Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Members of Worthing County Local Committee (CLC) are Mr Noel Atkins, Mr Michael Cloake, Mr Paul High, Mr Sean McDonald, Mr Roger Oakley, Mr Bob Smytherman, Mrs Elizabeth Sparkes, Mr Bryan Turner and Mr Steve Waight

13.1 The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the meeting and asked the Committee Members and Officers to introduce themselves.

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.

14.1 There were no Declarations of Interest from Members present

The confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 June 2018 (cream paper).

15.1 RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting 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.

16.1 The Chairman advised that a petition had been submitted to the Committee from a Parent Governor of the Thomas A. Beckett School. The petition had been received with over 650 signatories.

16.2 The Petition had called for better road safety around the school and was endorsed by both residents and staff at the school, including the Head teacher.

16.3 The Petition included the following detail:

“Petition to improve road safety on Wiston Avenue and St Lawrence Avenue, Worthing. We are worried about the safety of children as they make their way to and from Thomas a Becket Junior School in Worthing, West Sussex. We would like West Sussex County Council to take urgent action to protect our children as they cross Wiston Avenue and St Lawrence Avenue; which are both very busy and hazardous roads during rush hour. Signage is poor and needs to be replaced. We need:

1) Immediate cover for the School Crossing Patrol at Wiston Avenue until a new afternoon SCP person is recruited.

2) The recruitment of a permanent afternoon School Crossing Patrol person at Wiston Avenue.

3) Better signage at both crossing points to warn drivers that children are crossing.

4) Flashing amber warning lights at both sites, which can be operated during school crossing times.

5) Road markings to warn drivers that children are crossing.”

16.4 The Committee discussed measures that could be taken to mitigate the concerns the petition had raised, including how to best to fill the role of the SCP and how improvement works should be treated as a priority in the interest of safety.

16.5 In response to the comments raised by residents and the committee the Area Highways Manager advised he could contact the petition organiser with a detailed action plan and next steps to solve the issues. A further update would be provided at the following meeting.

The attached document contains brief updates on statements of progress made on issues raised at previous meetings and other issues pertinent to Worthing.

17.1 The Committee noted the progress statement (copy attached to the signed minutes).

17.2 Michael Cloake provided an update on the Worthing Growth plan, timelines and the work undertaken with Worthing Borough Council. The Chairman thanked Michale Cloake for the update.

The Committee will receive a presentation from the West Sussex County Council Library Services on the Library Transformation Project.

18.1 The Chairman welcomed Mr Russell Allen, Lead Manager for Library Services and Justin Burns, Worthing Library Manager, to the meeting to provide a presentation on Creating a Community Hub in Worthing.

18.2 The presentation provided detail on Council services being served in one location, opting for colocation to meet the needs of residents, integrating services under one roof.

18.3 The Committee were provided with detail on Public Engagement and Consultations and the responses received for the proposal.

18.4 It was advised that overall positive and supportive comments had been received on the concept of integration and safeguarding of essential preventative services. 77% of the public agreed with the proposals when contacted directly. 60% agreed when contacted online and over 82 comments and suggested improvements had been received.

The Committee will receive a presentation on Your Energy Sussex – a local not for profit, council-backed gas and electricity supplier.

19.1   The Committee received a presentation from David Edwards from the County Council’s Energy Team on Your Energy Sussex (copy appended to the signed minutes).

19.2   David Edwards explained that the County Council had launched Your Energy Sussex in February to offer an alternative energy supplier to residents for gas and renewable electricity.  It was estimated that an average household could save £300 per year if it switched to a fixed tariff.

19.3   Your Energy Sussex was not for profit, with surplus funds going towards fuel poverty funds.  Locally generated energy was used and it was hoped to increase this over time.

19.4 In response to questions from the Committee it was advised that Officers were confident in steady growth, using low or no cost marketing to keep costs down. It was also advised that the scheme would invest in battery storage and renewable energy sources.

20.1 The Committee considered the written update from the Area Highways Manager on Community Highways Schemes. Members noted that there were no CHS for the Worthing area and encouraged those in the Public Gallery to submit schemes for consideration.

Report by the Director of Highways and Transport and Head of Highways Operations.

The committee is asked to consider the report regarding Community requests for Traffic Regulation Orders and agree to progress the three highest scoring TROs from the list attached at Appendix A, subject to any adjustments made at the meeting.

Resolved that, based on public support and the Local Members understanding and knowledge of the Local Traffic Issues, the following three Traffic Regulation Orders be progressed as a priority:

·         Melbourne Road – DYLs to stop parking on junctions and protect footways – M 438149

·         Salvington Hill – DYL north on the hill – M 438646

·         West Parade – No Motorcaravans – M 437890

The Call in deadline is 14^th November.

21.1 The Committee considered the written report from the Director of Highways and Transport and Head of Highways and recommendation to agree to progress the 3 highest scoring TROs from the list attached at appendix A.

