Agenda item

Work Programme 2020/21

To review and consider any changes needed to the approved work programme for 2020/21.

Minutes:

The Group Head of Neighbourhood Services and the Group Head of Community Wellbeing presented the Work Programme for 2020/21 to the Working Group.

 

§  The Work Programme attached to the agenda was emailed to Members on 16 November 2021 which addressed the requests that were put forward at the last Working Group meeting. 

 

§  Programme for March meeting includes:

o   Place St Maur

o   Enforcement Contract Update

o   Flooding – Roger Spencer, Engineering Manager will be attending the meeting

o   Wellbeing Review – standing Annual item

o   Local Community Network

§  At the bottom of the report it was noted that the various other reports would be coming forward under the new Committee Structure meetings including

o   Place St Maur update

o   Littlehampton Keystone Project

o   Pollution – 2 reports from Nat Slade, Group Head of Technical Services

 

§  Cllr Gunner referred to the minutes of last meeting and stated that the updated Work Programme did not address all of the concerns he raised at the last meeting, i.e.  Coast & Foreshores, Parks & Open Spaces, Dog Fouling, Pollutions, Cycling and Cllr Dixon raised Southern Water.  He asked for an explanation where the responses to these suggestions were.  The Group Head of Neighbourhood Services explained that it was his understanding that all suggestions had been covered.  The reports on climate change, parks and open spaces included climate change and initiatives on tree planting.  If there were more specific requests, then these could be looked at.  Dog fouling and enforcement are part of the East Hants project, and this report, together with Pollution will be covered by the reports from the Group Head of Technical Services.  Recycling is something that we haven’t specifically identified but would be coming forward at part of the Cleansing Contract Review which would be going to the Overview Select Committee in March 2021.

§  Cllr Thurston requested the biodiversity plan that was passed by Full Council in late summer for a plan which was easily accessible for the public.    The Director of Services advised that we are very happy to do work on any of these subjects but to produce the biodiversity work is an officer capacity issue at present. 

§  Cllr Dixon commented Southern Water are a statutory consultee.  Every planning application they confirm the work can be done but they are discharging into Pagham harbour and being fined.  Can Southern Water be added to the work programme?  The Director of Services said if the Working Group wished to invite Southern Water to a future meeting then the questions can be put forward.  The Committee Services Manager advised that a request for Southern Water was made by the Overview Select Committee not at this Working Group.  Cllr Dixon felt a way forward was that officers give a summary of Southern Waters contributions over the last two years, the number of planning applications that they have agreed and the breaches they have made in Pagham Harbour etc.  Southern Water could then be invited to discuss.  The Director of Services advised that the team present are not the team to complete this work and would be a Planning Officer role. She advised that she would, explore this request with the Group Head of Technical Services and The Director of Place to see if this would be something that the team could assist with. Cllr Bicknell advised that the information regarding Southern Water discharges could be obtained from the Environment Agency. 

§  Cllr Gunner asked for confirmation that the Working Group would amend the Work Programme tonight to include Southern Water for the meeting in March? He also asked for the outcome of those discussions that took place on his and Cllr Staniforth suggestions six months ago. The Director of Services advised that she believed Cllr Mrs Staniforth received the response and the answer from the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services and that was what we had incorporated into the Work Programme. She then requested for Cllr Gunner to contact her outside of the meeting for any further discussion on the matter and she would do her best to assist.

 

It was agreed that Sothern Water would be added to the work programme subject to confirmation from them accepting the invite to attend a meeting with the Working Group.

 

          The Working Group then agreed to note the update provided.

 

Supporting documents: