Agenda and minutes

There were apologies received from Councillors Edwards, Needs and Stanley.

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

There were no declarations of interest made.

The Committee will be asked to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Economy Committee held on 16 April 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 April were approved by the Committee and signed by the Chair.

There were no urgent items presented at the meeting.

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

There were no Public Questions received for the meeting.

Members are required to agree its meeting start time for the municipal year 2024-2025.

The Chair proposed that the committee meeting start time remain at 6pm for the remainder of the municipal year, this was duly seconded by the Vice-Chair.

The Committee

          RESOLVED

          That meeting start times remain at 6pm for 2024-25.

The report is to update the committee on the end of year performance of the Vision indicators for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. 

The Interim CEO and Director of Growth presented the report to members.

Members then noted the report.

The report is to update the Committee on the Q4 and end of year Performance Outturn for the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which make up the Corporate Plan, for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. 

The Interim CEO and Director of Growth presented the report to members.

During a short debate it was queried if the reason Boots had left Litthampton highstreet was known where it was advised it was not, however, it was known that the business had undertaken a review of the number of businesses across the country. It was also asked if since the regeneration work had been completed in the town had the council bee actively marketing the empty units in the highstreet. It was confirmed that specific marketing for indivdual properties had not been completed. however members would be aware of the worrk undertaken by the Town Task Force that was run by Littlehampton Town Council and that Arun District Council contributed to. It was highlighted that there was difficulty experienced due to the number of different Landlords involved across the properties. However, discussions were ongoing with many options avaliable for consideration.

Members then noted the report

The report is to update Committee on the Council’s gas supply arrangements and to seek authority for the renewal of the corporate gas supply contract for financial years 2025 to 2029.

The Property & Estates Facilities Manager presented the report to members and confirmed that Lazer energy had been appointment through the procurement process. 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Woodman and seconded by Councillor Northeast.

Members requested clarity on the purpose of the recommendations before them where it was stated that in order for the Council to achieve the best purchasing price it needed to enter into an agreement and the process that was being followed was fully compliant. A query on timing stated in paragraph 6.2 of the report was raised, it was confirmed that a decision was required now to ensure that the council could obtain a best value contract. Finally, it was queried if the rate secured would be a variable or fixed rate, it was confirmed that variable was to be sought.

The Committee

          RESOLVED that

2.1 Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Technical Services to enter into a new four-year corporate gas supply contract commencing 1 April 2025, and.

2.2 Authorised the Group Head of Technical Services to sign the contract using DocuSign rather than executing as a Deed.

The report presents options to the committee in relation to current beach hut leases which are due to expire on 31 March 2025.

The Property Estates & Facilities Manager presented the report to members. He explained that the report provided members with a summary of the current position relating to rental beach huts, the leases expire on 31 March 2025. In considering all options included with the report was a detailed market appraisal, detail on appropriate rent setting and it outlines various courses of action including day hire, which was not recommended. The report recommends that the council offers to grant 92 existing and 13 additional beach huts for lease for a period of 3 years and that rents be initially uplifted by 15% and then reviewed annually in accordance with RPI. 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Nash and seconded by Councillor Woodman

The Chair invited members to discuss the report and ask questions, Councillor Northeast was the first member invited to speak he stated that he was happy with the report and the accessible beach huts that were being implemented, however, he hoped for more and further work to be considered to ensure the beach was truly accessible for all, he also highlighted that there was a long waiting list for people wanting the beach huts which showed demand, due to this he proposed that the rents should be increased to 20% and the additional funds received from this increase be used to make the Beach more accessible to compliment the accessible beach huts. This was then seconded by Councillor Lawrence

The Chair then invited members to discuss the amendment that had been duly proposed and seconded where the following points were raised during the debate. It was asked if the waiting list for those wating for beach huts had been reviewed since the cost-of-living crisis and did the council know how many of those on the list, were in fact still waiting it was felt that the suggested increase in the report and now the proposal increase could further impact those waiting to change their mind. There was also a query in relation to the lessees being able to lease out the beach hut themselves and was this still to be offered by the council. A suggestion was then made by another member that should lessees be able to lease out the beach huts themselves, there should be a space on the council’s website that details this information so it can be known which beach huts are impacted, it was also suggested that any revenue made from this activity, the council should take a percentage of that fee.

The Chair reminded members to stick to discussing the amendment put forward by Councillor Northeast. 

The location of the accessible beach huts was queried, it was confirmed that there were 2 locations for the accessible beach huts. On this basis it was then highlighted that the proposal to improve the accessibility of the beach, whilst well intentioned, would require that 2 separate locations would require improvement, immediately increasing the cost and therefore had there been any costings completed on how much the proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

The report explores the redevelopment potential of brownfield land currently occupied by the Regis Car Park and former Brewers Fayre bringing forward ideas for a Leisure & Tourism led development with public/private car parking reprovision and multi-outlet food and beverage offer.

