Agenda and minutes

Venue: County Hall, Chichester

Contact: Clare Jones on 033 022 22526  Email:  clare.jones@westsussex.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

90.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

90.1     Apologies were received from Lt Col Barton, Mrs Bridges, Mrs Brunsdon, Mr Cloake, Mrs Dennis, Mrs Flynn, Mr Magill and Mr Simmons.

 

90.2     Mrs Smith was absent.

 

90.3     Apologies for the afternoon session were received from Mrs Arculus and Mrs Burgess.

 

90.4     Mr Markwell was absent for the afternoon session.  Mr Baldwin, Mrs Jones, Ms Lord and Mr R J Oakleyleft at 3.55 p.m.

91.

Members' Interests pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Members are asked to disclose any pecuniary or personal interests in matters appearing on the agenda.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

91.1     Members declared interests as set out at Appendix 1.

92.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 186 KB

The Council is asked to confirm the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the County Council held on 17 December 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

92.1     It was agreed that the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the County Council held on 17 December 2019 (pages 5 to 40) be approved as a correct record.

93.

Review of Proportionality pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Following the decision of the Council at its last meeting to establish a Fire & Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee, the Council is asked to review the proportionality on its committees. A brief explanation of the proportionality rules and how they are applied is set out in the attached report together with a table showing the number of seats on committees.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

93.1     Following the decision of the Council at its last meeting to establish a Fire & Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee, the Council was asked to review the proportionality on its committees.  A paper on the application of the proportionality rules and how they were applied, together with a table showing the number of seats on committees, was set out on pages 41 and 42.

 

93.2     Resolved –

 

That the proportionality on committees be agreed.

94.

Appointments pdf icon PDF 44 KB

Following the review of proportionality required for the establishment of the new scrutiny committee, to consider appointments to that committee plus any proposed changes by the Groups to appointments.  Proposals will be circulated and appointments to the new committee and any other changes will take effect from the end of the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

94.1     The Council approved appointments as set out below.

 

Committee

Change

Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee

Mr Baldwin to fill vacancy

Ms Goldsmith in place of Mrs Bridges

Mr Quinn in place of Mr Jones

Mr Jones as substitute in place of Mr Quinn

Mrs Millson to fill vacancy as substitute

Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee

Ms Sudan in place of Mrs Smith

Mr Jones in place of Ms Sudan as substitute

Fire & Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee

Mrs Arculus

Mr Barnard (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Edwards

Mr Jones

Mrs Pendleton

Mr Smytherman

Mr Waight (Chairman)

Mr Barrett-Miles as substitute

Mr Oxlade as substitute

Dr Walsh as substitute

Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee

Mr Bradford to fill vacancy

Planning Committee

Mr Burrett and Mr Montyn to fill vacancies

Mrs Millson to fill vacancy

Ms Lord as substitute

Rights of Way Committee

Mrs Brunsdon to fill vacancy

Corporate Parenting Panel

Mrs Jones to fill vacancy

 

95.

Address by a Cabinet Member pdf icon PDF 86 KB

At the discretion of the Chairman, to receive any address by a Cabinet Member on a matter of urgency and/or significant interest to the County Council and which relates to the powers and responsibilities of the County Council or which affects the Council.

 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People will make a statement on the Council’s Children First Improvement Plan.  A report will be provided to members ahead of the Council meeting.  Members may ask questions of the Cabinet Member in accordance with Standing Order 2.33.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

95.1     Members asked questions of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People on the Council’s Children First Improvement Plan.

 

95.2     In response to a question from Dr Walsh about the placing of West Sussex children out of county, the Cabinet Member agreed to discuss with the team the reasons for it not being suitable for particular children to be placed closer to West Sussex and to report back to Dr Walsh.

96.

Revenue Budget 2020/21, Capital Strategy 2020-25 and Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 61 KB

The Council is asked to consider and approve the revenue budget for 2020/21, the Capital Strategy 2020-25 and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/21, in the light of a report pack by the Cabinet Member for Finance which is enclosed with the agenda.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

96.1     The Cabinet Member for Finance moved the report on the Revenue Budget 2020/21, Capital Strategy 2020-25 and Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/21.

 

96.2     An amendment was moved by Dr Walsh and seconded by Ms Lord.

 

Revenue Budget 2020/21

 

Changes to the Revenue Budget

2020/21

2020/21

2021/22

2021/22

 

Growth
£m

Reduction
£m

Growth
£m

Reduction
£m

Ongoing changes

 

 

 

 

Reverse the proposed cut to the post-16 support service that provides interventions and careers guidance for young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs).

0.100

 

 

 

Continue the ESIF funding for the post-16 support service that ceases on 31 December 2020.

0.057

 

0.173

 

Reverse Local Assistance Network (LAN) budget cut agreed by Cabinet at its meeting in December 2019 (decision report CAB05 (19/20)).

0.100

 

 

 

Fund two additional posts to accelerate progress to tackle the climate change emergency: Climate Change Emergency Lead Officer at around £75-80k pa on-costed, to coordinate the corporate response to the climate change emergency, internally and develop joint working with others, especially districts and boroughs.  Data & Information Officer at around £40-45k pa on-costed, reporting to Climate Change Lead Officer.

0.120

 

 

 

Fund two additional officer posts and consultancy support to explore opportunities for improvements in sustainable travel.  One post to work on Enhanced Bus Quality Partnerships and with the Transport for South East on regional franchising and another post to drive forward work on new cycling schemes to include the feasibility of delivering a mini Holland concept in West Sussex.

