Decisions

Use the search options below to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the Cabinet and cabinet and members. Also included are key decisions by officers and decisions made by officers under the urgent action procedure. You can also find decisions taken by the full Council and decision-making committees.

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Decisions published

12/12/2019 - Re-commissioning of Community Based Social Support Services OKD26 19/20 ref: 799    Recommendations Approved

 

The County Council is committed to providing early help and prevention services to adults across the County which support people to remain outside of personal budget funded services for as long as possible, maximising individual strengths and local assets to support this outcome.

 

In April 2019 the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health approved the procurement of community based social support for people with lifelong disabilities, autism and/or complex needs. Following Key Decision AH02 (19/20) the tender process commenced in June 2019.

 

Following completion of a compliant, open and competitive procurement experienced providers have been found.

 

The Executive Director Adults and Health is requested to award the contract to the bidders that have provided the most advantageous tender.

Decision Maker: Interim Executive Director Adults and Health

Decision published: 12/12/2019

Effective from: 24/12/2019

Decision:

The Executive Director Adults and Health has approved;

 

1)   the award of the Community Based Social Support Services for people with lifelong disabilities and/or autism Lot 1 Independent Living and Lot 2 Employment Support contracts for an initial period of three (3) years commencing 1st April 2020; and

 

2)   not to award contracts, following the procurement exercise, for the Community Based Social Support Services for people with lifelong disabilities and/or autism Lot 3 ‘Community Connecting’.

 

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Lisa Loveman


09/12/2019 - Lease of vacant residential properties to a Registered Provider (CAB08(19/20) ref: 798    Recommendations Approved

The County Council has a small number of vacant residential properties which are no longer needed for their original operational purposes; some of these have been identified as suitable for families with children needing accommodation.    The County Council is not legally able to grant residential tenancies of a nature that would facilitate the letting of these properties directly to the families.   YMCA Downslink Group (YMCA) has been identified as a suitable Registered Provider. The YMCA proposes to apply for government grant to bring the properties up to a lettable standard, to manage and maintain the properties for 5 years under the terms of the lease, accept tenant nominations from the County Council, manage the tenancies, collect rents, carry out day to day maintenance of the properties and prepare the properties between tenancies.  There will therefore be no up-front capital cost to the County Council.  There should also be savings against the current arrangements for temporary accommodation.

 

Cabinet will be asked to endorse the leasing of vacant residential property to a Registered Provider for the purpose of housing families to whom the County Council has a Children Act duty for their temporary accommodation.   It is proposed to lease the properties to YMCA Downslink Group (YMCA).   It will be proposed that authority is delegated to the Director Property and Assets in consultation with the Director Law and Assurance to conclude the terms of the leases and the nomination arrangements with the Registered Provider and  to agree a list of current suitable properties to be part of  the proposal for the scheme and agree future properties should they become available.

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision published: 09/12/2019

Effective from: 19/12/2019

Decision:

Cabinet endorsed that:

 

1.      The County Council enters into Lease agreements with the Registered Provider, YMCA Downslink Group on selected residential properties identified as suitable to house families to whom the County Council has a Children Act duty for their temporary accommodation, and such other suitable properties as become available at nil rent to the registered provider, for either 6 or 11 years (length of lease to be determined by extent of works required to bring the properties up to standard) on the terms set out in section 2 of the report; and that

 

2.      Authority is delegated to the Director Property and Assets in consultation with the Director of Law and Assurance to conclude the terms of the leases, and the nomination arrangements with the Registered Provider and to agree the list of suitable properties to be part of proposal for the scheme currently and in the future, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, should further properties become available.

 

Divisions affected: Arundel & Courtwick; Bersted; Chichester South; East Grinstead Meridian; Felpham; Horsham East; Rother Valley; Selsey; Southwick; St Leonard's Forest; Three Bridges;

Lead officer: Elaine Sanders


03/12/2019 - Lease of Vacant Residential Properties to a Registered Provider (CAB08(19/20)) ref: 787    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet

Decision published: 09/12/2019

Effective from: 19/12/2019

Decision:

20.1   Cabinet considered the report by Director Property and Assets.

 

20.2   Mr Jeremy Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report that detailed the future use of some County Council owned properties to be leased to a registered provider for the purpose of housing homeless families. 