21.2 The Committee considered each TRO on its individual merit separately and debated the implications of each.

21.3 RESOLVED that, based on public support and the Local Members understanding and knowledge of the Local Traffic Issues, the following three Traffic Regulation Orders be progressed as a priority:

·         Melbourne Road – DYLs to stop parking on junctions and protect footways – M 438149

·         Salvington Hill – DYL north on the hill – M 438646

·         West Parade – No Motorcaravans – M 437890

And

To write to the Cabinet Members for Highways and Infrastructure to advise that Worthing CLC strongly supports the proposed Northbrook TRO and, whilst noting that Worthing has no Community Highways Schemes, requests that the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure use one of his discretionary TROs to implement the Northbrook Scheme.

The Committee are asked to note the update on the Worthing Sustainable Transport Package Study.

22.1 The Committee received a written update from the Area Highways Manager on the Worthing Area Sustainable transport Package Feasibility Study.

22.2 The Committee noted the update and thanked the Officers for their work.

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

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

Resolved that the following pledges be made:

a)   248/W – Friends of Heene Cemetery – pledge of up to £3,000 toward equipment including tree plaques and squirrel proof bird feeding stations.

b)   252/W – Freedom Powerchairs – pledge of up to £3,000 toward a large trailer for use as a mobile workshop for mobility equipment.

c)   250/W – Worthing Sea Cadets – pledge of up to £1,500 toward five new laptops subject to the project manager completely a fully satisfactory Community Initiative Fund Spacehive application.

The following application was refused:

d)   246/W – Cycall Ltd CIC on the grounds that the project manager had not provided evidence of public liability insurance.

The Call in deadline is 14^th November.

23.1 The Committee considered the report from the Director of Law and Assurance (copy attached to the signed Minutes).

23.2 The Chairman invited project managers that had attended the meeting to present their pitches to the committee. The committee considered each application on its individual merit together with the views and comments raised.

23.3 It was Resolved that the following pledges be made:

a)   248/W – Friends of Heene Cemetery – pledge of up to £3,000 toward equipment including tree plaques and squirrel proof bird feeding stations.

b)   252/W – Freedom Powerchairs – pledge of up to £3,000 toward a large trailer for use as a mobile workshop for mobility equipment.

c)   250/W – Worthing Sea Cadets – pledge of up to £1,500 toward five new laptops subject to the project manager completely a fully satisfactory Community Initiative Fund Spacehive application.

The following application was refused:

d)   246/W – Cycall Ltd CIC on the grounds that the project manager had not provided evidence of public liability insurance.

Members of the Committee are asked to raise relevant issues of local significance for discussion and possible future agenda items. Members of the public are also asked to raise questions and are encouraged to submit more complex issues prior to the meeting to allow substantive answers to be provided.

24.1 The Chairman invited questions and comments from members of the public. The following points were raised:

24.2 Worthing Borough Council were praised for their work on homelessness, however it was asked how the closure of Turning Tides could be justified, leaving up to 50 people without a bed. The Chairman advised that a decision had not been taken to close Turning Tides, a decision had been taken to review the arrangement in 6 months. It was further advised that any decisions to close or cut services by the County Council would be heavily scrutinised before they were taken.

24.3 It was further commented that the closure and cutting of public services could have unintended consequences and cost more in the long term.

24.4 Questions and concerns were raised over the Traffic Regulation Order prioritisation list and it was asked how the scoring system operated and how some had been given a low scoring.

24.5 A member of the public raised concerns that there were no Community Highways Schemes for the Worthing area. The public were advised that CHS must be submitted by members of the public and viable schemes would be supported by local members.

24.6 The Committee discussed at length with the public an issue at Worthing Sea front regarding long time parking of vehicles overnight, with the possibility of people living on the highway. The possibility of introducing a Traffic Regulation Order on the site to mitigate the problem was discussed and members considered the implications of using a TRO to address a social issue.

24.7 It was advised that the individuals who were understood to be parking at Worthing Sea front for extended periods had been approached by the West Sussex outreach Team to offer assistance.

24.8 Further concern was raised over the efficiency and validity of the Traffic Regulation Order Prioritisation Matrix and the allocation of the points. The highways Manager advised that if there were considerable issues with the scoring system these would be addressed.

Report by Director of Education and Skills.

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

Resolved that the following Authority School Governor nominations be approved:

a.    Cllr Sean McDonald to Hawthorns Primary School for a four year term and

b.    Miss Rosemary Ellis to Heene CE Primary School for a four year term subject to the application documents being received by Cllr Michael Cloake.

The Call in deadline is 14^th November.

25.1 The Committee considered a report from the Director of Educations and Skills (copy attached to the signed minutes). The report included a list of the current vacancies for Local Authority Governors in the CLC area.

25.2 Resolved that the following Authority School Governor nominations be approved:

a.    Cllr Sean McDonald Hawthorns Primary School for a four year term and

b.    Miss Rosemary Ellis to Heene CE Primary School for a four year term subject to the application documents being received by Cllr Michael Cloake.

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 25 February at a venue to be confirmed.Members wishing to place an item on the agenda please notify Jack Caine via email: jack.caine@westsussex.gov.uk or on 033 022 28941

26.1 The Chairman confirmed the next meeting of the CLC was scheduled for 25 February 2019 in Worthing Library.