Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personal interest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

37.1            No declarations of interest were made.

Cabinet Members are asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2021 (cream paper).

38.1            Resolved – that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Report by the Director of Finance and Support Services.

Scrutiny Committee Chairman and each of the main Minority Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes on the Council Plan and Revenue Budget for 2022/23.

The Cabinet will then discuss the report and proposals prior to taking any decision.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to:

Endorse the County Council Budget for 2022/23, as set out in Appendix A and Annex 1, the Capital Strategy set out in Annex 2(a) and the Treasury Management Statement set out in Annex 2(b), for approval by County Council on 18 February 2022.

The call-in deadline is 10 February 2022.

39.1            Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Finance and Support Services. Cllr Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property explained the key considerations in setting a balanced budget for 2022/23 in line with the priorities in the Council Plan with no additional savings required. Cllr Hunt acknowledged the crucial financial support from the Government in respect of the pandemic and highlighted the future challenges over the medium to long term. The budget proposes to increase the council tax rate by 1.99% and the adults’ social care precept by 1%.

39.2            Chairmen from each of the Scrutiny Committees welcomed and supported the budget and thanked Cabinet and officers for its preparation and production. Financial strengths were noted, as were the challenges and risks ahead. The need to continue to lobby the Government to help meet the needs of residents was highlighted as was the importance of longer-term planning. They asked that future savings proposals and budget plans be brought to their respective committees and for member briefings as early as possible.

39.3            Cllr Kirsty Lord, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group recognised the delivery of a balanced budget and noted that the assumptions were transparent and detailed. Cllr Lord felt there should be a greater focus on delivering for residents and the impact upon them of a council tax increase. Cllr Lord noted the significant costs expected in adult social care and that support from MPs and the Government is required. Cllr Caroline Baxter, Leader of the Labour Group was pleased to see a balanced budget for 2022/23 without the need for significant savings. She suggested that the council take a more holistic approach to delivering better outcomes for residents which recognised the increase in living costs.

39.4            The following points were made by Cabinet Members in discussion:

Ø  Cllr Steve Waight, Cabinet Member for Support Services and Economic Development felt the budget enabled the delivery of the council plan for residents. He highlighted work in the areas of insourcing services, the people framework, economic development and partnership working. He commended the budget with an exciting year ahead to bring improvements for businesses, residents and staff.

Ø  Cllr Bob Lanzer, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing recognised the support from central government which had helped the budget. He welcomed the increase in the Improved Better Care Fund which would help to integrate health and social care. Cllr Lanzer said the budget was directed at supporting the council plan and meeting the needs of residents, with an increase in revenue spending despite the big challenges. The increase of £100m in the Capital Programme was prudent and affordable. Cllr Lanzer hoped the profile of Public Health and Wellbeing would continue to rise even after the recovery from the pandemic.

Ø  Cllr Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults Services highlighted that 95% of the Adult Services budget related to the cost of funding care needs of residents. The proposed increase of 1% for the adult social care element of council tax  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Report by the Executive Director of Adults and Health.

The Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee and each of the main Minority Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes on the Adult Social Care Strategy (2022-2025).

The Cabinet will then discuss the report prior to taking any decision. 

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to:

Approve the strategy ‘The life you want to lead – Adult Social Care in West Sussex’.

The call-in deadline is 10 February 2022.

40.1            Cabinet considered a report by the Executive Director Adults and Health. The report was introduced by Cllr Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services who outlined that work had been underway since September 2021 to bring together the longer-term vision and strategy of the service. The strategy had been co-designed with customers, staff, carers and partners to understand better what people needed and how to meet their expectations. The strategy is an articulation of the voices of people who access care and those who are carers, placing them at the centre of how the service plans its priorities. The strategy is structured by social connections within communities, empowerment, choice, control and flexibility, information and advice. The Cabinet Member looked forward to working with the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee who would be involved in monitoring progress.

40.2            Keith Hinkley, Executive Director of Adults and Health advised that the strategy would give a platform to undertake work in 2022/23 on how services would be reshaped. There are significant challenges ahead including workforce, social care reform and meeting the needs of an ageing community. The strategy provides a framework consistent with the council’s priorities.

40.3            Cllr Garry Wall, Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee welcomed the report and strategy as outlined. He felt it demonstrated a longsightedness and that the role of the Committee would be in supporting the development and implementation and in measuring its success. Cllr Wall welcomed the sentiments of empowerment, support for home living, connectivity, signposting of services and the important role of carers. The strategy recognised and should therefore deliver the needs of the community.

40.4            Cllr Caroline Baxter, Leader of the Labour group thanked those involved, including residents, in the production of the strategy and welcomed the emphasis on co-design. Cllr Baxter supported the aspirations of the strategy but had concerns about how successes would be measured and what the key targets were. Cllr Baxter saw the strategy as an opportunity to demonstrate how the council responded and addressed the challenging future for Adult Social Care in light of national policy developments.

40.5            The following points were made by Cabinet Members in discussion:

Ø  Cllr Nigel Jupp, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills commended the report and strategy. As an important topic and area of expenditure for the council, he felt it important that policies were refreshed as things move forward.

Ø  Cllr Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change supported the strategy and the beginning of the journey and that policy, delivery plans and measures would be developed in due course.

Ø  Cllr Steve Waight, Cabinet Member for Support Services and Economic Development highlighted the impressive amount of consultation and collaboration. He added that detail and Key Performance Indicators would develop in the future.

40.6            The Leader advised the council plan set the tone and direction for the future and with significant changes to social care, there was a lot of work to do to understand the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

The Cabinet is asked to agree the recommendation as set out in the report and will discuss the proposal prior to taking any decision.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to:

Approve the appointment of Cllr Donna Johnson to fill the vacancy on the Chichester Harbour Conservancy for the remainder of the Council term (May 2025).

The call-in deadline is 10 February 2022.

41.1            Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

41.2            Resolved - that Cabinet approve the appointment of Cllr Donna Johnson to fill the vacancy on the Chichester Harbour Conservancy for the remainder of the Council term (May 2025).

The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on 15 March 2022.

42.1            The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on 15 March 2022.