 

20.3   Mrs Joy Dennis, Chairman of Performance and Finance Select Committee stated that the report was due to come before her Committee later in the week but asked what consideration had been given to security arrangements especially to any properties where close to school grounds.  She also asked what consideration had been given to what happens if the registered providers do not receive the grant funding and would the County Council be liable for the costs.

 

20.4   Mr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group, welcomed the proposal and asked if more vacant properties could be identified for this use.  He also asked for reassurance about the accessibility of the properties for families such as bus routes or nearness to amenities.

 

20.5   Cabinet Members welcomed the proposal but asked that the questions raised by Mrs Dennis be responded to prior to the decision being published.  In reference to Mr Jones’s question that would be something for the registered provider to assess.

 

20.6   RESOLVED that Cabinet approve, subject to scrutiny and responses to the questions above, that:

 

1) The County Council enters into Lease agreements with the Registered Provider, YMCA Downslink Group on selected residential properties identified as suitable to house families to whom the County Council has a Children Act duty for their temporary accommodation, and such other suitable properties as become available at nil rent to the registered provider, for either 6 or 11 years (length of lease to be determined by extent of works required to bring the properties up to standard) on the terms set out in section 2 of the report; and that

 

2) Authority is delegated to the Director Property and Assets in consultation with the Director of Law and Assurance to conclude the terms of the leases, and the nomination arrangements with the Registered Provider and to agree the list of suitable properties to be part of proposal for the scheme currently and in the future, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, should further properties become available.


02/12/2019 - Pension Advisory Board - Chairman Appointment Process ref: 795    For Determination

Decision Maker: Governance Committee

Made at meeting: 02/12/2019 - Governance Committee

Decision published: 06/12/2019

Effective from: 02/12/2019

Decision:

34.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Finance and Support Services and the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) on the appointment process for members of the Pension Advisory Board and the independent Chairman of the Board.

 

34.2     Members noted that the paragraph reference in recommendation (1) should read ‘paragraphs 2.3, 2.4 and 3.2’.

 

34.3     Resolved –

 

(1)        That the changes set out in paragraphs 2.3, 2.4 and 3.2be endorsed for submission to the Council on 17 December 2019 for approval; and

 

(2)        That, following approval of the changes, the Director of Finance and Support Services and the Director of Law and Assurance be asked to advertise the role of Independent Chairman to the West Sussex Pension Advisory Board and create a shortlist of nominees from which an appointment can be made.


02/12/2019 - Corporate Parenting Panel Terms of Reference ref: 793    For Determination

Decision Maker: Governance Committee

Made at meeting: 02/12/2019 - Governance Committee

Decision published: 06/12/2019

Effective from: 02/12/2019

Decision:

32.1     The Committee considered  a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) on changes to the terms of reference of the Corporate Parenting Panel for recommendation to the County Council.

 

32.2     Mrs Jupp expressed disappointment that part of the consultation process was still to be completed.

 

32.3     Resolved –

 

(1)         That the revised terms of reference and constitution of the Corporate Parenting Panel, as set out at Appendix A to the report, be endorsed for recommendation to the County Council; and

 

(2)         That the revised terms of reference be reviewed in six months when further changes may be proposed following engagement with the Children in Care Council.


02/12/2019 - Appointments to Committees, Panels and Outside Bodies ref: 791    For Determination

Decision Maker: Governance Committee

Made at meeting: 02/12/2019 - Governance Committee

Decision published: 06/12/2019

Effective from: 02/12/2019

Decision:

36.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) which, in accordance with the expressed wishes of the political groups, asked it to make changes to appointments on committees, panels and outside bodies.

 

36.2     Resolved – That the changes set out in the report be approved.


02/12/2019 - Review of County Local Committees ref: 794    For Determination

Decision Maker: Governance Committee

Made at meeting: 02/12/2019 - Governance Committee

Decision published: 06/12/2019

Effective from: 02/12/2019

Decision:

33.1     The Committee considered report by the Chairman of the Working Group set up by the Committee to carry out a full review of all County Local Committees on its conclusions and recommendations (copy appended to the signed minutes).

