to the Chair of the Environment Committee, regarding Bersted Brook Park.

 

 

(A schedule of the full question asked and the response provided can be found on the Environment Committee Public Question Web page)

 

 

The Chair then drew Public Question Time to a close.

226.

Budget 2024/25 Process pdf icon PDF 103 KB

The report provides a summary of the budget process for 2024/25. The Committee is asked to approve the budget process for 2024/25 as outlined in this report, noting that it was approved by Policy & Finance Committee on the 11 July 2023.

 

Minutes:

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Interim Financial Services Manager presented the report to the Committee. The report provided a summary of the budget process for 2024/25. He highlighted the key dates in 3.7 of the report, and the Budget Process 2024/25 flowchart in Appendix A.

 

          The Chair then invited questions. Councillor Turner confirmed that prior to the meeting he had raised with the Group Head of Technical Services the state of the car park behind the Bluebird Café in Ferring and the Rife River, which was in disrepair and needed urgent maintenance to improve it. He requested this be noted in the Minutes.

 

          The Committee noted the Budget process for 2024/25 as outlined in the report.

227.

Quarter 1 Budget Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 138 KB

The report sets out in further detail the Committee’s Revenue and Capital programme budget performance projections to the 31 March 2024.

 

Minutes:

Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Interim Financial Services Manager presented the report to the Committee. He updated that there was an error in the report in table 1, and the line regarding Bus Shelters and Street Nameplates, should read an outturn of £210k, not £10k, so this was a nil variance.

 

The report set out in detail the Committee’s Revenue and Capital programme budget performance projections to the 31 March 2024. The Interim Financial Services Manager highlighted Table 1 which detailed the 2023/24 forecast revenue budget outturn as at Quarter 1, which anticipated a minor overspend of £3,000; and Table 2 which detailed the 2023/24 forecast capital programme outturn as at Quarter 1 and showed an anticipated underspend of £200,000, which would be carried forward into the following financial year.

 

          The Chair then invited questions and it was asked what the reason was for the slippage of £200k regarding the Skate Park project detailed in 3.4. The Interim Financial Services Manager would provide a written response to Members after the meeting.

 

          The Committee noted the report.

228.

Q1 Performance Report for the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) which form part of the Council’s Vision 2022-2026 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

This report sets out the performance of the Key Performance indicators at Quarter 1 for the period 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Group Head of Technical Services introduced the report to Committee. The report set out the performance of the Key Performance Indicators at Quarter 1 for the period 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023.

 

          The Chair then invited questions and it was asked whether there was an update on the surveyor vacancy shown at CP39. The Group Head of Technical Services explained a temporary administrator had been appointed to deal with the vacancy and the ill health within the team. A market supplement proposal had been developed for consideration, to try and address the position regarding the surveyor vacancy.

 

          The Committee noted the report.

229.

Public Space Protection Orders for Dogs for Adoption pdf icon PDF 148 KB

This report seeks to update Committee on the outcome of the public consultation process in relation to renewal of the PSPO for dogs, with recommendation to adopt an amended PSPO for a further three years until 2026.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Environmental Health Team Manager presented the report to Committee. The report sought to update Committee on the outcome of the public consultation process on the renewal of the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) for the control of dogs following the report brought to Committee in June. He explained the PSPOs covered Fouling of Land by Dogs; Dogs on Leads; Dogs Exclusions; and Dogs on Lead by Direction. The results of the consultation had been provided in appendix 2, which showed overall support for the suggested actions. The recommendations were to renew the PSPOs for a further three years from November 2023 with amendments to The Dogs on Leads schedule to include a further three areas, and to delegate authority to the Council’s Legal Services Team to seal the PSPOs.

 

          Members then took part in a question-and-answer session and the following points were made:

  • It was felt positive that there was roughly an equal split of feedback from both dog owners and people without dogs, and that dog owners were supportive of the recommendations.
  • What was the process for dealing with specific feedback such as dog fouling in certain areas? The Environmental Health Team Manager explained that this feedback would be disseminated to the relevant departments to take action as required.
  • Would dogs still be allowed in the majority of Hotham Park? The Environmental Health Team Manager confirmed dogs would still be allowed in the majority of the park.
  • It was suggested that an additional section in the report, showing how the specific feedback had been addressed by Officers, would have been beneficial.

