Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: County Hall, Chichester

Contact: Katherine De La Mora on 033 022 22535  Email:  katherine.delamora@westsussex.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

38.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

38.1  In accordance with the code of conduct the following personal interests were declared:

 

·       Mr Nigel Jupp as member of Horsham District Council in relation to agenda item 4b, Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme Delivery.

·       Mr Bob Lanzer as a member of Crawley Borough Council in relation to agenda item 4a, West Sussex Full Fibre Programme

·       Mr Duncan Crow as member of Crawley Borough Council in relation to agenda item 4a, West Sussex Full Fibre Programme

39.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 78 KB

The Cabinet is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2020 (attached, cream paper).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

39.1  RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2020 be approved and signed by the Chairman. 

 

40.

Urgent Matters

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

40.1 Catherine Galvin, Head of Commissioning, Adults Services provided a short update on the Coronavirus Situation.

 

40.2  Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities updated on the work undertaken by the Fire and Rescue Service in response to the recent floods.

 

41.

Key Decisions

The Cabinet is asked to agree the following decisions as per the attached decision reports

 

·         West Sussex Full Fibre Programme (CAB13_19/20)

·         Horsham Enterprise Park – Scheme Delivery (CAB14_19/20)

 

The relevant Cabinet Member will introduce their respective report.

 

Scrutiny Committee Chairmen will be invited to speak for up to three minutes to provide the views of their Committee on proposals being considered by the Cabinet relevant to that Committee’s work.

 

Each of the main Opposition Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes each on any of the proposals.

 

The Cabinet will then discuss the proposal prior to the decision being taken.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

41.1  Mr Paul Marshall, Leader, introduced the item.

 

42.

West Sussex Full Fibre Programme (CAB13_19/20) pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved:

 

1.   To endorse that the Leader approves the proposals for the allocation of the business rate pool as recommended by the West Sussex Full Fibre Programme Board.

 

2.   To delegate to the Executive Director of Place Services the authority to implement the programme, including any project level key decisions, in consultation with West Sussex Councils’ Chief Executives Group and the Cabinet Member for Economy and Corporate Relations. 

 

 

The call-in deadline is 27 February 2020.

Minutes:

42.1  The Committee considered a report by Executive Director of Place Services (copy appended to the signed minutes). 

 

42.2  Mr Bob Lanzer, Cabinet Member for Economy and Corporate Resources, introduced the report and thanked officers for their work on the project. He confirmed that the full fibre project was shifting to focus on gigabit, which would provide greater speeds and therefore enable the use of more advanced technologies.   

 

42.3  Mrs Joy Dennis, Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee confirmed support for the project, recognising that the Committee had not had input into the current decision, and would welcome a process to do so.

 

42.4  Mr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group commented on the potential risk of the works on the street scene and pavements and the need to ensure that pavements are repaired to an appropriate standard. 

 

42.5  Cabinet were very supportive of the proposals and recognised the Countywide economic benefit that the project would have and welcomed the County Council using its position to help stimulate the local economy and business.

 

42.6  Cabinet also endorsed the partnership working with the district and boroughs on the project and welcomed the use of the pooled business rates. 

 

42.7 Cabinet recognised the importance of having assurance from any contractors being used for the groundworks to ensure pavements are restored to a good standard and that the guidance on this should be robust.  A ‘dig once’ approach should be adopted to ensure there is minimum disruption to residents. 

 

42.8  RESOLVED -  That Cabinet:

 

1.   Endorses that the Leader approves the proposals for the allocation of the business rate pool as recommended by the West Sussex Full Fibre Programme Board.

 

2.   Delegates to the Executive Director of Place Services the authority to implement the programme, including any project level key decisions, in consultation with West Sussex Councils’ Chief Executives Group and the Cabinet Member for Economy and Corporate Relations. 

43.

Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme Delivery (CAB14_19/20) pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved:

 

 

1.    To confirm the proposal to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme through a ‘development agreement’.

 

2.   To authorise the Director of Property and Assets to procure a development partner through an OJEU procurement process using the competitive procedure with negotiation (CPN), and to procure the work packages for enabling works through a non-OJEU procurement process.

 

3.   To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place Services to award the contract to the bidder submitting the most advantageous tender to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park scheme consistent with the outline planning permission to finalise negotiations on the contractual development agreement, and to award the contract or contracts for enabling works. 

 

4.   To authorise the use of £4.157m from the Horsham Enterprise Park capital programme allocation for site enabling works and infrastructure upgrades, professional services, internal project and contract management, and statutory approvals to be undertaken through existing contractual arrangements or framework agreements.

 

5.   To delegate authority to the Director of Property and Assets, in consultation with the Director of Highways and Transport, to consider and pursue options to enable and fund improvements to the junction of Wimblehurst Road and Parsonage Road, Horsham (adjacent to the site), and to sign a funding agreement if successful, subject to County Council governance. 

 

 

The call-in deadline is 27 February 2020. 

Minutes:

43.1  The Cabinet considered a report by Executive Director of Place Services and Director of Property and Assets (copy appended to the signed minutes). 

 

43.2  Mr Jeremy Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report highlighting the work that had developed since the purchase of the site in 2016.  The proposal was to now engage with a development partner with progress for the site predicated on meeting milestones for both the commercial and residential development.  The engagement of a delivery partner would assist in de-risking the site and enhance its value, recognising the need to develop at pace, with a target of Spring 2023 for the first phase. 

 

43.3  Mr Hunt highlighted the local concern in regard to Wimblehurst Road junction and confirmed that external funding was being explored. 

 

43.4  Mrs Joy Dennis, Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee confirmed that the Committee was generally supportive of the proposals and recognised the need to continue public engagement.

 

43.5  Mr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group, highlighted the change in vision for the site since its purchase and the impact that the additional housing could have on the area.  Mr Jones also highlighted the risk of the project not being financially viable due to the tight margins and queried if this was the best use of revenue funds.

 

43.6   Cabinet welcomed the progress on the project and recognised the economic benefits the site would provide including high end jobs and additional housing.  There was already interest in commercial space and a need to ensure it does not go to other areas of the country. 

 

44.7 Mr Paul Marshall, Leader added that the consideration for the junction improvements at Wimblehurst Road were welcome, should the funding be forthcoming.  The County Council needed to move at pace and the enabling work of securing a development partner was critical to this.

 

43.8  RESOLVED that Cabinet:

 

1.    Confirms the proposal to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park Scheme through a ‘development agreement’.

 

2.   Authorises the Director of Property and Assets to procure a development partner through an OJEU procurement process using the competitive procedure with negotiation (CPN), and to procure the work packages for enabling works through a non-OJEU procurement process.

 

3.   Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place Services to award the contract to the bidder submitting the most advantageous tender to deliver the Horsham Enterprise Park scheme consistent with the outline planning permission to finalise negotiations on the contractual development agreement, and to award the contract or contracts for enabling works. 

 

4.   Authorises the use of £4.157m from the Horsham Enterprise Park capital programme allocation for site enabling works and infrastructure upgrades, professional services, internal project and contract management, and statutory approvals to be undertaken through existing contractual arrangements or framework agreements.

 

5.   Delegates authority to the Director of Property and Assets, in consultation with the Director of Highways and Transport, to consider and pursue options to enable and fund improvements to the junction of Wimblehurst Road and Parsonage Road,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

44.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on 17 March 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

44.1  It was confirmed that the next meeting of Cabinet was scheduled for 18 March 2020, subject to forthcoming business.