 

33.2     Mr High, as Chairman of the Working Group, introduced the report and outlined the recommendations.

 

33.3     Members welcomed the report and were generally supportive of the proposals.  Mr Bradbury commented how difficult it was to manage the business of the Central and South Mid Sussex County Local Committee but acknowledged the need to avoid additional costs in terms of resources.

 

33.4     There was some discussion about the merits of Spacehive and whether the process involved deterred organisations from applying.  Members supported the review of the contract, given the recent reduction in funding and the introduction of the new Micro-fund.

 

33.5     Resolved –

 

(1)        That a flexible approach should be taken to CLCs, reflecting differences in the communities they represent: there should not be a one-size fits all approach, and each CLC should be able to run meetings how they wish, including the potential for meetings to be informal or themed around a specific issue. Work programmes should not be rigid and should be adaptable to be able to deal with issues arising during the year. The priority should be on effectiveness not consistency.

 

Structure

 

(2)        That the current configuration of CLCs should be retained, with 11 CLCs covering the same geographical area as at present;

 

(3)        That the County Council divisions of Lindfield & High Weald and Bourne should each continue to cut across two CLCs (so the two members for these divisions should each continue to sit on two CLCs);

 

(4)        That there should continue to be three CLC meetings per year, with the potential to hold extraordinary meetings to respond to significant local issues, supported by the relevant service area (and not requiring Democratic Services’ support);

 

(5)        That the Cabinet Member should liaise with Arun District Council to consider potential improvements to the Joint Area Committees model; whether this is still appropriate and effective and whether any different approaches should be considered;

 

Functions

 

(6)        That as there is no statutory requirement for the nomination of school governors to be approved by members, it is proposed that the Cabinet Member be asked to delegate to the Director for Education and Skills the authority to approve nominations in liaison with the relevant local member and that this change to the CLCs’ terms of reference be forwarded to County Council for approval on 17 December 2019;

 

Meeting arrangements

 

(7)        That Talk with Us sessions should take priority, be early on the agenda and be given as long as possible, with time limitations set at the chairman’s discretion. Where questions are raised in these sessions that there is not an officer present to answer, it will be for local member to take up and get back to the resident;

 

(8)        That there should be an annual Highways-themed meeting which considers Traffic Regulation Orders and at which Highways Officers will be present. Officer attendance at other meetings (including Highways Officers) should only be required where there is a relevant agenda item (to be decided at the pre-agenda meeting);

 

(9)        That Communities Officers should continue to attend all CLC meetings and in future should provide a report on activities carried out, underway and planned at each meeting;

 

Crowdfunding

 

(10)     That the review of contract with Spacehive, the provider of the crowdfunding platform that is used for the allocation of the Community Initiative Fund, should include the implications of the new Micro-fund on the viability of the contract;

 

Other

 

(11)     That area profile data should be provided to all members annually, use of which will include informing CIF allocations;

 

(12)     That hints and tips/guidance should be produced by Democratic Services capturing different ways of working as a toolkit for CLC members and chairmen. This should include options for carrying out work planning, ways of engaging public, meeting format and engagement with town/parish councils as appropriate; and

 

(13)     That CLC Chairmen’s meetings should become an annual meeting to review the work of CLCs over the year and share best practice. All members should be invited to attend.


02/12/2019 - Proposals for change - Improving Council Governance ref: 792    For Determination

Decision Maker: Governance Committee

Made at meeting: 02/12/2019 - Governance Committee

Decision published: 06/12/2019

Effective from: 02/12/2019

Decision:

31.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) which provided a context for proposals to change governance arrangements for both executive and scrutiny functions. The Committee was asked to consider a number of changes to how decisions are taken by Cabinet and how the Forward Plan of key decisions will be used. Changes were also proposed to meet the need for more effective scrutiny (these included the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel).

 

31.2     The Director of Law and Assurance introduced the report and explained that the proposals for change were as a result of concerns expressed about corporate governance in the Commissioner’s findings following the Ofsted inspection into Children’s Services plus the HMI report into the Fire & Rescue Service.  The proposals also took into account the Government’s refreshed guidance on scrutiny which had been examined by the Scrutiny Review Panel whose report was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.  There had also been a health check by the Centre for Public Scrutiny which had been carried out following the Ofsted inspection.

