Decisions

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to approve the following:

1.   The addition of the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group to the County Council’s Outside Bodies list

2.   The appointment of Cllr Roger Elkins to the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group for the remainder of the County Council term (May 2021).

The call-in deadline is 24 September 2020.

The Cabinet will be asked to approve detailed proposals and funding arrangements for the development of a Fire Station and Fire and Rescue Training Centre on County Council land west of Horsham, with a view to submission for planning permission.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to:

1.   Endorse the delivery of Horsham Fire Station and FRS Training Centre at Highwood in Horsham with the allocation of £20.85m and additional design fees of £461,000 from the capital programme to fund the completion of the project

2.   authorise the submission of applications for full planning permission for the project;

3.   subject to receipt of planning permission to enter into a construction contract with Willmott Dixon through the Southern Construction Framework and

4.   Confirm that the Fire and Rescue assets at Horley and Hurst Road Horsham and part of the site at Worthing, as detailed in the report, are declared surplus to all operational use.

The call-in deadline is 24 September 2020.

The Monitor details the Council’s performance in relation to revenue and capital spending, savings, workforce projections, performance and risk by portfolio against the Cabinet’s key priorities. The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources will be recommended to approve the Total Performance Monitor and any items of financial and performance management within the Monitor.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to:

Approve the proposed amendments to the performance indicators set out on pages 40 to 43 to reflect the suspension of a number of performance measures resulting from Covid-19 and new and amended targets for Children, Young People and Learning.

The call-in deadline is 24 September 2020.

In accordance with Key Decision FR08 (19/20), a procurement exercise has been undertaken to replace the contract for Asset Valuation Services which expires on 30 September 2020 and contributes to the fulfilment of WSCC’s statutory obligations around financial reporting.

The Director of Property and Assets has approved the award of the contract to Bruton Knowles LLP for an initial term of 5 years commencing 01 October 2020, with the option to extend for a further period or periods of up to 5 years.

In response to the continuing Covid-19 situation, the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced a Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies to support people who are struggling with food and essential supplies.   The County Council’s  share of the grant is £737,319.  The accompanying guidance states the receiving authority can use its discretion to support those most in need. It is proposed to introduce a simple countywide approach to ensure the funding supports those in need quickly.

The Director of Law & Assurance, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities and the Chairman of the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 5.23 for approval to be given that:

1)   the allocations from the Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies to the voluntary sector organisations set out in paragraph 2.1;

2)   the remaining funds from the grant be allocated to customers known to the County Council as set out in paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3;

3)   West Sussex County Council works in line with government guidance and applies the agreed criteria to support residents in hardship as a result of Covid-19 in partnership with District and Boroughs and the voluntary sector; and

4)   the Acting Director of Communities, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Support Services, is authorised to rebalance the allocation according to greatest need in the event that the funds allocated under 2.1 prove insufficient. 

The Community Initiative Fund is a County Local Committee (CLC) administered fund that provides assistance to local community projects.

The Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Chairman of the North Mid Sussex County Local Committee (CLC) and the Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee (PFSC), has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 3.45 to decide the following CIF Application:

548/NMS – Sussex Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and Hypermobility community support group (SEDS), £750.00 - towards purchasing IT equipment and deliver training to facilitate activities via virtual meetings.

In 2018, as a pilot project, the County Council commissioned Chichester College Group (CCG) to deliver education provision for pupils aged 14-16 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  The aim was to improve the outcomes for these young people that the County Council are not able to place in maintained schools or academy provision.

Following the positive results of the pilot it is proposed that the commissioning of this service with CCG will continue for a further 3 years.

There is currently provision for 18 pupils.  The new contract will enable this number to be increased to up to 30, and the council has also negotiated improved contract terms.

The Director of Education and Skills has approved the award of a contract to Chichester College Group (CCG) to deliver education provision for pupils aged 14-16 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) for a period of 3 years to commence in September 2020.

