Agenda and minutes

41.1     The Chairman reported the death of a former member of the County Council, Mr Alan Chaplin, who had represented Chichester South from 2005 to 2009.

41.2     Members held a minute’s silence.

42.1     Apologies were received from Cllr Bence, Cllr Dunn, Cllr Evans, Cllr Forbes, Cllr Hall, Cllr Linehan, Cllr McKnight, Cllr Mitchell, Cllr Patel, Cllr Richardson and Cllr Sharp.

42.2     Cllr Britton, Cllr Burgess and Cllr Joy arrived at 10.40 am.

42.3     Cllr Markwell was absent.

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

43.1     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 13 October 2023.

44.1     It was agreed that the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the County Council held on 13 October 2023 (pages 5 to 24) be approved as a correct record.

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

45.1     The Council approved appointments as set out below.

The Council is asked to consider minor changes to the Constitution in relation to the approval, by the Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee, of sections of the Constitution and an update to the procedure for the appointment of the Independent Chairman of the Pension Advisory Board, in the light of a report by the Governance Committee.

46.1     The Council considered minor changes to the Constitution in relation to the approval, by the Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee, of sections of the Constitution and an update to the procedure for the appointment of the Independent Chairman of the Pension Advisory Board, in the light of a report by the Governance Committee (pages 25 to 30).

46.2     Resolved

(1)         That changes to Parts 2 and 3 so that in future amendments to Part 4, Sections 2 to 4 be made by the County Council on the recommendation of the Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee, be approved; and

(2)         That the change to the process for the appointment of the Independent Chairman of the Pension Advisory Board be approved, as out at Appendix 1.

The Council is asked to resolve that, in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, Cllr Sharp’s current circumstances should be approved as a reason for absence.

47.1     The Council resolved that, in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, Cllr Sharp’s current circumstances should be approved as a reason for absence.

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

48.1     The report of urgent action taken under regulation 11 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (pages 31 and 32) was noted.

Questions to the Leader and Cabinet Members on matters in the Cabinet report, written questions and any other questions relevant to their portfolios. Members may also ask questions of the Leader on anything current and relevant to the County Council. The report covers portfolio-related business since the meeting of the Council on 13 October 2023. A supplementary report may be published.

(2 hours is allocated for Question Time)

49.1     Members asked questions of members of the Cabinet on matters relevant to their portfolios, as set out at Appendix 3. This included questions on those matters contained within the Cabinet report (pages 33 to 38) and a supplementary report (supplement page 7) and written questions and answers pursuant to Standing Order 2.38 (set out at Appendix 2).

To debate the following motion, submitted by Cllr Lord, notice of which was given on 28 November 2023.

‘For 2024/25 and beyond, councils are experiencing budget pressures greater than those experienced at any time before. The Local Government Association (LGA) reports that councils have experienced a 27% real terms cut in core funding central government since 2010. Meanwhile, cost and demand pressures will have added 29% to the cost of delivering council services between 2021/22 and 2024/25.

Cost pressures are particularly acute in adult and children’s services for all councils including West Sussex County Council. These include but are not limited to the cost of increasingly complex care alongside the increasing difficulty of finding appropriate provision within the care market, more requests for Special Education Needs (SEND) support than can be processed each month, and continually rising costs in home to school transport. Children’s services accounts for £22.8m of WSCC’s predicted £26.5m overspend this year.

Despite lobbying of government by the County Councils Network and the LGA and of our MPs by this Council, the Government provided no protection for councils from real terms cuts in the Autumn Statement and there was no increased funding in children’s and adults’ services.

Alongside other county councils, West Sussex County Council is in the invidious position of having to increase council tax by the maximum available during a cost of living crisis whilst also having to find savings from the services it offers to residents. Even with this there is currently a predicted shortfall of £4.4 m in the council’s budget for 2024/25 with a cumulative budget gap out to 2026/27 of £51.1m and of £91.8m out to 2028/29.

Therefore, this Council calls on the Leader to:

(1)        Call upon our MPs to make the cause of adequate funding for West Sussex County Council their top priority in the final year of this government;

(2)        Call upon the Government to urgently address the acute financial challenges affecting councils in order to protect the local services our communities rely on;

(3)        Back the County Councils Network calls for emergency funding for children’s services this year and next;

(4)        Back the LGA’s calls for a long term plan for adequate council funding from government; and

(5)        Write to the Secretary of State and our MPs to lobby for an urgent injection of funding before our budget needs to be set in February 2024 and for the local government financial settlement to guarantee adequately increased funding out to at least 2026/27 to allow for certainty in planning.’

50.1     The following motion was moved by Cllr Lord and seconded by Cllr O’Kelly.

‘For 2024/25 and beyond, councils are experiencing budget pressures greater than those experienced at any time before. The Local Government Association (LGA) reports that councils have experienced a 27% real terms cut in core funding central government since 2010. Meanwhile, cost and demand pressures will have added 29% to the cost of delivering council services between 2021/22 and 2024/25.