 

31.3     The Director of Law and Assurance commented that there was one matter in which the recommendations differed and that was in relation to scrutiny of the Fire & Rescue Service.  In his view, the Panel’s recommendation that a separate committee should be established would not achieve the stated objectives and would not be in the interests of effective scrutiny.

 

31.4     Mrs Purnell, as Chairman of the Scrutiny Review Panel, introduced the Panel’s report and ran through the recommendations.  In relation to scrutiny of the Fire & Rescue Service she said the Panel was of the view that a separate committee would achieve better scrutiny by giving members an increased knowledge of the service. In the Panel’s view this would be harder to achieve with a large committee dealing with a wider portfolio.

 

31.5     Members considered the recommendations in relation to the executive as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.  The proposals were broadly welcomed but there were requests for the time limits in paragraphs 9 and 10, in relation to contributions by Select Committee chairmen and minority group leaders, to be increased to five minutes.

 

31.6     The Leader commented that having a time limit was important in order to be able to manage the business on the agenda.  He reminded the Committee that members had other opportunities to seek clarity about or raise an issue on matters to be discussed at Cabinet (advance notice of which would be via the Forward Plan) including speaking directly to Cabinet Members.  The changes proposed were about Cabinet individually and collectively making decisions in a transparent way.

 

31.7     After discussion it was agreed that the time limits should be recommended for increase to five minutes in each instance.

 

31.8     It was requested that any member should be able to make a request to the Leader, as chairman of the meeting, to attend and speak at the meeting, as was the case with other committees under Standing Order 3.20. It was also requested that consideration was given to whether the words ‘other members’ in paragraph 11 needed to be clarified.

 

31.9     The Committee discussed the Scrutiny Review Panel recommendations set out in Section A of Appendix 3 and made the following comments and resolutions.

 

Recommendation 1 – members supported the renaming of select committees as scrutiny committees so that their role was clear.

 

Recommendation 2 – views were expressed for and against the suggestion that there should be a separate Fire & Rescue Select Committee.

 

Some members supported the view that it was the responsibility of the executive to give an identity to the F&RS and that scrutiny of the service would be better served by enhancing the role of the current select committee.  This could be done by increasing capacity by moving the Economy portfolio to the Performance and Finance Select Committee, having meetings dedicated to the F&RS and better management of business.  It was felt that there was a danger that creating a separate select committee could cause confusion in comparison to those areas, unlike the County Council, which have a joint fire committee acting as fire authority.

 

Other members felt the proposal for a separate committee would ensure there was enough select committee time to scrutinise the F&RS properly.  Concerns were expressed about how meetings dedicated to the F&RS would be achieved in practice. The Leader said he was in favour of a separate select committee to increase transparency and ensure members have an increased understanding and greater sense of ownership of the F&RS.  He supported the proposal that the position should be reviewed after two years.

 

The Leader proposed that the recommendation should be put to the vote and this was seconded by Mr Jones. The recommendation was carried.

 

Recommendation 3 – the Committee supported scrutiny of the Economy portfolio being transferred to the Performance and Finance Select Committee.

 

Recommendation 4 – there was a suggestion that the Performance and Finance Select Committee should be renamed to include ‘economy’ but it was agreed that no change was necessary.

 

Recommendation 5 – members were supportive of the suggestion that it should be for the Monitoring Officer (or Deputy), rather than the select committee business planning group, to decide whether to accept a request for a call-in.

 

Recommendation 6 – members supported the responses to the Centre for Public Scrutiny set out at Appendix 2, Annex A.

 

Recommendation 7 – in relation to pre-meetings for select committees, some members expressed concern that such meetings may give the impression that views had been formed in private in advance of the meeting.  The Committee endorsed the wording of recommendation 6 in Section B which describes the purpose of pre-meetings as ensuring the best use of time and agreeing the aims for items.

 

Recommendation 8 – some members felt it would be better to keep meetings at County Hall as the facilities were better and all select committee meetings were now webcast.  However, on balance, the Committee supported the suggestion that one meeting of each select committee should be held at County Hall North in 2020/21 by way of a trial so that the public had the option of attending meetings in the north of the county.  All meetings should continue to be webcast.

 

Recommendation 9 – members supported the enforcing of the rules on substitutes, namely that substitution was for the whole of a meeting and not part of it.

