Agenda and minutes

1.1        On behalf of all members, the Chairman thanked residents and staff for their many sacrifices and hard work in limiting the spread of and responding to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 virus in the county.

2.1        The Chairman reported the death of a current member of the Council, Cllr Hilary Flynn, who had represented the Felpham division since 2017.

2.2        She also reported the deaths of Dr Howard Bloom, who had represented the Southgate and Crawley Central division from 2009 to 2013, Mrs Bernice Briggs, who had represented the Crawley Number 7 division from 1981 to 1984, Mr Geoff Hart who had represented the East Worthing division from 1993 to 1997, Mr Neil Matthewson, who had represented the Holbrook division from 1993 to 2001 and Mr John Sheridan, who had represented the Pulborough division from 1976 to 1996.

2.3        The Chairman also reported the death of Mr John Hooley, DL, former Chief Executive of the County Council, who was Deputy Clerk to the Council from 1967, County Secretary from 1974 and then Chief Executive from 1975 to 1990.

2.4        Members held a minute’s silence.

3.1        The Chairman referred to recent incidents of racism across the world which had raised again the need for everyone to speak out against all forms of racism.  She affirmed the Council’s support for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign.

3.2        The Chairman also referred to the 25^th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide and urged all members to continue to promote equality, to challenge hateful behaviour and to welcome diversity in their communities.

4.1        Apologies were received from Cllr Barton, Cllr Edwards and Cllr A Jones.

4.2        Cllr Purchese and Cllr Whittington joined the meeting at 10.58 am and 11.00 am respectively.

4.3        Cllr Bridges left the meeting at 12.50 pm, Cllr Brunsdon and Cllr Smith at 1.00 pm, Cllr Oppler at 1.05 pm, Cllr Fitzjohn at 1.12 pm, Cllr Barling at 1.20 pm, Cllr Mitchell at 1.25 pm, Cllr Arculus at 1.28 pm, Cllr Goldsmith at 1.30 pm and Cllr Lea and Cllr Sudan at 1.32 pm.

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

5.1        Members declared interests as set out at Appendix 1.

The Council is asked to confirm the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the County Council held on 14 February 2020.

6.1        It was agreed that the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the County Council held on 14 February 2020 (pages 5 to 36) be approved as a correct record.

To consider any proposed changes by the Groups to appointments.  Any proposals will be circulated and changes will take effect from the end of the meeting.

7.1        The Council approved appointments as set out below.

The Council is asked to consider a report by the Leader on the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency together with answers to written questions submitted in advance by members. Members may ask questions in accordance with Standing Order 11.22.

8.1        The Leader introduced the report on the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (pages 37 to 66). The Council also had before it answers to written questions submitted in advance by members under Standing Order 11.22 (Appendix 2).

8.2        Members asked questions as set out at Appendix 3.

The Council is asked to consider a report by the Leader on work to address the corporate, service and financial challenges facing the County Council in 2020/21 and beyond, and an approach to settle the Council’s priorities for the future and how it will work to achieve them, together with answers to written questions submitted in advance by members. Members also may ask questions in accordance with Standing Order 11.23.

9.1        The Leader introduced a report on a framework by which to address corporate, service and financial challenges facing the County Council in 2020/21 and beyond, and an approach to settling priorities for the future and how to achieve them (pages 67 to 116). The Council also had before it answers to written questions submitted in advance by members under Standing Order 11.23 (Appendix 4).

9.2        An amendment to recommendation (5) was moved by Cllr O’Kelly and seconded by Cllr Walsh.

‘(5)   Agree the priority outcomes for discussion over the summer, as the basis of the County Council’s business and financial planning, as set out at paragraph 29 and additionally agree that climate change is an overarching theme;’

9.3        The amendment was carried.

9.4        In accordance with Standing Order 11.23, the Leader and Chief Executive answered questions from members during the debate.

9.5        Resolved -

(1)        That the proposed approach to creating a Reset Plan, using agreed priority outcomes to drive our activities, deployment of resources, performance management, strengthening of partnerships and communications and lobbying work be approved;

(2)        That the local evidence base (Appendix 1 to the report) and the national and local policy outlook (Appendix 2 to the report) be noted;

(3)        That the summary of performance in 2019/20 (Appendix 3 to the report) be noted;

(4)        That the overview of our financial position and projections (paragraph 17 and Appendix 4 of the report) and identify any additional areas for exploration during the development of plans be noted;

(5)        That the priority outcomes for discussion over the summer, as the basis of the County Council’s business and financial planning, as set out at paragraph 29 be agreed and, additionally, that climate change is an overarching theme be agreed;

(6)        That officers work up, in consultation with members, staff, and partners, activity, spending and saving proposals and a revised capital programme;

(7)        That reports on more detailed plans for 2021/22 and beyond be received in the autumn when there is greater certainty about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on West Sussex and future resources; and

(8)        That the substantial progress already made to strengthen the governance arrangements and approve the next steps laid out at paragraph 35 to reboot how we work be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People will make a statement on the Council’s Children First Improvement Plan. A report is also attached. Members may ask questions of the Cabinet Member in accordance with Standing Order 2.33.

10.1     Members asked questions of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People on the Children First Improvement Plan and considered a report (pages 117 to 120).

The Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities will make a statement on the Fire & Rescue Service Improvement Plan. A report is also attached. Members may ask questions of the Cabinet Member in accordance with Standing Order 2.33.

11.1     Members asked questions of the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue Service and Communities on the Fire & Rescue Service Improvement Plan and considered a report (pages 121 to 126).

11.2     In response to a request from Cllr Smytherman for evidence of reciprocal arrangements with neighbouring authorities for responding to incidents to be shared with the Scrutiny Committee, the Cabinet Member said he would seek advice and respond to Cllr Smytherman.

11.3     In response to a question from Cllr M Jones the Cabinet Member said he would provide Cllr Jones with statistics about cross-border calls and look into updating members on the frequency of such occurrences.

The Council is asked to approve the Annual Scrutiny Newsletter 2019/20 which summarises the work of the Scrutiny Committees and reports the performance measures for the end of the year and the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2020/21, in the light of a report by the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee.

12.1     The Council considered the Annual Scrutiny Newsletter 2019/20 which summarises the work of the Scrutiny Committees and reports the performance measures for the end of the year and the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2020/21, in the light of a report by the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee (supplement pages 3 to 20).

12.2     Resolved –

(1)         That the Annual Scrutiny Report 2019/20 be approved; and

(2)         That the Scrutiny Work Programme 2020/21 be approved.

To note a report on a review of the joint leadership arrangements with East Sussex County Council, in the light of a report by the Governance Committee.

13.1     The Council noted a review of the joint leadership arrangements with East Sussex County Council, in the light of a report by the Governance Committee (pages 127 to 128).

13.2     Resolved –

That the report be noted.

To note urgent action taken under regulation 11 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

14.1     The report of urgent action taken under regulation 11 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (pages 129 and 130) was noted.

To note action taken by the Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman.

15.1     The report of urgent action taken by the Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman (pages 131 and 132), was noted.