The A284 Lyminster Bypass is an important north-south link between the A27 at Crossbush and the A259 Littlehampton. The County Council is delivering the northern section with the southern section being delivered by Persimmon Homes. The scheme is funded through Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) funding, S106 monies and capital funding. The scheme will deliver 1.1km of single carriageway with new pedestrian and cycle facilities. It is linked to the provision of 1,260 new homes and 700 jobs.

Land acquisition is required to enable the scheme to progress towards construction. Previous approval has been given to publish the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure. In preparing the plans for the CPO some minor changes were made to the plans, none of which have any financial implication for the scheme.

The Director of Law and Assurance has authorised the following –

• Completion of the necessary procedures for the acquisition of land and creation of new rights in respect of the A284 Lyminster Bypass North, to make, seal and submit a compulsory purchase order to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation under the provisions of sections 239, 240, 246 and 250 of the Highways Act 1980 and all other enabling powers for the acquisition of approximately 9.44 hectares of land as shown on plan nos. A284LY-CAP-GEN-00-DR-C-0208 and A284LY-CAP-GEN-00-DR-C-0209 and any subsequent updates to this plan that are subject to title ownership changes, for the purposes of the construction of the new bypass and tie-in/improvement of the existing roads and accesses where appropriate;
• To make seal and submit an order to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation under the provisions of Sections 14, 124 and 125 of the Highways Act 1980 as necessary to enable any necessary side roads and/or private means of accesses to be stopped up or diverted as shown on plans nos. A284LY-CAP-HGN-00-DR-C-0240 and A284LY-CAP-HGN-00-DR-C-0241
• to take all necessary action to secure entry on to all such land, whether by agreement or compulsorily;
• to deal with any blight notices served on the Council in respect of the land required or otherwise affected by these proposals; and
• to negotiate, execute and complete all necessary documents to give effect to the above recommendations.

The County Council currently commissions Chichester College Group (CCG) to deliver education provision for pupils aged 14-16 whose needs are deemed better met by a more vocational curriculum.

Building on the success to date of this service in delivering improved outcomes for these pupils such that 88% of leavers are either attending college/other education or are in apprenticeships or employment, it is proposed to continue commissioning Chichester College Group to offer this provision for a further year.

In addition, it is proposed that the Council commissions an additional 20 places with Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (GB Met) for the delivery of similar provision at Northbrook college Worthing. This is to ensure that there is a 14-16 appropriate provision offer across the County and to reduce the costs of travel for children in the Worthing (South) area.

The Director of Education and Skills has approved the award of two 1 year contracts for the delivery of Alternative Provision for 14-16 year old pupils to Chichester College Group and to Greater Brighton Metropolitan College both commencing in September 2020.

West Sussex County Council has a statutory duty under the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 to provide short breaks for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities, and their families.

Short breaks cover a range of activities from an hour’s sports activity, a summer playscheme, evening cinema trip or a fun day for the whole family. Short breaks enable children and young people with additional needs and disabilities to try new experiences, both with and away from their siblings and parents or carers, giving them the opportunity to learn new skills, develop their confidence and have fun.

Short breaks also give parents and carers a break from their caring role, giving them a chance to rest, catch up on day-to-day activities and spend time with other family members. There is strong evidence that short breaks support the health and well-being of the children and young people receiving the break but also other family members. As families feel well supported and therefore more resilient this offers potential for less draw on specialist services provided by the Council both in children’s and ultimately adults’ services.

In May 2015 the then Cabinet Member for Children – Start of Life approved the creation of a Dynamic Purchasing (DPS) Scheme for commissioning short breaks (Decision reference CH04 (15/16)). The initial term for the DPS is due to expire in April 2021 and the intention is to extend the DPS for a further two-year period.

The Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning has approved:-

(1)        The extension of the current Short Breaks Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for two years commencing on 1st April 2021.

(2)        The delegation of authority to tender and award call off contracts from this DPS to the Assistant Director Children’s Commissioning