Agenda and minutes

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest 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.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct the following interests were declared:

Mr Barrett-Miles declared a personal interest in Item 5 as a Member of Burgess Hill Town Council and as Chairman of the Task and Finish Group.

Dr Walsh declared a personal interest in Item 5 as a Leader of Arun District Council as a Member of Littlehampton Town Council.

Mrs Millson declared a personal interest in Item 5 as a Member of the North Horsham County Local Committee and as a member of the Task and Finish Group.

Ms Goldsmith declared a personal interest in Item 5 as a Member of the South Chichester County Local Committee.

Mr Quinn declared a personal interest in Item 5 as a Member of the Crawley County Local Committee.

Mr Barnard declared a personal interest in Item 5 as a Member of the Chantonbury County Local Committee.

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2020 (cream paper).

149.1Resolved – that the minutes of the Committee held on 13 January 2020 be approved as a correct record, and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Members are asked to indicate at this stage if they wish the meeting to consider bringing into Part I any items on the Part II agenda.

150.1The Chairman confirmed that he was minded to have this discussed in Part I but with the option of Part II if necessary.

150.2 The Committee agreed.

The Committee is asked to note the responses to recommendations made at the 13 January 2020 meeting from the

Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure and the

Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue & Communities  

151.1The Committee is asked to note the responses to recommendations made at the 13 January 2020 meeting from the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure and the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities.

151.2The Committee noted that the response from the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities is also being sent to Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Committee.

Report by Executive Director Place Services and Director of Highways, Transport and Planning

The Committee is invited to:

·         Note and comment on the programme set out in Appendix A of this report.

·         Considering how the Programme implementation has proceeded so far, determine any learning/lessons that can be applied to the development of future parking management plans.

152.1The Committee considered a report by the Executive Director Place Services and Director of Highways, Transport and Planning (copy appended to the signed minutes).

152.2The Cabinet Member confirmed that the report’s purpose is to update the Committee on the current situation and the factors that have affected the original timetable.

152.3Miles Davy, Parking Manager, introduced the report with a presentation (copy appended to the signed minutes), which explained that progress had be slower than hoped and outlined some of the reasons for this.

152.4The Committee made a number of comments including those that follow. It:

·       Welcomed the acknowledgement that progress had been slower than anticipated.

·       Raised concerns about whether there was capacity to deliver all the schemes and manage the expectations of the community. Some areas are very keen that this is brought in soon to alleviate long standing issues.

·       Raised concerns that carers and care homes have particular issues with this especially as the aim is to care for people in their own homes for as long as possible.

·       Raised concerns that there would be insufficient enforcement.

Resolved – That the Committee

1.   Noted the challenges faced to date in delivering the programme, and anticipated further slippage in future.

2.   All RSA’s should take into account the green agenda and the anticipated change in town centre configuration due to the decline of the retail sector.

3.   There is a need to ensure that carers and care homes are not adversely affected by proposals.

4.   The proposals need to be more flexible and a phased implementation is welcomed to see if it causes displacement.

5.   The Cabinet Member should review the whole programme, to confirm it remains deliverable (with regard to its resourcing and funding, in particular).

6.   There needs to be better communications on this, and highways policy in general, particularly with district and borough councils.

7.   Wants to be reassured that sufficient enforcement will be undertaken.

8.   Having a Growth Deal in place should advance areas up the programme, which should benefit areas such as Littlehampton.

Verbal update on progress in implementing the 20/21 programme, including the new maintenance arrangements and service levels, and to share any feedback from vendors who unsuccessfully bid for aspects of the highways maintenance service.

The Committee is asked to consider the update, and identify any areas of concern.

153.1The Committee received a verbal update from the Director of Highways, Transport and Planning.

153.2The Committee made a number of comments including those that follow. It:

·         Raised concerns that members had not been fully informed of the changes.

·         Sought clarification on whether the previous service standards were being retained particularly around the issue of temporary pothole repairs.

·         Welcomed that Government is looking into the issue of local roads funding and that the Transport Committee stated that 5-year funding is required.

Resolved – That the Committee

1.   Would like to review the programme in 6 months to check if the new approach is working.

2.   Would like to request that a Member Day or half day is held to ensure that all members up to speed on the new arrangements.