 

Recommendation 10 – some members expressed support for the appointment of chairmen and vice-chairmen by select committees using a secret ballot as put forward as an option by the Panel.  One member suggested that voting should be by a show of hands rather than a secret ballot but with one person being able to request a secret ballot. The Leader said he would prefer the appointment to be by the Council on the recommendation of the Leader. 

 

It was proposed by Dr Walsh and seconded by Mrs Jupp that the appointment of the chairman and vice-chairman should be by the select committee on a secret ballot and this was carried.

 

Recommendation 11 – the Committee felt that any proposal to merge the two committees should be considered on its own merits and not as a way of offsetting the cost of an additional select committee.  Members therefore requested that a report be brought to the next meeting for them to consider the whether the proposal should be taken forward.

 

Recommendation 12 – agreed

 

31.10  The recommendations set out at Section B of Appendix 3, with the exception of recommendation 9, were supported.

 

31.11  Resolved –

 

(1)         That the County Council be recommended that the proposals for changes to executive arrangements, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, subject to the adjustment of the time limit for contributions by select committee chairmen and minority group leaders being set at a maximum of five minutes, the addition of the ability of other members to request to speak at the meeting and clarification of the wording in relation to ‘other members’ in paragraph 11;

 

(2)         That the County Council be recommended that Select committees be renamed scrutiny committees;

 

(3)         That the County Council be recommended that a separate select committee for the Fire & Rescue Service be established with effect from April 2020, to be reviewed in March 2022;

 

(4)         That the County Council be recommended that responsibility for scrutinising the Economy portfolio be transferred from the Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee to the Performance and Finance Select Committee without any change to the name of the Committee;

 

(5)         That the County Council be recommended that the decision to accept or reject call-in requests be transferred from Business Planning Groups to the Monitoring Officer (or Deputy), using the criteria in the Constitution, the Monitoring Officer to report to the relevant select committee on reasons for rejecting/accepting any call-in requests;

 

(6)         That the Panel’s response to the Centre for Public Scrutiny recommendations (at Appendix 2, Annex A to the report) be taken forward and monitored by the Performance and Finance Select Committee;

 

(7)         That one meeting of each Select Committee during 2020/21 be held at County Hall North, Horsham to inform a review by the Performance and Finance Select Committee as to whether Select Committee meetings should alternate between County Hall Chichester and County Hall North, Horsham from May 2021;

 

(8)         That the Standing Order 8.02 on attendance of substitutes at Select Committees be enforced, namely that when notice is given that a substitute will attend a meeting the substitution is for the whole of the meeting, not part of it;

 

(9)         That the County Council be recommended that the process for the appointment of select committee chairmen and vice-chairmen should be by annual appointment by each select committee through a secret ballot;

 

(10)      That whether planning and rights of way matters should continue to be considered by separate committees should be reviewed and that a report be brought to the next meeting of the Committee;

 

(11)      That the Performance and Finance Select Committee identify, through the implementation of the Centre for Public Scrutiny recommendations, any other aspects of the Constitution that may need revision, such as relating to the value and profile of the scrutiny function;

 

(12)      That the guide to business planning and pre-agenda meetings, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved for use by Business Planning Groups and Select Committees;

 

(13)      That key lines of enquiry are used in the preparation of scrutiny reports and that reports provides advice to the committee by reference to those lines of enquiry;

 

(14)      That the agenda for pre-agenda meetings includes a checklist of issues for scrutiny and key lines of enquiry for inclusion in the report on each agenda item;

 

(15)      That Committees and their Business Planning Groups give particular attention to the need to identify additional sources of evidence and expert witnesses;

 

(16)      That the principal respondent to scrutiny shall be the Cabinet Member for the relevant portfolio of the matter subject to scrutiny;

 

(17)      That short pre-meetings be used to ensure the best use of time by the Committee and to agree the aims of the Committee for each item;

 

(18)      That members be invited to submit questions of detail on reports to the report author in advance of the relevant meeting rather than at a meeting of the committee;

 

(19)      That the Chairman be responsible for collating and summarising the output of a committee’s consideration of any matter, including those from any minority of members, for approval by the committee; and

 

(20)      That there be a schedule of skills and development for members of scrutiny committees to focus on:

·         Assessing key lines of enquiry and scrutiny impact

·         Performance management and the effective use of data

·         Questioning skills

·        Chairmanship skills


05/12/2019 - SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2019-2024 (ES06(19/20) ref: 797    Recommendations Approved

West Sussex County Council has been developing a new Strategy to support the inclusion of all children and young people, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This Strategy builds on the County Council’s current SEND Strategy for 2016-2019 and the outcomes of the 2018 Ofsted/CQC SEND Local Area Inspection.

