Decisions

Use the below search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the council’s decision making bodies.

Alternatively you can visit the officer decisions page for information on officer delegated decisions that have been taken by council officers.

Earlier - Later

Decisions published

19/10/2020 - Standards Committee - 24 September 2020 - New Social Media Guidance for Councillors ref: 362    Recommendations Approved

This report seeks the views of the Standards Committee relating to a new Social Media Guidance document for Councillors.  It is open to Standards Committee to recommend that Cabinet endorse the Guidance in whole, or with amendments.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 19/10/2020

Decision:

Cabinet

 

            RESOLVED

 

            That the Social Media Guidance for Councillors be referred back to the next meeting of the Standards Committee for further discussion.


19/10/2020 - The Council's Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic Situation ref: 361    Recommendations Approved

This report updates Cabinet on the Council’s response to the pandemic situation and possible proposals for economic recovery.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 19/10/2020

Decision:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dr Walsh, introduced this item confirming that this was another of the Chief Executive’s regular updates to Cabinet and had been based on the weekly updates sent to all Councillors and partners. 

 

The Chairman stated that unfortunately, only a few weeks ago, it had been thought that we were coming out of this dreadful pandemic, but things had since changed dramatically.  Whilst the prevalence of the virus remained low across West Sussex, there were some peaks around and outside of the District that the Council needed to watch carefully. 

 

The Chief Executive then guided Cabinet through some of the essential detail in the update report.  He confirmed that the Council’s Environmental Health team continued to support local businesses and workplaces regarding the new restrictions in place and that Central Government had allocated £75k in additional resources to assist this work.  Also, funding had been provided to meet the £500 payment for those having to self-isolate. The Council was already administering this money to these in need, with this latest payment scheme being up and running quickly from 12 October 2020.  Overall, in relation to Covid-19, the points made earlier about savings and income generating ideas, Officers would continue to work with Cabinet Members to reduce additional costs and raise additional income. Every effort was being made to try to keep Covid-19 costs to a minimum.

 

Before inviting Cabinet Members to discuss the report, the Chairman confirmed that he wished to have placed on record his tribute to staff who were keeping everything going in additional to managing the extra work as a result of Covid-19.

 

Cabinet echoed these comments and congratulations were extended also to the Council’s Revenues and Benefits team who were actively now administering the £500 paid for those having to self-Isolate. Staff had managed to set up the payment scheme through the Northgate system very quickly and were very thoroughly scrutinising application received as the first two received had been fraudulent and picked up and dealt with by Officers.

 

Other question asked by Non-Cabinet Members were around Test and Trace as it was understood that this would become a Local Authority responsibility.  Could any update be provided on this in terms of costings as it had been suggested that the company responsible to date had been charging for the service. The Chief Executive confirmed that WSCC would be administering this and that he was awaiting a response back in terms of costings.  It was agreed that once this response had been received, it would be included in the weekly briefings that he and the Leader of the Council provided to Councillors. The Chief executive was asked how much support Arun might need to give and it was agreed that the response to this would be provided in the weekly briefing.

 

 

            A further question was asked in relation to Test and Trace and the support to be given to local communities. The question related to local secondary schools where cases had been reported that there were several year groups precluded from going to school.  The concern was that some of these students were out and about in the community when they should be at home isolating.  Did the Council have a plan to support local schools and how was it undertaking tracing these young people and preventing them from being out. The Chairman responded stating that this was a WSCC function as the Local Education Authority. The Chief Executive added to this stating that he had been in discussion with WSCC, from an enforcement perspective.  The £75k grant paid to the Council was to be used to assist with enforcement and the 75k would be used for environmental health teams to be going out and working in the community.  In terms of the issues raised about young people, part of the enforcement work would cover this type of enforcement.

 

 

            Following some discussion, the Cabinet

 

                        RESOLVED – That

 

(1)          The actions taken to date be noted; and

 

(2)          It be noted that following the discussion at Cabinet on 21 September 2020 in relation to the recommendations from the Covid-19 Recovery Working Party held on 8 September 2020, the Chief Executive will present a report to Cabinet on 16 November 2020 which will prioritise the recommendations and identify any costs.

 

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/024/191020, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.