Cost pressures are particularly acute in adult and children’s services for all councils including West Sussex County Council. These include but are not limited to the cost of increasingly complex care alongside the increasing difficulty of finding appropriate provision within the care market, more requests for Special Education Needs (SEND) support than can be processed each month, and continually rising costs in home to school transport. Children’s services accounts for £22.8m of WSCC’s predicted £26.5m overspend this year.

Despite lobbying of government by the County Councils Network and the LGA and of our MPs by this Council, the Government provided no protection for councils from real terms cuts in the Autumn Statement and there was no increased funding in children’s and adults’ services.

Alongside other county councils, West Sussex County Council is in the invidious position of having to increase council tax by the maximum available during a cost of living crisis whilst also having to find savings from the services it offers to residents. Even with this there is currently a predicted shortfall of £4.4 m in the council’s budget for 2024/25 with a cumulative budget gap out to 2026/27 of £51.1m and of £91.8m out to 2028/29.

Therefore, this Council calls on the Leader to:

(1)         Call upon our MPs to make the cause of adequate funding for West Sussex County Council their top priority in the final year of this government;

(2)         (Call upon the Government to urgently address the acute financial challenges affecting councils in order to protect the local services our communities rely on;

(3)         Back the County Councils Network calls for emergency funding for children’s services this year and next;

(4)         Back the LGA’s calls for a long term plan for adequate council funding from government; and

(5)         Write to the Secretary of State and our MPs to lobby for an urgent injection of funding before our budget needs to be set in February 2024 and for the local government financial settlement to guarantee adequately increased funding out to at least 2026/27 to allow for certainty in planning.’

50.2     An amendment was proposed by Cllr Wall which was accepted by the proposer.

‘For 2024/25 and beyond, councils are experiencing budget pressures greater than those experienced at any time before. The Local Government Association (LGA) reports that councils have experienced a 27% real terms cut in core funding from central government since 2010. Meanwhile, cost and demand pressures will have added 29% to the cost of delivering council services between 2021/22 and 2024/25.

Cost pressures are particularly acute in adult and children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To debate the following motion, submitted by Cllr Duncton, notice of which was given on 28 November 2023.

‘This Council notes the importance of farming, growers and agriculture to the West Sussex economy, and recognises that many West Sussex residents rely on the industry for their livelihoods.

The Council is concerned that initiatives to limit the availability of non-plant based foods, supported by other local authorities, would have a serious detrimental effect on the farming industry in West Sussex, and would impact on the livelihoods of our residents as a result, as well as limiting choice for those residents who eat meals at Council-run establishments.

The Council therefore resolves to ask the Leader and Cabinet to ensure that all commissioned meals served in West Sussex schools, care homes and other establishments where food is provided for users of our services continue to offer the full range of meat, fish, dairy, vegetarian and vegan options, so as to enable the full range of choice and balanced diets to be available to all those residents who use the Council’s services.’

51.1     The following motion was moved by Cllr Duncton and seconded by Cllr Ali.

‘This Council notes the importance of farming, growers, fisheries and agriculture to the West Sussex economy, and recognises that many West Sussex residents rely on these industries for their livelihoods.

The Council is concerned that initiatives to limit the availability of non-plant based foods, supported by other local authorities, would have a serious detrimental effect on the farming and fishing industries in West Sussex, and would impact on the livelihoods of our residents as a result, as well as limiting choice for those residents who eat meals at Council-run establishments.

The Council therefore resolves to ask the Leader and Cabinet to ensure that all commissioned meals served in West Sussex schools, care homes and other establishments where food is provided for users of our services continue to offer the full range of meat, fish, dairy, vegetarian and vegan options, so as to enable the full range of choice and balanced diets to be available to all those residents who use the Council’s services.’

51.2     An amendment was proposed by Cllr Lord which was accepted by the proposer.

‘This Council notes the importance of farming, growers, fisheries and agriculture to the West Sussex economy, and recognises that many West Sussex residents rely on these industries for their livelihoods.

The Council is concerned that initiatives to limit the availability of non-plant based foods, supported by some other local authorities, could would have a serious detrimental effect on some parts of the farming and fishing industries in West Sussex, and may would impact on the livelihoods of some of our residents as a result, as well as potentially limiting choice for those some residents who eat meals at Council-run establishments.

The Council therefore resolves to ask the Leader and Cabinet to ensure that all commissioned meals served in West Sussex schools, care homes and other establishments where food is provided for users of our services continue to offer the full range of meat, fish, dairy, vegetarian and vegan options, preferably using West Sussex produce, so as to enable the full range of choice and balanced diets to be available to all those residents who use the Council’s services.’

51.3     The amended motion, as set out below, was carried.

‘This Council notes the importance of farming, growers, fisheries and agriculture to the West Sussex economy, and recognises that many West Sussex residents rely on these industries for their livelihoods.

The Council is concerned that initiatives to limit the availability of non-plant based foods, supported by some local authorities, could have a detrimental effect on some parts of the farming and fishing industries in West Sussex, and may impact on the livelihoods of some of our residents as a result, as well as potentiallylimiting choice for some residents who eat meals at Council-run establishments.

The Council therefore resolves to ask the Leader and Cabinet to ensure that all commissioned meals served in West Sussex schools, care homes and other establishments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.