Agenda and minutes

Councillor Thomas-Atkin declared that she had a prejudicial Interest in item 5 on the Agenda as a Member of Burgess Hill Town Council and would leave the Chamber for this item.

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Kate Wilson, Business Unit Leader Community Services introduced the report which was presented to the Scrutiny Committee for Customer Services and Service Delivery on 3 October.  She provided Cabinet with an update on the Council’s performance for the first quarter from April to June 2018 with 85% of targets achieved, and noted the good performance of the collection of Council Tax / Business Rates, Household Waste and the processing of Planning Applications.  This was an improvement on performance in the same quarter last year.  The report highlighted four targets that had been missed by more than 10% and commented that the processing of Benefit Claims had been affected by the disaggregation of the Census Partnership and establishment of the Council’s own service.  However the Business Unit Leader for Community Services noted the emphasis on the level of accuracy and not the speed of processing claims.  There had been good progress with the Council’s flagship activities, as identified in the 2018/19 Corporate Plan; cashless parking had been introduced in the towns and St John’s Park had been awarded the Green Flag. 

The Leader commented that he had attended the Scrutiny Committee meeting for Customer Services and Service Delivery where there was a robust debate.

The Cabinet Member for Community commented on paragraph 36 of the report and stated that anti-social behaviour could only be dealt with if it was reported.  In response to a Member’s query on the CCTV camera at St John’s Park, the Business Unit Leader for Community Services, Policy and Performance advised that the current temporary camera was standalone with footage access available to the local Police team. A new permanent camera would be installed in April 2019 which would be linked to Sussex Police HQ in Lewes.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance noted that this was a good report and the Council had avoided a loss of subsidy for the second consecutive year.  However she advised that some figures could be distorted by a spike in performance and that the Scrutiny Committee had suggested that a median figure should be substituted to provide a more accurate figure.  An advisory comment in the report would be helpful. 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning stated that the number of households approaching the Council as homelessness was thankfully below target but the number of families in temporary accommodation was higher and work was in progress to purchase Council owned temporary housing stock.  He informed Cabinet that he would provide a detailed report at the next Council meeting on the planning appeals and decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Cabinet Member for Customer Services noted the Make a Difference award nominations for which came from the public and this reflected well on the quality of service Council staff were providing.

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

RESOLVED

Cabinet noted the Council’s performance and progress with flagship activities in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Peter Stuart, the Head of Corporate Resources introduced the report which sought approval to terminate and serve notice of the Rural Management Agreement relating to Janes Lane pavilion at Janes Lane, Burgess Hill.

            The Cabinet Member for Economic Growth thanked Burgess Hill Town Council for its contribution to the management of the facility. Cabinet members noted the opportunities that may be available under the new arrangements.

The Leader asked if all Cabinet Members had received and read a copy of the letter from Burgess Hill Town Council, dated 11 October 2018, which had been tabled.  All Cabinet Members confirmed they had read it.

The Leader noted that no more 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 termination of the Rural Management Agreement relating to the Pavilion with Burgess Hill Town Council (BHTC).

b)   delegate the Heads of Regulatory Services and Corporate Resources to serve 6 months’ notice to BHTC, and any such other terms and conditions as the Solicitor to the Council and/or Head of Corporate Resources may recommend to protect the Council’s position.

The Leader proposed that the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the exempt items on the agenda and this was seconded by the Cabinet Member for Service Delivery. This was agreed unanimously.

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 Leader brought the meeting back into open session on the completion of exempt business.

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