 


19/10/2020 - The Council's Future Financial Issues ref: 355    Recommendations Approved

The Council’s 151 Officer has provided various reports over recent months highlighting the Council’s current financil position and the scale of our financial issues for the futrue.  Whilst acknowledging the lack of clarity (due to various uncertainties), this report provides an update on possible financial measures to help future deficits.

 

Officers request that Cabinet considers the items identified and advise on the way forward.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 29/10/2020

Decision:

Cabinet

 

            RESOLVED

 

            That the report be noted and Officers be instructed to proceed with each proposal.


19/10/2020 - Supplementary Estimate for the Procurement and Award of a New Housing Management IT System ref: 360    Recommendations Approved

This report provides a budgetary update in respect of the procurement and award of a new Integrated Housing Management IT System contract for a period of four years. The project is anticipated to cost c£600k. 

In order to commence the project in the current financial year a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) supplementary capital estimate of £160k and a virement of £240k from within existing 2020/21 HRA budgets is requested. Provision will be made in the 2021/22 Housing Revenue Account budget for the £200k balance.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 29/10/2020

Decision:

Cabinet

            RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL

            The approval of a Housing Revenue Account supplementary estimate of £160k (which equates to a weekly rent of 92p per dwelling) for the costs associated with the procurement and implementation of a new integrated housing management IT system. 

Cabinet

            RESOLVED – That

           

(1)  the virement of £240k be approved from existing budgets - £140k from capital budget x 25 and £100k from revenue contingency underspend;

 

(2)  the procurement and award of a 2+1+1 Contract be approved to a total value of £500k (inclusive of maintenance and support costs_ of a new Integrated Housing Management System, subject to Full Council approving the above supplementary estimate;

 

(3)  the ongoing maintenance and support costs for the new system of £50k of which £15k is accounted for within existing budgets be noted.


19/10/2020 - Renewal of the Maintenance Contract for the HR/Payroll IT System ref: 359    Recommendations Approved

The maintenance contract for the Council’s HR/Payroll IT system (SumTotal) is due for renewal. The Council has the option of agreeing an ongoing ‘evergreen’ maintenance contract without undertaking a tender process as permitted by Regulation 32(2)(b) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 29/10/2020

Decision:

Cabinet

 

RESOLVED - That

(1)  the renewal of the maintenance contract for the HR/Payroll IT system with SumTotal, on an ‘Evergreen’ basis, subject to the procurement requirements being met, as set out below; be agreed and

(2)  delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Corporate Support to sign and enter into the renewal contract on behalf of the Council.


19/10/2020 - Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) - Dog Controls ref: 358    Recommendations Approved

This report informs Cabinet of the findings of a public consultation exercise to review the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) Dog Controls which expires in October 2020 and recommends to Cabinet options for a new PSPOs to be effective from 06 November 2020.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 29/10/2020

Decision:

Cabinet

 

        RESOLVED – That

 

(1)  to adopt the proposed Public Space Protection Orders, to be effective from 6 November 2020;

(2)  the proposed Public Space Protection Orders be as shown in Appendix A.

a.    The Fouling of Land by Dogs.

 

b.    Dogs on Leads by Direction.

 

c.    Dogs Exclusion.

 

d.    Dogs on Leads.

 


19/10/2020 - Engineering Services Annual Review ref: 357    Recommendations Approved

This report is presented as an update on the Council’s Engineering Service Area and explores the issues addressed in the preceding year and outlines matters that have arisen, or are foreseen for the coming year, across the service area.

 

Specific matters relating to the Pagham coastal defences, River Arun Internal Drainage Board, Community Flood Fund and Defra/Environment Agency recently published document are included.  This report also recommends that the Council considers designating a Coastal Change Management Area.

 

The report also seeks to request future budgetary provision for a number of these matters particularly proposed future expenditure at Pagham and a continuation of the Community Flood Fund.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 29/10/2020

Decision:

The Cabinet Member for Technical Services, Councillor Stanley, introduced the Engineering Services Annual Review for 2020 confirming that this covered all aspects of the Engineering Service for the past year as well as identifying the issues lying ahead.

 

Councillor Stanley stated that there were several issues that involved consideration of significant financial sums and he invited the Group Head of Technical Services and the Engineering Services Manager to highlight the most important issues and to answer questions from Members.  