 

The new SEND and Inclusion Strategy for West Sussex 2019-2024 has been co-produced with key stakeholders including education representatives, parents and carers.  The draft Strategy has been the subject of public consultation to seek feedback on the proposed vision, priorities and activities by which the Council will shape its work and decisions in relation to SEND over the next five years, and to inform the development of the new Strategy.

 

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills will be asked to consider the outcome of the consultation and approve the Strategy and Implementation Plan for publication.

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Decision published: 05/12/2019

Effective from: 17/12/2019

Decision:

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills is requested to:-

(1)     Approve the SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2024 and accompanying implementation plan for publication.

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Helen Johns


05/12/2019 - Response to Mr Jones' Notice of Motion about Highways Maintenance to County Council on 18 October 2019 H&I17 (19/20) ref: 790    Recommendations Approved

The Chairman of the County Council referred the notice of motion on Highways Maintenance (see Appendix) submitted to the County Council on 18 October 2019, to Mr Roger Elkins, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, for consideration.

 

The motion called on the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure to reverse the cut to the highways maintenance budget, at least until such time as adequate alternative arrangements for others to cover the reduction in service levels are in place county-wide. The funding for this service to be taken during this transition period from the budget management reserve.

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure

Decision published: 05/12/2019

Effective from: 17/12/2019

Decision:

The Cabinet Member is unable to support the Notice of Motion, so will recommend that members do not support it at the County Council meeting on 17 December.

 

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Tony Kershaw


04/12/2019 - Report on the Response to the Notice of Motion on Hate Crime to County Council on 18 October 2019 FRC02 19/20 ref: 796    Recommendations Approved

The Chairman of the County Council referred the notice of motion on Hate Crime submitted to the County Council on 18 October 2019 to Mr Duncan Crow, the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities, for consideration. The Motion requested that:

 

1)   the Hate Incident Support Service is protected from any future budget cuts to ensure this unique and highly valued service can be maintained at its current level.

 

2)   cost-effective ways of increasing the promotion of hate crime reporting using wider-reaching advertising opportunities (at roundabouts, on vehicles and local public transport) are explored; and

 

3)   a regular report on hate crime is provided to the Chairman of the Environment Communities and Fire Select Committee ECFSC and the Business Planning Group for monitoring (and further scrutiny if required)

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities

Decision published: 04/12/2019

Effective from: 14/12/2019

Decision:

The Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities supports many elements of the motion but is unable to support its entirety and so proposes to recommend an amendment at the County Council meeting on 17 December.

 

Lead officer: Tony Kershaw


04/12/2019 - Report on Response to Withy Patch Notice of Motion ref: 789    Recommendations Approved

The Chairmanof theCountyCouncilreferred a notice of motion on the Prospective sale of County Council-owned land at Withy Patch (see Appendix)submitted to the CountyCouncilon 19 July 2019,to Jeremy Hunt the CabinetMember for Finance and Resources, for consideration. 

 

The motion called on the Cabinet Member to ‘either take action now to reassure the community that the Council will not proceed with selling or transferring this land to developers or to confirm he will not accept any arrangement which attempts to get the Council to agree to waive, or write off, any of the section 106 developers’ contributions from the New Monks Farm developers that will be required to provide sufficient education provision to meet the needs of the resulting community.’

 

The motion also called on the Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities, to ‘undertake a meaningful consultation with those residents as the person accountable for their welfare on the Council’s land and to object to the sale of the land should the residents ask for that.’

 

(Cabinet portfolio names have since changed to Cabinet Member for Finance and Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities).

