Decisions

Arising from the Council’s statutory obligations under The Children Act 1989, the County Council provides therapeutic assessments and therapeutic interventions for children and young people. This includes the provision of therapies from different disciplines for example psychotherapy, occupational therapy and play therapy.

In February 2022, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People approved the commencement of a procurement process for a new Open Framework for Therapeutic Services, (decision CYP05 (21/22) refers).

As part of the decision the Cabinet Member also delegated authority to the Director of Children, Young People and Learning to award places on the Framework, and any subsequent award relating to these contracting arrangements, for the initial period and further extension periods as necessary.

The procurement has been concluded and the Director of Children, Young People and Learning will be asked to award the contracts to providers that meet the criteria and standards required to join the Framework.

(1)The Director of Children, Young People and Learning has approved the appointment to the Framework for Therapeutic Services, the providers listed in paragraph 2.1 of the report, that have met the criteria and standards required, for an initial period of 5 years starting in August 2022. There is an option to extend the Framework by up to 2 years should the delivery and performance of the Framework be satisfactory. 

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) provides school accommodation for maintained schools across the county. 

The Fordwater School in Chichester (“the school”) caters for pupils aged 2 to 19 years with severe and complex learning difficulties.   The school is in urgent need of additional accommodation in Chichester.

The opportunity to lease a building in Chichester has arisen which can provide a temporary solution.   The former sixth form centre at Chichester High School, Kingsham Rd, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8EB, is owned by WSCC but subject to a 125 year Academy Lease to The Kenmal Academies Trust and available for a sub-lease back to the County Council for a term of 10 years with a break clause after 7 years.  This sub-lease will require Department for Education consent.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, has approved that;

(1)    the County Council enters into a conditional agreement for sub-lease and sub-lease arrangements for the former sixth form centre at Chichester High School, Kingsham Rd, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8EB as set out in Appendix B Site Plan and subject to agreement and final terms, as set out in the report (Appendix A restricted for members only); and

(2)    authority is delegated to the Director of Property and Assets in conjunction with the Director of Law and Assurance to negotiate and conclude the terms of both agreements.

Since deregulation of the non-domestic water/wastewater retail market in 2017, organisations have been able to competitively appoint their own water retailer (rather than using the traditional water wholesalers for billing).

The Council awarded a contract for the provision of water, wastewater and ancillary services to Scottish Water Business Stream (SWBS) in 2019 using the CCS RM 3790 framework Lot 3. This contract is due to expire on 30 September 2022. The contract terms contain an optional 12-month extension, to take the expiry date up to 30 September 2023.

It is recommended that the Assistant Director (Environment and Public Protection) extends the contract for the provision of water, wastewater and ancillary services with Scottish Water Business Stream for 12 months from 30 September 2022 to 30 September 2023.

The Assistant Director (Environment and Public Protection) has approved the extension of the contract for the provision of water, wastewater and ancillary services with Scottish Water Business Stream for 12 months from 30 September 2022 to 30 September 2023.

The County Council’s West Sussex Plan sets out its ambition to minimise the burden of local taxation, delivering the best outcomes for residents with the money it spends, whilst living within its means. In 2018 the County Council agreed to adopt an Asset Management Policy and Strategy. An objective of the strategy is to acquire, manage, maintain and dispose of property effectively, efficiently and sustainably, together with optimising financial and commercial opportunities.

This report seeks approval by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property to confirm that Centenary House (Durrington), Durrington Lane, Durrington, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 2QB is declared surplus to service operational requirements. Declaring the property surplus enables a further decision to be made on either a sale of the asset (for a capital receipt) or to retain it for wider non-service led activities of the County Council such as redevelopment for investment, regeneration or other alternative uses.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Property has approved that the County Council declares the following asset surplus to County Council service operational requirements:

Centenary House (Durrington), Durrington Lane, Durrington, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 2QB.

To accord with Standing Orders, this report advises on the outcome of the marketing of this property and seeks the approval of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property to dispose of the County Council’s freehold estate in the property. Offers have been received and approval is sought to sell to the preferred and highest bidder.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Property has endorsed that:

(1) The County Council disposes of its freehold estate in Roffey Children & Family Centre, Godwin Way, Roffey, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6SQ as set out in Appendix A of this report and 

(2) Authority is delegated to the Assistant Director (Property and Assets) in conjunction with the Director of Law and Assurance to conclude the terms of the sale with the purchaser. 

110.1  The Council was asked to approve the appointment of Mrs Julie Oldroyd, the current Deputy Director of the Education Service for the Catholic Diocese of Arundel & Brighton, as a voting co-opted member of the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee. The appointment will take effect from 1 September 2022 when Mrs Oldroyd takes up her new post of Director of the Education Service for the Diocese.

110.2  Resolved –

That the appointment be approved.

112.1  The Council reviewed the changes made to Standing Orders to provide for virtual meetings and proposals for meeting cancellation, substitutes and treatment of notices of motion at Council in the light of a report from the Governance Committee (pages 27 to 34).