 

            The Engineering Services Manager explained that the report looked at the Council’s engineering services operations looking both backwards and forwards.  He referred to the Community Flood Fund which had benefited a range of schemes on the coast and inland worth around £10m across the District.  The report sought a modest top up to that fund which would enable the Council to continue to bring forward much needed works by the Council and its partners.  Turning to Pagham, the report set out how the Council had managed the situation following the natural breach and regrowth of the spit which was the underlying problem in the area.  The Council was continuing with the adaptive management approach but outlined that it should be noted that the current method of reducing risk to life and property relied very heavily on there being a reliable source of shingle and other various constraints.  Accordingly, the Council was looking at all other options with its partners and outlined that the recently announced Innovative Flood and Coastal Resilience Fund would be explored.  Regarding the Coastal Change Management Area, this was an investigatory way forward and it was outlined that the Council was not proposing a (CCMA) at this time, as this was not a straightforward process.  The Engineering Services Manager then mentioned the other aspects of the section’s work being internal drainage boards and issues surrounding the River Arun IDB. 

 

The Chairman invited Cabinet debate.  Cabinet welcomed the report and although had heard that a CCMA would not be introduced at this time, felt that the Council needed to investigate this with some urgency in view of climate change emergency measures. 

 

            Points raised by non-Cabinet Councillors related to Climping and a further update was requested.  The Chairman reminded Councillors that the Climping frontage was the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA) and not the Council, though the Council was in constant dialogue with the EA in terms of pushing forward a resolution to this matter.  The Engineering Services Manager outlined that work behind the scenes had explored all ways that the Littlehampton Economic Growth Area (LEGA) scheme could contribute and that other methods of providing the defence in terms of a ‘mini Medmerry’, similar to that at Selsey was being investigated, although the Climping topography was not favourable in that respect. The Council was also looking to see if the Innovative Flood and Coastal Resilience Programme could assist.

 

            Questions were also asked about Elmer and whether the provision of boulders over the years had improved the situation.

           

Following further discussion,

           

          The Cabinet

           

                        RESOLVED – That

 

(1)  The report be noted;

 

(2)  The contributions from the Community Flood Fund at Paragraph 1.4.3 of the report be approved;

 

(3)  A £50,000 ‘top’ up to the Community Flood Fund in the 2021/22 Budget be endorsed;

 

(4)  Support be given to the Council making a bid to the DEFA/EA Innovative Flood and Coastal Resilience Programme;

 

(5)  The inclusion of £50,000 in each of 2021/22 and 2022/23 to be available for the purpose of beach material recycling at Pagham beach be endorsed;

 

(6)  Approval be given to the use of the Community Flood Fund to supplement the Coast Protection revenue budget, subject to approval in accordance with the scheme of delegation, not to exceed a total of £50,000 per annum;

 

(7)  Authorisation be given to the Engineering Services Manager to undertake the necessary preparatory work relating to the three new schemes shown within Appendix 1 to the report, and to make funding applications to the Environment Agency; and

 

(8)  Authorisation be given to Officers to enter discussions regarding new arrangements relating to the River Arun Internal Drainage Board in accordance with Paragraph 1.10.5 of the report.

 

The Cabinet also

 

            RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL

 

            That a supplementary estimate be approved for a sum of £30,000 (which equates to a Band D Council Tax equivalent of £0.48) with underspends carried forward to future financial years, to investigate the introduction of a Coastal Change Management Area.

 

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/019/191020, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.

 


19/10/2020 - Response to the Planning White Paper - Planning for the Future ref: 356    Recommendations Approved

On 6 August, the Government published a White Paper – Planning for the Future – for consultation.  The consultation period expires on 29 October 2020.

 

Consultation description:

 

‘The Planning for the future consultation proposes reforms of the planning system to streamline and modernise the planning process, bring a new focus to design and sustainability, improve the system of developer contributions to infrastructure, and ensure more land is available for development where it is needed’.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 19/10/2020 - Cabinet

Decision published: 19/10/2020

Effective from: 29/10/2020

Decision:

Cabinet

 

            RESOLVED

 

            To note the contents, of and proposals, within the White Paper, and agree to the responses to the consultation questions contained with Appendix 1, with the comments raised at the meeting being added to the responses by the Group Head of Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Plannning.