Agenda item

MOTION A:     The Future of the Clair Hall site

Proposed by: Cllr Richard Bates                             

Seconded by: Cllr Robert Eggleston           

Mid Sussex District Council notes that:

·       The public consultation on the future of the Clair Hall site closed on 22^nd September.

·       Clair Hall continues to provide a valuable service to the community of Haywards Heath and Mid Sussex as an NHS covid vaccination hub.

·       At some point, in the near term, the NHS will hand Clair Hall back to Mid Sussex District Council when it is no longer required.

This Council recognises that: 

• Community and cultural provision in towns take many forms but facilities, such as Clair Hall, are an important part of the mix of provision.
• The loss of Clair Hall without the provision of a replacement would have a detrimental impact on Haywards Heath and the surrounding area.
• The public consultation exercise can only form one part of the review of community and cultural provision in Haywards Heath and that further work will be required by officers and consultants to establish the viability of the range of expectations that have emerged following the public consultation.

·       Any plan for the use of the Clair Hall site and the reprovisioning of community and cultural services will require time to develop and consider.   

In the light of the above this Council resolves to:

·       As soon as practicable, but before the NHS leaves Clair Hall, prepare a report on the work required to bring Clair Hall back into use to enable it to provide the same range of services that it provided prior to its pre NHS closure. This would include:

o   The cost of repairs and refitting which would be necessary immediately.

o   The cost of the running and repairing the building over the next three years.

·       Make recommendations as to the options for the running and management of Clair Hall over a three-year period.

·       Determine how the repair and refitting costs can be met. 

·       Set up a Working Group to:

o   Take on board the findings of the public consultation exercise.

o   Commission external market consultants to carry out a market study to provide evidence on the type of facilities for which there would be demand in the community, the extent of the use of the facilities and the cost of using the facilities which users would be willing to bear.

o   Commission consultants to work up an indicative operational budget for a modern replacement facility.

o   Examine where the venue would be located and whether it would be associated with another development.

o   Examine whether there is scope for grants or subsidy to support the building and operational costs of the venue.

o   Propose how and by whom the venue should be managed and operated.

o   Present proposals on how and where the capital for a new facility will sourced and an indicative timetable for potential delivery.

MOTION B:  Climate Change

Proposed by:  Cllr Paul Brown

Seconded by:  Cllr Anne Eves

This Council:

·       recalling its own resolution of 26th June 2019 to “note and support the declaration by Parliament on 1st May 2019 of an environment and climate change emergency and …the responsibility it has to protect our own environment and tackle climate change;”

·       recognising the authoritative IPCC report of June 2021 stating that unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5°C or even 2°C will be beyond reach;

·       aware of the impending COP26 world climate conference in Glasgow;

·       taking into account advice it has commissioned on how this district can achieve net zero emissions;

·       acknowledging the greater urgency of the need for action compared with the situation back in 2019;

Resolves:

·       to intensify its efforts to reduce carbon emissions throughout the district,

·       to take a lead in helping residents to reduce their own carbon footprint,

and

·       to play its full part in the national effort to achieve net zero by 2035.

MOTION A: Clair Hall

The motion was not proposed by Councillor Bates who advised that he was withdrawing the motion. The matter would be debated once the report following the consultation on Clair Hall was available.  The motion would have been seconded by Cllr Eggleston and, he agreed with the withdrawal of the motion.

MOTION B:  climate change

The motion on the order paper was proposed by Councillor Brown who cited the Inter-Government report on Climate Change which concluded that climate change is occurring everywhere and is affecting everyone. He noted that these changes will increase in frequency and intensity with further CO2 emissions and warming. He confirmed the Council has commissioned a report from Ricardo on carbon dioxide emissions to identify how they can be reduced.  This motion is to intensify Council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions throughout the District, to take a lead in helping residents reduce their own carbon footprints and to play its full part in the national effort to achieve net zero by 2035.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Eves.

          Councillor Henwood proposed an amendment by way of an addition to the motion “by asking officers to review the Friends of the Earth “ Climate Action Plan for Councils” and to report back to the Sustainable Economy Strategy Working Group noting which of the steps the Council could seek to adopt“ This was seconded by Councillor Hicks who stated Members of all parties are concerned with climate change and it was important to act as soon as possible.  The Chairman asked Councillors Brown and Eves to confirm their acceptance of the amendment to the original motion. They agreed to include this amendment in their motion.