0.150

 

 

 

Reduce the Communications budget by 35% in 2020/21 and a further 11% in 2021/22
(Communications 2020/21 net budget is £1.519m).

 

0.527

 

0.173

Total ongoing changes

0.527

0.527

0.173

0.173

Total changes

0.527

0.527

0.173

0.173

 

96.3     The amendment was put to a recorded vote under Standing Order 3.36.

 

(a)         For the amendment – 13

 

Mr Buckland, Dr Dennis, Mr Jones, Ms Lord, Mrs Millson, Dr O’Kelly Mr Oppler, Mr Oxlade, Mr Purchese, Mr Quinn, Mr Smytherman, Ms Sudan and Dr Walsh.

 

(b)         Against the amendment - 41

 

Mr Acraman, Lt Cdr Atkins, Mr Baldwin, Mr Barling, Mr Barnard, Mr Barrett-Miles, Mrs Bennett, Mr Boram, Mr Bradbury, Mr Bradford, Mr Burrett, Mr Catchpole, Mr Crow, Mr Edwards, Mr Elkins, Mr Fitzjohn, Ms Goldsmith, Mrs Hall, Mr High, Mr Hillier, Mr Hunt, Mrs Jupp, Mr Jupp, Ms Kennard, Mr Lanzer, Mr Lea, Mr Marshall, Mr McDonald, Mr Mitchell, Mr Montyn, Mr R J Oakley, Mr S J Oakley, Mr Patel, Mrs Pendleton, Mrs Purnell, Mrs Russell, Mrs Sparkes, Mrs Urquhart, Mr Waight, Mr Whittington and Mr Wickremaratchi.

 

(c)          Abstentions – 3

 

Mrs Jones, Mrs Kitchen and Mr Turner.

 

96.4     The amendment was lost.

 

96.5     The Labour amendment 1 was moved by Mr Jones and seconded by Mr Oxlade.

 

Revenue Budget 2020/21

 

Proposed changes to the Revenue Budget

Growth
£m

Reduction
£m

Ongoing changes to the Revenue Budget

 

 

Reverse Local Assistance Network (LAN) budget cut agreed by Cabinet at its meeting in December 2019 (decision report CAB05 (19/20)).  

0.100

 

Reverse proposed cut  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

97.

Pay Policy Statement 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 65 KB

The Council is asked to approve the Pay Policy Statement 2020/21, in the light of a report from the Governance Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

97.1     The Council considered changes to the Pay Policy Statement 2020/21 in the light of a report from the Governance Committee (pages 43 to 54).

 

97.2     An amendment was moved by Mr Jones and seconded by Dr Walsh.

 

Extract from Appendix 1, page 49

 

10.        Termination of Employment

10.1     The County Council has determined that a vote by the Council on severance payments above £100,000 a defined threshold is not required unless agreed otherwise by the Chairman and group leaders. This is due to the fact that the Governance Committee determines all pay policies including those affecting severance payments.

 

97.3     The amendment was lost.

 

97.4     Resolved –

 

         That the proposed revisions to the Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

98.

Question Time pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Questions to the Leader and Cabinet Members on matters contained within the Cabinet report, written questions and any other questions relevant to their portfolios.  Members may also ask questions of the Leader on anything that is currently relevant to the County Council.  The report covers relevant Council business or developments in respect of portfolios arising since the meeting of the Council on 17 December 2019.  A supplementary report may be published.

 

(2 hours is allocated for Question Time)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

98.1     Members asked questions of members of the Cabinet on matters relevant to their portfolios and asked questions of chairmen, as set out at Appendix 3.  This included questions on those matters contained within the Cabinet report (pages 55 to 58) and written questions and answers pursuant to Standing Order 2.38 (set out at Appendix 2).

99.

Governance Committee: Minor changes to Council procedures, Pensions delegations, authority to effect constitutional changes arising from withdrawal from the EU and establishment of a Joint Waste Committee pdf icon PDF 86 KB

To consider minor changes to Council procedures, Pensions delegations, authority to affect constitutional changes arising from withdrawal from the EU and the establishment of a Joint Committee for work on recycling projects, in the light of a report by the Governance Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

99.1     The Council considered minor changes to Council procedures, Pensions delegations, authority to affect constitutional changes arising from withdrawal from the EU and the establishment of a Joint Committee for work on recycling projects, in the light of a report from the Governance Committee (pages 59 to 68).

 

99.2     In relation to the changes to the Pensions Panel terms of reference set out in Appendix 2 to the report, the Chairman informed members that following further advice from the Director of Finance and Support Services, in paragraph (3) that the words after the word ‘strategy’ should be deleted as they were superfluous.

 

99.3     Resolved –

 

(1)         That the proposed minor changes to Council procedures set out above and in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed;

 

(2)         That the changes to Part 3 of the Constitution, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, subject to the further amendment set out in minute 99.2, be approved;

 

(3)         That paragraph 12 be deleted from the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee’s terms of reference;

 

(4)         That delegation of authority to the Director of Law and Assurance to make any changes to the Council’s Constitution, policies and guidance documents to reflect changes in legislation arising from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and to agree and settle changes to any other affected legal instrument or agreement to which the County Council is or will become a party be confirmed;

 

(5)         That the constitution and terms of reference for a joint executive committee between the County Council and one or more district and borough councils for use in connection with inter-authority partnership work on recycling projects, as set out at Appendix 3 to the report, be approved; and

 

(6)         That should any minor amendments be required following consultation with Mid Sussex District Council, the Director of Law and Assurance be authorised to make the changes in consultation with the Chairman.