Decisions

In December 2020 the decision was made to award 11 new Social Support contracts for Older People. The new services will support older people to remain independent and maintain their health and well-being.

In accordance with Key Decision AH10 20/21 in December 2020, a procurement exercise is being undertaken to replace the contracts for 6 Social Support Services which expire on 30^th June 2021 and contribute to the fulfilment of West Sussex County Council objectives for A strong, safe and sustainable place and Independence for later life.

The Interim Director Public Health will be asked to award the contract(s) to the successful bidders in April 2021 to start on 1st July 2021. The contract (s) will have an initial term of 5 years with the option to extend for up to a further 2 years.

The Interim Director for Public Health has approved the award of the contracts to the Service Providers named in this report. The services will commence from 1st July 2021 with a five-year initial period to 30th June 2026, with the option to extend for a further period or periods of up to two years.

The County Council’s Community Initiative Fund (CIF) provides grant funding to support community projects that aim to make a positive impact on people’s wellbeing. This fund is 140K per annum. A decision has been taken by the Council to cease this funding, so 2020/21 is its final year of operation. 

At the end of each financial year a decision is taken to establish the route for any unallocated CIF funding. It is proposed that any in-year (2020/21) underspend of CIF should be used to be utilised to support the newly established Food Partnerships across West Sussex and charities that specialise in the redistribution of otherwise wasted food.

The Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities has approved that any in-year underspend in the Community Initiative Fund for 2020/21 will be utilised to bolster the activity of Food Partnerships across West Sussex and charities that specialise in the redistribution of otherwise wasted food.

West Sussex County Council has been a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant since 2012 and is committed to uphold the key principles of the Covenant:

·       That no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of services compared with any other citizen.

·       That, in some circumstances, special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.

The Strategy has been developed to help the County Council to maintain and improve its delivery of its commitment to the armed forces community.

That the Leader approves the Armed Forces Strategy attached at Appendix 1.

100.1  The Council considered proposed contingency arrangements for holding Council and committee meetings if the regulations allowing virtual meetings are not extended or replaced with similar provisions, in the light of a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (pages 127 to 132). The report was moved with a minor revision to Appendix 1, as shown below in bold, italic text with a deletion struck through, which had been circulated.

‘3.09d  Other members of the Council or a committee may participate in the meeting virtually via audio or video conferencing, including the right to speak on matters not requiring a decision or vote where the Chairman of the meeting agrees. They will not be entitled to vote on any business on the agenda. Virtual attendance at meetings convened under these arrangements shall be recorded and treated as a special dispensation for non-attendance at the meeting under section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.’

100.2  Resolved –

(1)         That the Council approves the adoption of emergency Standing Orders (Appendix 1 to the report, subject to the revision set out in minute 100.1 above) for use for any meeting of the Council or of a committee at which business is required to be transacted requiring member vote or approval and which cannot otherwise we lawfully convened;

(2)         That these arrangements only be applied for as long as all leaders of the political groups of the Council approve of their use;

(3)         That the supplementary Council Standing Orders approved by the Council to enable the use of virtual meetings be confirmed to continue and to be used where required;

(4)         That attendance via virtual link by a member at meetings convened under these arrangements be recorded and that this be treated as a special dispensation for non-attendance at the meeting under section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972; and

(5)         That the Director of Law and Assurance keep all members advised of any changes in the regulatory framework leading to the need for this contingency.

95.1     The Council considered a proposal for the inclusion in the constitution of the Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee of an independent member and a minor change to the joint scrutiny arrangements, in the light of a report by the Governance Committee (pages 43 to 50). It was noted that paragraph 11 of the report had been included in error and should be deleted.

95.2     Resolved –

(1)        That the changes to the constitution of the Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

(2)        That the Director of Law and Assurance and the Director of Finance and Support Services be given delegated authority to make arrangements to finalise the job description, advertise and take all other steps necessary to recruit to the role, for which travel expenses will be payable; and

(3)        That the changes to the constitution of the Joint Scrutiny Steering Group, with effect from 1 May 2021, as set out in paragraph 9 of the report, be approved.

The County Council, in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority, was required to undertake a Soft Sand Review (SSR) of the West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan (JMLP), which is part of the statutory ‘development plan’ for West Sussex.  The SSR considers the need for soft sand during the plan period (to 2033) and identifies changes to the JMLP to meet this demand, including the need for new site allocations. 

Informal public consultation on issues and options took place in January–March 2019 (under Regulation 18) followed by a formal period for representations on proposed changes to the JMLP in January-March 2020 (under Regulation 19).  In April 2020, the draft was submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination, for which hearing sessions took place in August 2020. 

Following the hearings, the Government-appointed Inspector indicated that the submitted changes needed to be modified.  Consultation on Proposed Modifications took place during November–January 2021.  The Inspector considered the Proposed Modifications and the representations made on them.  He then reported that the submitted changes (as modified) are ‘sound’ and suitable for adoption.

98.1     The Council considered the Soft Sand Review: Adoption of changes to the West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan, in the light of a report by the Cabinet Member for Environment (pages 71 to 118).

98.2     Resolved –

That the changes to the Joint Minerals Local Plan identified through the Soft Sand Review, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted.

94.1     The Council considered the Pay Policy Statement 2021/22, in the light of a report from the Governance Committee (pages 31 to 42).

94.2     Resolved –

(1)         That the proposed revisions to the Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; and

(2)         That authority be given to the Directors of Law and Assurance and of Human Resources and Organisational Development, in consultation with the Chairman, to finalise the wording of paragraphs 10.1 and 11.1 of the Statement once revised Regulations on any public sector pay cap have been published’.

The Mental Health Discharge to Assess service (D2A) supports working age adults to be discharged from acute mental health hospitals in a safe and timely manner. The Council commissions this service and is fully recompensed by Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust (SPFT). D2A has evidenced excellent outcomes for West Sussex residents and mental health systems, whilst supporting the pandemic response by minimising delays to hospital discharges. Local health and social care leaders support extending D2A and this paper seeks authority for a 6-month extension of these arrangements.   

Due to Covid-19 there have been different and shorter-term funding arrangements in place within NHS England (NHSE) which has impacted the ability of the local system to confirm funding into 2021/22. In the absence of this guidance SPFT has made a commitment to cover the costs of services for the first 6 months of the year. This funding decision has only been communicated very recently which has restricted the ability to take decisions sooner.

The Director of Law & Assurance, with the agreement of the Executive Director Adults and Health and the Chairman of the Health and Adults Social Care Scrutiny Committee, has used his delegated powers under Standing Order 5.23 and has approved a 6 month extension of the Mental Health Discharge to Assess service from 1^st April 2021.