Minutes:
Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth
The Deputy Leader began by adding his congratulations and thanks for all the work involved in securing the provision of a 6th form college in Haywards Heath.
He drew Members attention to the work that is under-way on the A2300 to deliver The Hub Business Park. This is an important aspect to the Burgess Hill Growth Programme as it will include 50,000m2 of employment space and the potential creation of hundreds of jobs in the area.
He confirmed that on Thursday 27 September he was attending the launch of Refill Mid Sussex, a national campaign to encourage business to provide free drinking water to people with refillable bottles. The campaign aligned with the Council’s sustainability policy, in its aim to reduce the amount of single use plastics and their impact on the environment. 50 businesses are already committed to the scheme, and an App is available for people to identify those participating.
The Deputy Leader also confirmed that the Council continues to review its surplus assets to consider better use and three further sites at Paddockhall Road, Bentswood Crescent and Brighton Road, Handcross were agreed at the Cabinet meeting this week as possible areas to deliver affordable homes.
Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance
The Cabinet Member confirmed that the Council has implemented a discretionary business rate relief scheme, as announced in the Governments Spring 2017 budget, which means that this council can continue to maximise financial assistance to qualifying local businesses from these reliefs. The Policy was amended in August so that the scheme is based on a banded award in order to reduce the administration involved in making a percentage award.
She noted that the Cabinet have now considered the service planning guidelines for 2019/20. The council is striving to maintain its financial independence and will be continuing to focus on managing growth and supporting economic development. However there are some uncertainties; for example surrounding the negative revenue support grant and the implications of the Fair Funding Review in 2020/21. Taking these factors into consideration, as part of the council’s prudent planning, consideration will be given to increasing Council Tax.
The Cabinet Member confirmed that Members will be involved in budget setting to produce a strong, sound and tightly managed budget to take the Council in to the next Administration. The budget will be put before the relevant Scrutiny Committee in January 2019 and to the Council in February 2019.
Report of the Cabinet Member for Customer Services
The Cabinet Member was not present at the meeting.
Report of the Cabinet Member for Service Delivery
The Cabinet Member was not present at the meeting.
Report of the Cabinet Member for Community
The Cabinet Member was not present at the meeting.
Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
The Cabinet Member noted that the Northern Arc Masterplan has been agreed by the Scrutiny Committee and was agreed by Cabinet at their meeting on Monday 24 September. Homes England and Aecom were present at the Scrutiny meeting to answer Member’s questions. Further work on a transport survey is to be undertaken and transport issues will be dealt with as the planning permissions move forward.
He confirmed that the Scrutiny Committee also considered the work of the Site Allocation Working Group and the first stage of the work to discount residential sites that do not comply with the District Plan has been completed. The Scrutiny Committee agreed the recommendations. The working group will consider the next stage and will report back to the Scrutiny Committee as appropriate.
With regard to the Balcombe Flow Testing, the Cabinet Member confirmed that Angus Energy have held Community Liaison Group meetings with Balcombe Parish Council, representative from the village, Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council and the Police. The flow testing has already commenced and will last for 7 days when the site will then be cleared. When the results of the flow tests are known, Angus Energy will decide on the future of the site and if they proceed, further permissions will be required from West Sussex County Council.