 

          The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Blanchard-Cooper and seconded by Councillor Greenway.

 

         

          The Committee

 

RESOLVED that

 

1.   The renewal of the existing PSPOs for a further three years with effect from November 2023 be approved; with amendment to the Schedule within The Dogs on Leads PSPO to include the further three areas:

(i) Public Water play areas (fenced and unfenced) including Place St  Maur, Bognor Regis

(ii) Hotham Park Discovery Garden

(iii) West Beach Board Walk

 

2.   Authority be given to the Council’s Legal Services Team to seal the PSPOs as above in recommendation 1.

230.

Two Hour Town Centre Parking Schemes pdf icon PDF 181 KB

The Council, with partners, operate 2-hour parking schemes in Littlehampton and Bognor Regis to support town centre footfall. The current 2-hour parking schemes in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton town centres both expire in 2023. This report sets out proposals to continue 2-hour parking schemes in each town centre beyond 2023.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

[Councillor Blanchard-Cooper re-declared his Personal Interest as a Member of Littlehampton Town Council during discussion of this item]

 

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Group Head of Technical Services introduced the report to Committee. He explained that there were currently two town centre 2 hour free parking schemes in operation in the District, which both expired at the end of 2023. The purpose of these parking schemes was to support footfall in the town centres of Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. Both schemes currently used a cardboard clock disc.

 

In Littlehampton Arun made available 3 car parks and forwent car parking revenue from those 349 parking spaces. Littlehampton Town Council made a contribution to Arun of £28500 per annum towards this loss of revenue. Littlehampton Traders Partnership Ltd had been contributing £6,600 per annum, however were to be dissolved as they had been unable to collect the contributions from traders and owed the Council £14000 in outstanding contributions. Approximately 30,000 discs were produced and distributed to retailers each year at a cost of £4,500 per annum. The discs were given free of charge to drivers.

 

In Bognor Regis Arun made available 3 car parks and forwent car parking revenue from those 605 parking spaces. Bognor Regis Town Council made a contribution to Arun of £21000 per annum towards this loss of revenue. Bognor Regis Business Improvement District (BID) contributed £5000. Around 25,000 discs were produced and distributed to retailers each year by the BID at a cost of around £35-40K per annum. The discs were sold by the BID to businesses for £1.60, and the discs were retailed at £2 equating to gross profit for retailing businesses in total of around £10000 per annum.

 

There were limitations of the current scheme, which included misuse as carboard discs were impractical to enforce.  Some clocks were moved forward once the initial 2 hour free period had expired leading to further lost revenue to Arun; The cardboard disc scheme provided the Council with no data on use of the scheme. This meant there was no data on how much these schemes cost the Council to operate. If each disc obtained by a driver each year was used for just 1 hour on one occasion, taking account of the contributions from partners, the schemes cost Arun £28K per annum. If each disc was used on average once per month for 1 hour, the schemes cost Arun £935,500 every year. This lack of cost information was clearly unsatisfactory.

 

The proposal within the report would address these limitations. It was proposed to continue to operate two, 2 hour free parking schemes in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Arun would operate these schemes by moving to a virtual permit using software and the MiPermit app it already used successfully for all other types of parking permits. Arun would sell cardboard discs alongside the virtual permit during 2024 as a transition year. If agreement could not be reached with Town Councils,  who, along with the BID were not in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 230.

231.

Outside Bodies

Minutes:

Councillor Wiltshire gave an update on The Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group (LGA Coastal SIG).

 

(A copy of this report can be found on the Environment Committee Public Question Web page)

232.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 69 KB

The Committee is required to note the Work Programme for 2023/24.

[5 Minutes]

 

Minutes:

The Group Head of Technical Services presented the Work Programme to the Committee. He explained that a report on Bersted Brooks Park and a Budget Monitoring Report would be added onto the Work Programme for the November meeting.

 

The Committee noted the Work Programme.