Councillor Pete Bradbury proposed a further amendment as follows:

Seconded by:  Cllr Jonathan Ash-Edwards

This Council:

·       Recalling its own resolution of 26^th June 2019 to “note and support the declaration by Parliament on 1^st May 2019 of an environment and climate change emergency and… the responsibility it has to protect our own environment and tackle climate change”.

·       Recognising the authoritative IPCC report of June 2021 stating that unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5c or even 2c will be beyond reach

·       Aware of the impending COP26 world climate conference in Glasgow

·       Taking into account advice it has commissioned on how this district can achieve net zero emissions

·       Acknowledging the greater urgency of the need for action compared with the situation back in 2019

·       Notes that the Council is already taking significant and tangible actions to protect the environment.

·       Notes that the Council has already established a cross-party working group to produce a new Sustainable Economy Strategy for Mid Sussex.

·       Notes that data presented to the Sustainable Economy Strategy Working Group shows that carbon emissions in Mid Sussex fell by more than a quarter over the last decade and that carbon emissions per capita are lower than the national average.

·       Notes that the Council has already commissioned consultants to support the development a net zero carbon emissions feasibility and options report.

Resolves:

·       To allow the Sustainable Economy Working Group to continue its work to develop a strategy for Mid Sussex that will include tangible and measurable actions, taking into account the consultants’ report on options to achieve net zero.

·       That the vision of the Sustainable Economy Strategy should be: “A vibrant district that is attractive, resilient and innovative that balances social wellbeing, environmental protection and sustainable economic growth”.

He thanked Councillors Brown and Eves for their motion and advised it was an important area all Members to be engaged in.  The amendment sought to ensure the residents of Mid Sussex know and understand the important work the Council is currently undertaking, the commissioning of Ricardo on 23 March 2021 and the Sustainable Economy Strategy Working Group.  The motion was seconded by Cllr Ash-Edwards. 

Members recognised the work of the Council and officers to reduce emissions at Oaklands, discussed the urgent need to take more action, lack of modal shift to sustainable transport , continued installation of gas boilers on new developments and expressed concern that the working group had not yet finalised their vision statement.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery said that the Council has aspirations to do more across the District.  More progress would be made in 2021/22, more EVCs will be installed in 2022 and highlighted the green waste and connectivity programmes.  Positive progress was being made in significant areas and he supported the amendment.  

A Member raised a point of order as the motion sought to bind an independent working party and queried if that complied with the procedures of the Council.

The Head of Regulatory Service confirmed the amendment would not bind the working party and their work could continue and go on to the scrutiny committee.

The Leader confirmed is it an important issue and advised the Council should continue with tangible and measurable actions as it moves to net zero.  There should be focus on what we can deliver and what has real impact.  He understood Members’ concerns and agreed that more needs to be done to safeguard the environment and highlighted that Mid Sussex has a higher recycling rate than some other neighbouring authorities in the South East.  He supported the work of the Sustainable Economy Strategy working group and asked Members to support the amendment.

In response to a query, the Head of Regulatory Services confirmed that the amendment by Councillor Henwood had already been added to the original motion and Members were now voting on Councillor Bradbury’s subsequent amendment.

The Chairman took Members to a vote on the amended motion.  A recorded vote was taken, and the amended motion was approved with 26 in favour, 11 against and 7 abstentions.  

A Member expressed concern that this meeting had not shown Members to be working well together for the benefit of the residents of Mid Sussex and highlighted the need for better cross-party cooperation.  Discussions in advance of Council with the relevant Cabinet Member might have resulted in a greater degree of consensus.

A Member raised a point order on the voting for the motion.   The Head of Regulatory Services confirmed that the Conservative group’s amendment had now been agreed as the motion and that Members were now voting on the motion as amended by that group.

The Chairman took Members to a vote on the amended motion.  A recorded vote was taken, and the amended motion was approved with 28 in favour, 1 against and 15 abstentions.