 

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Finance

Decision published: 04/12/2019

Effective from: 14/12/2019

Decision:

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Tony Kershaw


03/12/2019 - Outside Bodies Review and Appointments (CAB09(19/20)) ref: 786    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet

Decision published: 03/12/2019

Effective from: 13/12/2019

Decision:

Cabinet considered the report by Director of Law and Assurance.

 

Cabinet approved:

 

1) Changes to the appointments to the Outside Bodies listed in Appendix 1 until the end of the term of the County Council in May 2021.

 

2) Removal of the outside bodies listed in Appendix 2.

 

 

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019


03/12/2019 - Review of Library Offer (CAB04(19/20)) ref: 782    Recommendations Approved

To consider reviewing service levels and forms of service delivery for library services in areas of reduced demand. Options will include:

 

a.   reducing opening hours, removing the rural Mobile Library service and other logistical changes

 

b.   Using the Community Hubs programme to accelerate options to share space and bring services together under one roof so that services in communities are maintained more economically

 

Relevant community and staff consultation will be undertaken and wherever possible staff savings will be through natural turnover. The service priority will be to protect and support those most vulnerable in our communities.

 

The Cabinet Member for Safer Stronger Communities will be asked to approve options from those which are developed.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet

Decision published: 03/12/2019

Effective from: 13/12/2019

Decision:

Cabinet considered the report by Executive Director Place Services

 

Cabinet approved:

 

(1) the cessation of the mobile library services;

 

(2) the reduction in evening opening hours in the 4 main libraries with some minor adjustments elsewhere to ensure the offer is consistent across libraries from April 2020; and

 

(3) minor logistical changes that will impact working practices but not customers

 

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Lesley Sim


03/12/2019 - Local Assistance Network (LAN) (CAB05(19/20)) ref: 783    Recommendations Approved

The Local Assistance Network (LAN) was established in 2013 to replace a number of discretionary benefits for households in crisis situations which had previously been available through the benefits system.  A ring-fenced grant to support this spending was originally provided by the Department of Work and Pensions but this was removed in 2015.  Although the scale of the County Council’s commitment has reduced since then, and following a Cabinet Member decision in December 2018, the LAN budget is currently £200,000 per annum. 

 

The Cabinet Member will be asked to agree to the further reduction of Local Assistance Network (LAN) funding to £100,000 per annum from 2020/21.

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet

Decision published: 03/12/2019

Effective from: 13/12/2019

Decision:

Cabinet considered a report by Executive Director of Adults and Health.

 

Cabinet approved that the fund available for the Local Assistance Network grant allocations for 2019/20 be £100,000 and for the fund to be allocated in line with the priorities identified in section 3. of the report.

 

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Sarah Farragher


03/12/2019 - Reduction in Funding for Recycling Credits (CAB06(19/20)) ref: 784    Recommendations Approved

Recycling credits are payments made to waste collection authorities by the County Council to support initiatives to increase recycling of waste where disposal costs for residual waste are achieved. The Council is committed to reduce the amount of residual waste and increase recycling.

 

The Government has published its Waste and Resources Strategy which confirms the intent to require that food waste be collected and treated separately by 2023.

 

The County Council has no legal obligation to pay recycling credits to District and Borough councils save in accordance with the criteria set out in Regulations. The Cabinet Member for Environment took the decision to reduce aggregate recycling rate payments by £1m (from £5.6m to £4.6m in total) in 2019/20. The District and Borough councils were given notice that further reductions may follow depending on progress towards a higher performing service and on the County Council’s overall financial position.

 

Progress towards a comprehensive collection service review is slow albeit the County Council has maintained its offer to work with and help fund trialling separate food waste collections. Some progress has been made with some of the collection authorities.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment will be asked to approve further changes to the funding arrangements with District and Borough councils whilst meeting the requirements of the recycling credit provisions under the Environmental Protection (Waste Recycling) Payments (England) Regulations 2006.

 

The options under consideration include removal of all credits except those that meet the above requirements over one or more years and a partial reduction where credits can be shown to provide an incentive to improved performance. 

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet

Decision published: 03/12/2019

Effective from: 13/12/2019

Decision:

Cabinet considered a report by Acting Executive Director Place Services.

 

Cabinet approved that:

 

(1) The County Council formally notifies all the District and Borough Councils (D&Bs) in the county of the termination of all payments for recycling credits except those which are statutorily eligible under the Environmental Protection (Waste Recycling) Payments (England) Regulations 2006 from 1 April 2020.

