Agenda and minutes

The Committee will consider the appointment of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman for the year 18/19.

1.1 RESOLVED that Cllr George Barton be appointed as Chairman for the Adur County Local Committee for a term of 1 meeting and

1.2 Cllr Kevin Boram be appointed as Vice Chairman for the Adur County Local Committee for the municipal year 2018/19.

The members of Adur County Local Committee are George Barton, Ann Bridges, Kevin Boram, Debbie Kennard and David Simmons.

2.1 The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Committee Memers and Officers.

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 contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

3.1 Cllr David Simmons declared that he was the Chair of Governors for the Sir Robert Woodard Academy. It was advised this was a personal interest and not a pecuniary interest.

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 February 2018 (cream paper).

4.1 RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Adur County Local Committee held on the 8 February 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendment (changes in italics):

Minute 65 to read:

A Member reported that officers considered it had not been possible to provide a sustainable solution to the traffic problems in West Street in Sompting.

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

5.1 There were none.

The Committee will receive a presentation on School Place Planning.

6.1 The Chairman welcomed the Director of Education and Skills to the meeting who provided a presentation on School Place Planning and Admissions Process across the West Sussex area. The Chairman advised that questions that had been asked prior to the meeting had been tabled for information. The presentation raised the following points:

·         The West Sussex County Council Place Planning Process, about predication on demand, including a range of factors such has housing growth, family migration and families sending children to schools outside the area.

·         The Place Planning Process was based on probability, rather than certainty, as the exact number of children attending schools isn’t known until the new school year each September.

·         A Place Planning booklet was available for inspection by the public on the Council’s website, which contained projections over a period of 15 years, based on data available to the County Council.

·          There were 284 schools across the West Sussex area, 64 of those were Academies. The October 2017 census data recorded 112,834 Children of School age within the County and provisions for 126,143 School places.

·         The Department of Education guidelines requested that Local Authorities make provision for extra 5% pupil places than that required in order to account of inward migration. West Sussex County Council had more than 10% over the requirement.

·         West Sussex County Council utilised software called Educate to project pupil numbers and ensure there were sufficient School Places available across the County.

6.2 It was advised that the presentation delivered would be attached to the Minutes of the meeting, in addition to a presentation addressing the Schools Admissions Process.

6.3 In response to questions from the Committee, officers advised that:

·         The Department for Education would not consider schools of less than 6FE (180 pupils) per year group as a viable new secondary school. Delivery of a new secondary School could take up to 3-5 years once a site had been identified.

·         West Sussex County Council would liaise with Boroughs and Districts over Planning Applications, being mindful of Community Infrastructure and safe routes to schools for children. Both tiers of local government were invited to comment on planning applications prior to decisions being taken.

To invite questions from the public present at the meeting on subjects other than those on the agenda.  The Committee would encourage members of the public with more complex issues to submit their question before the meeting to allow a substantive answer to be given.

7.1 The Chairman invited members of the public present at the meeting to ask questions. In response to these questions it was advised that:

·         With school places available, West Sussex County Council were able to allocate school places in line with 1 of 3 preferences expressed by parents. WSCC forecasted that Schools would reach net capacity by 2022/23.

·         A Member of the public raised concern over the use of the word ‘preference’ as in some instances it was felt that there had been no variety of choice for parents, based on their locality.

·         If a Maintained School was over-subscribed, allocation of school places would be conducted under the WSCC oversubscription criteria in accordance with the admissions code. This criteria included vulnerable children and children from low income families. Academies had their own over-subscription criteria. Each institution published their oversubscription criteria which was available for inspection by the public.

·         The Principle of Shoreham Academy advised that the oversubscription criterion for the academy was the same as the criteria expressed by maintained schools.

·         Officers advised that if the route from the home to the school was deemed an available walking route and nearest appropriate school is over three miles, transport may be provided. Concerns from the public were raised over the safety and suitability of some of the footpaths in the area. It was advised by officers that it was a parent’s legal responsibility to accompany children to schools where appropriate.

·         Officers advised that children at secondary schools would commonly travel via public transport, by foot or cycle. Concern was expressed by members of the public over the viability and safety of the walking routes that were available to children.

·         Walking routes to Schools could be challenged on their levels of reasonable safety by a criteria applied by the County Council. If they were deemed unsafe transport assistance could be considered.

·         Concern was expressed over the Ofsted Status of the Sir Robert Woodard Academy. Officers advised that they were able to challenge Maintained Schools on their status, however academies were challenged by the Regional Schools Commissioners Office. It was further advised that the Academy had made improvements to achieve better status in the future. Parents were encouraged to read the qualitative information included in the Ofsted report on the status of the Academy.

·         With regard to lateness/absence from Schools where mitigating factors were outside of the Child/Parent’s control, these would be considered and with on a case by case basis.

·         Cllr David Simmons advised rail travel would also be a viable option to travel to local Schools and encouraged parents to visit prospective secondary schools where possible.

·         A member of the public commented that the main concerns raised during the discussion were safer transport to schools and improving the Sir Robert Woodard academy. It was advised that parents would be more confident and hopeful for the future if they felt they had been listened to and understood.

·         Officers advised that whilst they did not have the authority to direct an academy schools  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The attached document contains brief updates on statements of progress made on issues raised at previous meetings and other issues pertinent to Adur.  The Committee is asked to note the report.

8.1 Members noted the progress statement included with the agenda papers.

8.2 Members commented that the parking policies for Authorities across boundaries could have an impact on the roads and infrastructure across West Sussex, which officers should be mindful of.

Report by Director of Law and Assurance.

The report summarises the Community Initiative Funding applications received via The West Sussex Crowd.  The Committee is invited to consider the applications and pledge funding if appropriate.

9.1 The Committees considered a report on Community Initiative Funding by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes)

9.2 The Chairman incited project managers that had attended the meeting to present their pitches to the Committee. The Committee considered each application together with the views and comments raised.

9.3 It was RESOLVED that:

 the following pledges be granted:

1. 222/A – Adur Sea of Lights, up to £5,000 towards a space themed winter lantern parade held in Lancing

2. 221/A – Adur Community Directory, up to £3,000 toward a virtual community space for residents and visitors.

3. 232/A – Community Mobile Workshop, up to £3,3000 towards a mobile repair workshop for mobility aids.

And the following projects be deferred to the next meeting:

4. 223/A – Selling Coffee with a social mission.

Report by Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure & Environment and Director of Highways & Transport.

The Committee will consider an application for Permission to formalise Brighton Road Car Park in Southwick from Adur and Worthing Councils.

10.1 The Committee considered the report from the Executive Director Economy, Infrastructure & Environment and Director of Highways & Transport seeking permission to formalise Brighton Road Car Park in Southwick.

10.2 The Committee discussed the report and found no reason to refuse. It was therefore RESOLVED that

a. the land at No.60 Brighton Road be designated as a public car park and included in the off street parking order, and

b. permission be granted to continue to charge for the use of the car park at the rates set out in sections 1.2 of the report.

There are no nominations to consider however the Committee are asked to note the vacancy.

11.1 The Committee noted the Local Authority Governor vacancy at Buckingham Park Primary School

The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 7.00 pm on Thursday 8th November at Lancing Parish Hall.

Members wishing to place an item on the agenda should notify Jack Caine via email: jack.caine@westsussex.gov.uk or phone on 0330 222 8941.

12.1 The Chairman confirmed the next meeting of Worthing County Local Committee would take place at 7.00pm on Thursday 8^th November at Lancing Parish Hall.