112.2  Recommendation (4) was put to a recorded vote under Standing Order 3.35.

(a)        For recommendation (4) – 38

Cllr Albury, Cllr Ali, Cllr Atkins, Cllr Baldwin, Cllr Baxter, Cllr Bence, Cllr Boram, Cllr Bradbury, Cllr Britton, Cllr Burgess, Cllr Burrett, Cllr Cooper, Cllr Cornell, Cllr Crow, Cllr J Dennis, Cllr Duncton, Cllr Elkins, Cllr Forbes, Cllr Greenway, Cllr Hunt, Cllr Lanzer, Cllr Linehan, Cllr Markwell, Cllr Marshall, Cllr McDonald, Cllr McGregor, Cllr McKnight, Cllr Montyn, Cllr Patel, Cllr Payne, Cllr Pudaloff, Cllr Quinn, Cllr Russell, Cllr Smith, Cllr Turley, Cllr Urquhart, Cllr Waight and Cllr Wickremaratchi.

(b)        Against recommendation (4) – 12

Cllr Cherry, Cllr Condie, Cllr N Dennis, Cllr Gibson, Cllr Johnson, Cllr Joy, Cllr Kerry-Bedell, Cllr Lord, Cllr Milne, Cllr O’Kelly, Cllr Sharp and Cllr Walsh.

(c)         Abstentions – 0

112.3  Recommendation (4) was approved.

112.4  Recommendation (5) was put to a recorded vote under Standing Order 35.5.

(a)        For recommendation (5) – 31

Cllr Albury, Cllr Ali, Cllr Atkins, Cllr Baldwin, Cllr Bence, Cllr Boram, Cllr Bradbury, Cllr Britton, Cllr Burgess, Cllr Burrett, Cllr Cooper, Cllr Crow, Cllr J Dennis, Cllr Duncton, Cllr Elkins, Cllr Forbes, Cllr Greenway, Cllr Hunt, Cllr Lanzer, Cllr Linehan, Cllr Markwell, Cllr Marshall, Cllr McDonald, Cllr McGregor, Cllr Montyn, Cllr Patel, Cllr Payne, Cllr Russell, Cllr Urquhart, Cllr Waight and Cllr Wickremaratchi.

(b)        Against recommendation (5) – 19

Cllr Baxter, Cllr Cherry, Cllr Condie, Cllr Cornell, Cllr N Dennis, Cllr Gibson, Cllr Johnson, Cllr Joy, Cllr Kerry-Bedell, Cllr Lord, Cllr McKnight, Cllr Milne, Cllr O’Kelly, Cllr Pudaloff, Cllr Quinn, Cllr Sharp, Cllr Smith, Cllr Turley and Cllr Walsh.

(c)         Abstentions – 0

112.5  Recommendation (5) was approved.

112.6  Resolved –

          That the following changes, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved:

(1)        Changes to virtual attendance at meetings (paragraphs 5 to 8 of the report and Standing Order 3.09 (e));

(2)        New Standing Order on meeting cancellation (paragraph 9 of the report and Standing Order 3.09 (f));

(3)        Arrangements for substitutes (paragraph 10 of the report and Standing Orders 6.03, 6.04 and 7.03) and confirmation of the provisional appointments set out in minute 109.2 above;

(4)        Treatment of motions not reached due to lack of time (paragraphs 11 and 12 of the report and Standing Order 2.23 (k)); and

(5)        Time of for motion subjects returning for consideration (paragraphs 13 and 14 of the report and Standing Order 2.55).

109.1  The Council approved appointments as set out below.

109.2  The following appointments were approved subject to the agreement of the Council to recommendation (3) of item 8, Review of the Constitution.

Decision report PHW02 21/22  agreed the commencement of a procurement of a Community Advice & Support service via an open tender process, from 1^st April 2022 for a period of 3+3+1 years; that the County Council leads the tendering process on behalf of our funding partners, the West Sussex District and Borough Councils; and that authority is delegated to the Director of Public Health to award the contract  to the successful bidder.

The current demand for this service has grown and is still increasing, at the same time as facing the challenge of losing staff and volunteers to Covid19 isolation requirements. To ensure the Council receives high quality bids from organisations that would be able to mobilise a new county wide contract, with 7 local bases, it has been proposed that the new contract award is put back to 1^st September 2022. To support this timeline change, a five month contract extension from, 1^st April 2022 to 31^st August 2022, has been authorised by the Director of Law and Assurance and the Director of Finance and Support Services at the value of £447,281.

This decision asks the Director of Public Health to award the contract to the successful bidder following the tendering process.

The Director of Public Health has approved the award of the contract to Citizen’s Advice West Sussex. The service will commence from 1st September 2022 for a two-year seven-month initial period to 31st July 2025 with the option to extend for a further period of up to three years (the first extension period), and an additional final year (the second extension period). The total Contract Term (including the Initial Period and any Extensions) shall not exceed six (6) years and seven (7) months, expiring no later than 31^st March 2029.