The Committee is asked to consider how the new structure serves the needs of residents and Members.

154.1The Committee considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transport and Planning (copy appended to the signed minutes).

154.2Matt Davey, Director of Highways, Transport and Planning, introduced the report with a presentation (copy appended to the signed minutes), which explained the background to the restructure and some of the changes.

154.3The Committee made a number of comments including those that follow. It:

·         Welcomed the fact that there will be no overall staff reductions although were concerned at the reduction in the number of Area Highway Managers.

·         Welcomed that this restructure will result in an expansion of the commercial activity and that there will be a dedicated team to monitor the quality of the new contract.

·         Raised concerns around the lack of consultation with members.

Resolved – That the Committee-

1.   Support the reorganisation with the expectation of obtaining feedback from members on how the changes have been implemented.

2.   Will review in April 2021 unless there are serious problems in the meantime.

Report by Director of Highways, Transport and Planning

The Committee is invited to consider and comment on the extent to which the proposals have been amended to address the feedback arising from the consultation.

155.1The Committee considered a report by Director of Highways, Transport and Planning (copy appended to the signed minutes).

155.2Mike Thomas, Highways Area Manager introduced the report with a presentation (copy appended to the signed minutes), which set out the background and the results of the public consultation. Representations regarding tables and chairs had been made in the past by a number of organisations including the RNIB.

155.3The Committee made a number of comments including those that follow. It:

·         Welcomed the policy as it gives clarity to businesses that a licence is required and it will ensure that the pavements are safe for all users.

·         Was disappointed to hear that there were so few responses to the consultation from affected businesses.

·         Questioned why there were so few licences already in place.

·         Requested that the wider issue of licences and obstructions on the highway be discussed at a future Business Planning Group.

Resolved – That the Committee:-

1.   Supports the policy.

2.   Asks the Business Planning Group to review the adequacy of the existing policies relating to all obstructions on the highway.

The Committee is asked to appoint a minority group member to the Group.

156.1The Committee noted the vacancy for a member of the Minority group on the Business Planning Group.

156.2The Committee agreed to the appointment of Mr Quinn.

Extract fromthe ForwardPlan dated 25 February 2020 – attached.

Anextract fromanyForwardPlan publishedbetween the date of despatchof the agenda and the date of the meetingwill be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider whetheritwishes to enquireinto any of the forthcoming decisions withinits portfolio.

157.1The Committee considered the Forward Plan dated 2 March 2020 (a copy appended to the signed minutes).

157.2The Committee requested that the Review of the Integrated Parking Strategy be added to the agenda for next meeting of the Committee on 24 June 2020. 

The Committee is asked to agree the establishment of a Task and Finish Group, to consider waste disposal strategy in the light of government policy and opportunities to improve sustainability and value for money.

It is envisaged that the TFG’s report will inform scrutiny of the emerging proposals by the full Committee at its meeting on 24 June. While it falls to the Business Planning Group to decide the Group’s size (maximum of seven), membership, and outline Terms of Reference, volunteers to sit on the Group are sought.

The Group will be cross-party, and will appoint a Chairman when it meets. One meeting is anticipated, to be held in mid-April.

If the Committee wishes to ask commercially sensitive questions about the Waste Strategy the Committee will consider whether to move into Part II. Provision for this is included on the agenda at item 17.

158.1The Committee agreed to the establishment of a Task and Finish Group with the expectation that it would meet in April with no more than two meetings. The second meeting if required, would be in early May.

158.2Mr Barnard, Mr Barrett-Miles and Mr McDonald agreed to become members and that the opportunity would be made available to those members who were unable to attend the Committee today. In addition, two volunteers would be sought from the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 24 June 2020 at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·         Environment and Climate Change Strategy

·         Household Waste Recycling Sites

·         Local Flood Risk Management Plan

·         Waste Strategy TFG

·         Waste Strategy

·         BPG Report

·         Approval of Work Programme for 2020/21

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 12 June 2020.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 24 June 2020 at 10.30am at County Hall, Chichester. Probable agenda items include:

·         Environment and Climate Change Strategy

·         Household Waste Recycling Sites

·         Local Flood Risk Management Plan

·         Waste Strategy TFG

·         Waste Strategy

·         BPG Report

·         Approval of Work Programme for 2020/21

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 12 June 2020.