 

(2) £2m is placed in a reserve to support D&Bs who commit to implementing a New Service Model for refuse and recycling collections, to a specification and timetable agreed with the County Council, including separate food waste collections, or agrees with the County Council another alternative approach that will improve performance and reduce costs.

 

(3) £0.3m is set aside for the West Sussex Waste Partnership to deliver joint projects such as those concerning schools waste, education, campaigns etc. and to undertake waste composition analysis; and that

 

(3) Authority is delegated to the Acting Executive Director Place Services to develop, in consultation with D&Bs, the specification for the New Service Model, criteria for awarding the funding and the calculation method.

 

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Steve Read


03/12/2019 - Creation of Additional Special Support Centres in Schools - phases 2&3 (CAB03(19/20)) ref: 781    Recommendations Approved

In December 2018 the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills took a decision (reference ES15 (18/19)) to approve Phase 1 of a scheme to develop additional Special Support Centres (SSCs) attached to maintained schools.  SSCs are units which provide additional support for children with various types of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

 

It is proposed that the County Council now progresses with Phases 2 and 3 of the development scheme which would involve the creation of up to eight additional SSCs in mainstream schools, generating an extra 84 places for those children with high functioning autism and social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

 

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills will be asked to approve the proposal to progress the implementation of Phases 2 and 3 of the Special Support Centre Investment Programme.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet

Decision published: 03/12/2019

Effective from: 13/12/2019

Decision:

Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Education & Skills.

 

Cabinet approved the proposal to develop a full business case, to be taken through the County Council’s capital governance process, for the second phase of the project for opening additional Special Support Centres places attached to schools for opening in September 2020 and to bring forward any individual schemes under phase 3 of the SSC investment programme from 2021 to 2020, where it is possible to do so. All the individual specific schemes that are brought forward under phases 2 and 3 will be subject to their own approval process.

 

 

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Helen Johns


03/12/2019 - Electric Vehicle Strategy (CAB07(19/20)) ref: 785    Recommendations Approved

Under the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill, the government has announced plans to ban new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles aims for all vehicles to be low-emission by 2050. 

 

The County Council needs to start preparing for this transition so that residents and businesses are able to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

 

This strategy will set out the County Council’s vision for electric vehicles across the county and the interventions to deliver this vision.

 

The strategy has been developed with guidance from a cross-party Members’ Executive Task and Finish Group.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment will be asked to approve the Electric Vehicle Strategy.

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 03/12/2019 - Cabinet

Decision published: 03/12/2019

Effective from: 13/12/2019

Decision:

Cabinet considered a report by Acting Executive Director Place Services.

 

Cabinet approved the Electric Vehicle Strategy for the period of 2019 – 2030, attached as Appendix 2.

 

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Ruth O'Brien


03/12/2019 - Procurement of replacement wheelchair accessible mini buses OKD25 19/20 ref: 788    Recommendations Approved

The Council operates a Fleet Assessment Management Plan that details the vehicles and equipment due for replacement over a rolling 5 year period.

 

During 2020/21 there is a requirement to replace a number of wheelchair accessible minibuses used to support the provision of school transport as well as some adult services operations.

 

Within the scope of this decision there are 33 vehicles due for replacement.

 

It is proposed that the procurement is carried out using an external, multi-supplier Framework Agreement using an agreed specification.

 

Delivery of the vehicles would be expected during Financial Year 2020/21.

 

The value for this purchase is approximately £2,000,000 and will be funded via the Council’s Capital Programme. The Council is currently developing a transition plan to look at ways of re-profiling the fleet, through the replacement programme, to take account of evolving strategies on electric vehicles and carbon targets.

 

 

The Chief Fire Officer will be asked to agree; the commencement of a procurement using an external Framework Agreement to replace  wheelchair accessible minibuses.

 

 

Decision Maker: Chief Fire Officer (Sabrina Cohen-Hatton)

Decision published: 03/12/2019

Effective from: 13/12/2019

Decision:

The Chief Fire Officer has approved the commencement of a compliant procurement process to source the 33 vehicles using an agreed specification.

 

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Lead officer: Paul Mace