Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ash-Edwards declared that he is the Chairman of Sussex Learning Trust and is a Member of Haywards Heath Town Council therefore had a prejudicial interest in items 7 and 9.  It was agreed that Councillor Webster would act as Chairman for those items.

Apologies were received from Councillors Wall and Marsh.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 February were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Deputy Leader after it was noted that Councillors Clarke and Chris Hersey were present at the meeting.

None.

Kate Wilson, Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance introduced the report.  She commented that the report considers the Council’s key strategic risks for the coming year and an annual review of the risk management policy.  A range of risks had been considered and three proposed strategic risks were highlighted.  The Business Unit Leader referred to Appendix A which showed the likelihood and impact of each risk on a matrix. She also advised that fuller descriptions of each risk along with risk management plans could be found at Appendix B. The Business Unit Leader noted it was the responsibility of Heads of Service and Cabinet Members to monitor risks throughout the year.  She noted corrections in Appendix C to page30 paragraph 1 the title should read Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance and paragraph 3, where the responsible officer is the Head of Corporate Resources.

The Cabinet Member for Customer Services expressed concern about the funding of West Sussex County Council and its potential impact on this council.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning commented that the County Council was a key partner for work within his portfolio. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance advised that the Council should continue to forge a good working relationship with West Sussex County Council to achieve a suitable environment for public especially vulnerable people.

The Cabinet Member for Community showed concern over a possible reduction in Housing Support services planned by the County Council.  He noted the evidence presented to the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC) by Sussex Police on this matter.  He expressed regret that it had not been heeded.  He was proud of the work at this Council to set aside funding for temporary housing within the district to reduce the negative impact of homelessness. 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth commented that risk management was firmly embedded into the Council’s Policy and it was essential that the Council and County Council work well together. 

The Deputy Leader noted that no other Members wished to speak so took them to the recommendation contained in the report, which was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED

Cabinet resolved to:

    (i)        Agree the strategic risks for 2019/20 and management plans set out at appendices A and B; and

   (ii)        Agree the existing Strategic Risk Management Policy, as set out at Appendix C with the only amendment being Officer and Member titles.

Kate Wilson, Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance introduced the report.  She noted that the Council has a long standing policy of supporting the provision of good quality, accessible community buildings across the district.

The building works at Court Bushes had been completed and the Parish Council committed to managing the building for the benefit of the community in line with the proposed heads of terms.  She confirmed that there had been no objections to the advertisement in the local newspapers outlining the proposal to lease the land, a requirement of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Deputy Leader noted that the Council had worked hard to have the building ready for public use.

            The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance queried how the rate of affordable rent had been agreed.  The Business Unit Leader advised that the rent was negotiated.

            The Head of Corporate Resources confirmed that £54,000 of Section 106 money had been spent on Community Facilities as detailed in the Cabinet report.  He also confirmed that a lease of 35 years had been agreed through negotiation with the Parish Council.  The Head of Regulatory Services noted that a lease of at least 28 years was necessary to apply for grants.

            The Deputy Leader noted that no other Members wished to speak so took them to the recommendation contained in the report, which was agreed unanimously.

            RESOLVED

Cabinet resolved to:

a)     authorise the Head of Corporate Resources and the Head of Regulatory Services to grant a lease of the land and building at Court Bushes, Hurstpierpoint (shown edged in red on the plan in Appendix A) to Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council for purposes of operating the Property as a Community Building on the terms set out in paragraph 4 of this report and upon such other terms as the Head of Regulatory Services considers appropriate.

b)     award Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council a Revenue Grant of up to £6,200 per annum for the first three years of operation toward the overhead costs.

The Deputy Leader and Councillor Binks left the Chamber at this stage and Councillor Webster acted as Chairman for the following items.

Peter Stuart, the Head of Corporate Resources introduced the report and noted that the decision to dispose of four pieces of land at Hurst Farm had been advertised.  The Head of Regulatory Services confirmed that objections had been received as set out in the Appendix and in relation to Section 123 (2) of the Local Government Act 1972 the sale was compliant.  

The Cabinet Member for Customer Services said she had read all the papers carefully and noted that the community would benefit from increased accessibility to the open space and supported the project.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning confirmed that all representations received had been carefully considered.  The project would improve access to the public open space which is in the Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Plan and he supported the project. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance noted the representations and was grateful for the comprehensive nature of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Community confirmed that he supported the provision of allotments, Country Park, burial ground, school and improved access to open space.

The Cabinet Member for Community proposed that the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the exempt Appendix F in the agenda and this was seconded by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning. This was agreed.

RESOLVED

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act.

The Cabinet Member for Community brought the meeting back into open session on the completion of exempt business. 

LAND AT HURST FARM, ON EAST SIDE OF HURSTWOOD LANE, HAYWARDS HEATH

As no more Members wished to speak the Cabinet Member for Community took them to the recommendations contained in the report, which were agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED

Cabinet resolved to:

a)    note and consider the responses to the statutory advertisements placed in the Mid Sussex Times on 3^rd and 10^th January 2019 giving notice of the Council’s intention to dispose of the Primary School Land shown coloured in pink on the plan, the Burial Ground Land shown coloured in blue on the plan, the Allotment Land shown coloured in yellow on the plan and the Country Park Land within the black line boundary shown coloured in green on the plan attached at Appendix D; and

b)    authorise the Head of Corporate Resources and the Solicitor and Head of Regulatory Services to dispose of the Primary School Land to West Sussex County Council on the basis set out in the Exempt Appendix F to this report and on such other terms as the Solicitor and Head of Regulatory Services recommends to protect the Council’s interests; and

c)    authorise the Head of Corporate Resources and the Solicitor and Head of Regulatory Services to dispose of the Burial Ground Land, the Allotment Land and the Country Park Land  to Haywards Heath Town Council on the basis set out in the Exempt Appendix F to this report and on such other terms as the Solicitor and Head of Regulatory Services recommends to protect the Council’s interests; and

d)    subject to agreeing appropriate terms for the future management and maintenance, authorise the Head of Corporate Resources to procure the provision of an access road and car park on the Access Road and Car Park Land.

The Deputy Leader returned to the meeting. 

The Deputy Leader proposed that the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the exempt items 10 to 12 in the agenda and this was agreed by the Cabinet Members.

None.