Agenda, decisions and minutes

The members of the North Chichester County Local Committee are David Bradford, Janet Duncton, Kate O'Kelly, and Viral Parikh.

24.1   The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.   Members and Officers introduced themselves.

24.2   The Chairman highlighted a feedback sheet asking for comments about County Local Committees and encouraged people to fill them in.  She also highlighted leaflets about the upcoming Health and Wellbeing market place event happening in Horsham on 14 March.

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personal interest 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.

25.1   None declared.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 November 2018 (cream paper).

26.1   Resolved – that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

27.1   The Committee agreed to consider the following additional Community Initiative Funding application that was not included on the published agenda:

•336/NC – Redford Village Hall, RVH Community kitchen upgrade, £11,658.00 - Towards replacing existing kitchen and refurbish premises' toilets. https://www.spacehive.com/rvh-kitchen-upgrade

The document contains brief updates on statements of progress made on issues raised at previous meetings.  The Committee is asked to note the document.

28.1   The Committee considered the progress statement on matters arising from previous meetings (copy appended to the signed minutes).

28.2 Mrs Smart introduced the report which gave updates on issues

raised at previous meetings.  The following comments were made:

·         The Area Highways Manager confirmed that discussions with Tillington Parish Council are ongoing in relation to concerns about speeding on A272.

·         Members suggested that Tillington Parish Council could speak to Rake Parish Council about Community Speedwatch.

·         Kate O’Kelly confirmed that work to improve the Holmbush Play Area was ongoing and involved the Community Teams from both the County and District Councils as well as volunteers.

28.3   Resolved – That the Committee notes the progress statement.

Report by the 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.

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.  Bids should show evidence of projects that have the support of the community and make a positive impact on people’s wellbeing and support The West Sussex Plan.

At its meeting on 5 March 2019 the North Chichester County Local Committee considered the Community Initiative Funding applications received via the West Sussex Crowd as set out in Appendix A.

During the Urgent Matters agenda item, the Committee agreed to also consider an application  that had been received after the papers had been dispatched:-

336/NC – Redford Village Hall, RVH Community kitchen upgrade, £11,658.00 - Towards replacing existing kitchen and refurbish premises' toilets.

The following pledges were approved:-

289/NC – Loxwood FC Ground Development, up to £3675.46 –Towards improving ground facilities.

296/NC – Lodsworth Village Hall, Keeping fit for the whole community, up to £3675.46 – Towards purchasing and installing outdoor fitness equipment.

305/NC – Petworth Community Garden, Men's Shed - refit, transform and grow, up to £3675.46 – Towards purchasing and fitting a new kitchen cooker.

309/NC – The Red Box Project Chichester & Midhurst, Little things make big differences, up to £91.00 – Towards replacing toys and gaining a trademark.

336/NC – Redford Village Hall, RVH Community kitchen upgrade, up to £3675.46 - Towards replacing existing kitchen and refurbish premises' toilets.

The following pledge was declined:-

293/NC – Easebourne Parish Council, Easebourne Park inclusive access area - towards removing loose stones and resurfacing.  The Committee declined this application as it was from a Parish Council which is a precepting authority and that does not comply with the CIF criteria. 

The call-in deadline is 13 March 2019

29.1 The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) which detailed applications for Community Initiative Funding. 

29.2   The Chairman reminded the Committee of the additional application from Redford Village Hall that they had agreed to consider under ‘Urgent Matters’. 

29.3   The Committee debated the respective merits of the projects for which funding was sought.

29.4  Resolved -

(a) That the following award(s) be made:

289/NC – Loxwood FC Ground Development, up to £3675.46 –Towards improving ground facilities.

296/NC – Lodsworth Village Hall, Keeping fit for the whole community, up to £3675.46 – Towards purchasing and installing outdoor fitness equipment.

305/NC – Petworth Community Garden, Men's Shed - refit, transform and grow, up to £3675.46 – Towards purchasing and fitting a new kitchen cooker.

309/NC – The Red Box Project Chichester & Midhurst, Little things make big differences, up to £91.00 – To Provide free sanitary products to young woman in Chichester and surrounding areas.

336/NC – Redford Village Hall, RVH Community kitchen upgrade, up to £3675.46 - Towards replacing existing kitchen and refurbish premises' toilets.

(b) That the following application be declined:

293/NC – Easebourne Parish Council, Easebourne Park inclusive access area - towards removing loose stones and resurfacing.  The Committee declined this application as it was from a Parish Council which is a precepting authority and that does not comply with the CIF criteria. 

29.5   Members agreed that if the application from Easebourne Parish Council could be amended to a Community Group, they would consider a new application at the next meeting in June.  It was agreed that the Democratic Services Officers would liaise with Easebourne Parish Council and Spacehive to consider options for amending the project.

Report by Director of Education and Skills.

The Committee are asked to approve the nominations of Authority School Governors as set out in the report.

The function of the nomination of school governors to maintained schools and academies is delegated to County Local Committees (CLCs) as it enables county councillors to maintain a valuable link with the schools and helps promote to the wider public the important role of school governors.

Under the Education Act 2011 local authority governors are nominated by the local authority but appointed by the governing body. The CLC can nominate any eligible person as a local authority governor, but it is for the governing body to decide whether their nominee has the skills to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school and meets any other eligibility criteria they have set.

At its meeting on 5 March 2019 the North Chichester County Local Committee approved the following nominations under the 2012 Regulations:

Nomination for appointment:

Mr Dean Wheeler to Plaistow & Kirdford Primary School for a four year term

The Call-in deadline is 13 March 2019

30.1   The Committee considered a report by the Director of Education and Skills (copy appended to the signed minutes).

30.2   Resolved – that the following nomination for appointment under the 2012 Regulations be approved:

Mr Dean Wheeler to Plaistow & Kirdford Primary School for a four year term

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.

31.1   The Chairman introduced the item and advised that the open forum was an opportunity for comments and questions to be raised on items not already on the agenda, and over which the County Council has jurisdiction. The following issues were raised and responses made.

·         A number of CIF applicants were in attendance and provided feedback on the West Sussex Crowd process.  The main issues raised where that it was difficult to engage the older generation, reluctance from residents to pledge online and the website and process was overly complicated.  It was agreed that all that feedback would be forwarded to the Select Committee who would be reviewing the process in May. 

·         A Parish Councillor asked about how the County Council assessed road safety and why the data collected was wiped after 5 years.  Chris Dye stated that this was dealt with by a dedicated team at the County Council and he would ask them for this information.  Members also asked how Chris to let them know how other local authorities look at road safety.

·         A Fernhurst resident referred to a recent TRO consultation for zig zag lines outside Fernhurst Primary School and raised concern about displacement and enforcement.  Chris Dye responded stating that in all cases the schools and parents work together to address safety around schools but that official enforcement would be the responsibility of the District Council.

·         Some concern was raised about long it took between reporting and fixing potholes and if the white marker paint faded would that mean the pothole would not get repaired.  Chris Dye confirmed that the location was logged onto a system so the white paint fading would not affect the repair.  As part of these discussions Members encouraged people to report potholes via the ‘Love West Sussex’ app or their local Councillor.

The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 11 June 2019 at a venue to be confirmed.

Members wishing to place an item on the agenda should notify Adam Chisnall via email: adam.chisnall@westsussex.gov.uk or phone on 033 022 28314.

32.1   The Committee noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 11 June at a venue to be confirmed.