The Interim CEO and Director of Growth presented the report to members, explaining back in April 2024 members consider a previous report of the former Brewers Fayre Site, members requested to know the plans for the site next door to this site and the report before members today was addressing this request. He then ran through the appendices accompanying the report outlining their purpose. He then went on to remind members that the proposition for the Brewers Fayre site was to knock down the building to recreate a functional multi use space with an additional facility above potentially in the form of a restaurant to make the best use of the views out to sea. In terms of the Regis Centre car park, the vision document sets out a development which meets the brief of providing leisure as well as food and drink, whilst ensuring the car parking provision is re-provided. Also linked to this there are proposals for additional retail units that would wrap around this development. He explained that the key question was what kind of enabling development may be necessary to allow for all of that work to be delivered. Members were clear previously that they did not want residential development to be the enabling development, so it had been suggested that the inclusion of holiday accommodation be included. Officers want to test the market to see if there would be demand for this type of development, there was also a requirement to secure a developer to come on board with the project with the council to get it off the ground. In summing up he then ran through and explained the recommendations before members.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Oppler and seconded by Councillor Lury.

The Chair invited members to debate where concern was raised regarding paragraphs 2.3b and 2.6b of which referred to consultation aspect of these proposals and when would the public be consulted, would it be at the Planning stage, part of the BID process. It was confirmed that public consultation would take place at many points throughout the project, should members be supportive of the recommendations before them then there would be public consultation on these plans very soon and certainly at the Planning stages.

It was the commented by the Leader of the Council that the location for this project was a prime site in Bognor Regis and he believed that the council needed to be bold and ambitious. Plans had been being reviewed since 2002 so this had been an ambition that had been waiting a long time to come to fruition, he stated that the need to encourage more tourists to the area was vital for the economy, the current plans were exciting, in particular the idea of a raised viewing platform would be a great addition. He agreed with the previous comments made relating to public consultation and expressed his support for this to be undertaken to ensure that the public would be on board with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

There were no updates presented at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to note its Work Programme for 2024/25.

The Work Programme for 2024-25 was noted by Members.

The Committee is asked to consider passing the following resolution: -

          That under Section 100a (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and accredited representatives of newspapers be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act by virtue of the paragraph specified against the item.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Lury and seconded by Councillor Woodman.

The Committee

          RESOLVED

That under Section 100a (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and accredited representatives of newspapers be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act by virtue of the paragraph specified against the item.

A report to request authority for the variation of the lease demise held by The Little Lookout Ltd to facilitate the new landscaping and planting of the west beach green for the Littlehampton seafront project.

The Senior Estates Surveyor presented the report to members.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Woodman and seconded by Councillor Northeast.

Members then took part in a debate where a number of questions were asked, full answers were provided by the officer and Interim CEO and Director of Growth.

The Committee

                     RESOLVED

2.1. To grant authority for the Council to enter into a surrender of the existing Old Coastguard Tower lease at the Promenade, Littlehampton whether by express surrender or variation of the existing lease with the existing tenant.

2.2. To delegate authority to the Group Head of Technical Services  to grant a new lease of the Old Coastguard Tower at the Promenade Littlehampton to the existing tenant on the same terms as the original lease dated 10 October 2012 (as varied on 16 November 2023) aside from an altered demise regarding the swap of an external area for the location of a bin and bike store and general modernisation to facilitate the delivery of the Littlehampton Sea front project, whether by express grant or variation of the existing lease.

2.3. To agree to pay the tenant’s reasonable legal and surveying fees that can be met from within existing project budgets

To request authority for the variation of the lease demise held by Mitchell & Butler PLC to facilitate the new West Green car park layout for the Littlehampton seafront project.

The Senior Estates Surveyor presented the report to members.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Nash and seconded by Councillor Northeast.

Clarification was sought in relation to surrendering the lease on the whole site, the officer provided a full answer to the question asked.

The Committee

                     RESOLVED

2.1. To grant authority for the Council to enter into a surrender of the existing lease of the Harvester restaurant site dated 5 January 2000, at Windmill Road, Littlehampton, whether by express surrender or variation, with the existing tenant.

2.2. To delegate authority to the Group Head of Technical Services to grant a new lease of land to the east of Windmill Road, Littlehampton to the existing tenant of the Harvester site on the same terms as the original lease dated 5 January 2000, aside from an altered demise regarding the swap of car parking spaces, an altered right of way and general modernisation to facilitate the delivery of the Littlehampton Sea Front project, whether by express grant or variation of the existing lease.