Minutes:
The Leader had no business to report under the Deputy Leader Portfolio.
Cabinet Member for Economic Growth
The Cabinet Member confirmed he had signed a delegated decision regarding car park changes which should conclude at the end of March. The draft Investment Strategy Initial Proposals Report is due at the end of March which will be shared with Members and the Scrutiny Committee. With regards to car parks, the Council has supported the National Covid effort by making carparks in East Grinstead and Haywards Heath available for mobile testing and also providing vaccination volunteers ABC with permits at the Queens Road car park which has just been renewed. He noted that the Council continues to support traders in a number of ways, both through successful processing of Covid Grants and through the Independent Retailers Support Programme which has £73k of external funding and provides retailers with access to a range of business support. The Council also expects to relaunch the Microbusiness Grants later in April.
The Cabinet Member confirmed the West Sussex Retail Hub continues to run until March 2024, as well as the West Sussex Hothouse Programme which has 48 businesses signed up. He noted that the Council has also recently been supporting a Start-Ups workshop.
Cabinet Member for Customer Services
The Cabinet Member confirmed the Government support for businesses to combat Omicron, including the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG), the Covid Additional Relief Fund, Additional Restrictions grant and the Covid Additional Relief fund. She noted that the Council was the first Council to go live with the OHLG grant in December and encouraged Members to direct local businesses to apply for these grants. In response to a Member question, she also provided reassurance on the systems in place to combat grant fraud.
She provided an update on the work of the Customer Services, Comms and Economic Development team and noted that the next edition of Mid Sussex Matters will be delivered in March. Regarding the Full Fibre project, the Rural Connectivity Programme is halfway through and Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) will be used. This will help to accelerate the number of internet providers who can provide connection to business and residents as where available existing poles and ducts can be used. In response to a Member’s question on customer take-up she confirmed that there have been several high value companies expressing an interest and in commercial negotiations with digital service providers. A Member asked for a commitment for when full fibre broadband will become commercialised for small businesses and domestic residents. The Cabinet Member agreed to respond once the website linked to the project has gone live. A Member workshop is also scheduled for 14 March to provide further information.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery
The Cabinet Member provided an update on the Leisure Centre financial details noting that there is an expected adverse financial effect for the last quarter due reduced income from less visits as a result of Omicron and increased costs. However there is early signs of a return to a net income position this quarter and work will continue with Places Leisure and consultants in respect of the financial position for this financial year and next.
He provided an update on the rewilding areas around the District which is part of the BLUE Campaign Rewilding Britain. He noted that Sunday 20 January is the deadline to submit areas for rewilding. Noting that there were 10 sites in the District in 2020 and 25 sites in 2021, all but one site (Barnside Avenue open space) will be retained and more will be put forward for 2022, with details made public in March. He noted that the Council is also taking part in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, with plans being finalised to plant 250 native British species in Ashenground Woods. The trees are being donated and the Council has secured funding for the aftercare. The Council is also considering requests from Town and Parishes for similar initiatives where trees are planted in a sustainable position and where the planting and aftercare can be suitably managed and funded. He also noted that work related to trees on Council land continues and site visits have shown an increase in birds and insect life and wildflowers following planting of over 800 trees in 2020/21
He confirmed that the Turners Hill play area upgrade and Bolney Pump track has been completed. Work at St Andrew’s play area in Burgess Hill is underway as is tender process for the Forest Fields play area upgrade. Further playground improvements will be coming through the budget process.
Responding to a Member’s question around housing and renewable energy he noted it was outside his portfolio but suggested that discussion be deferred until the Sustainable Economic Strategy’s recommendations come forward.
Cabinet Member for Community
The Cabinet Member highlighted the new Environment Service fees for 2022/23 published the Member Information Service Bulletin noting that the environment health and licensing fees listed reflect the cost and time spent in providing those services. Fees have not increased since 2019 due to the impact of Covid and are now reviewed and are adjusted to include an inflation increase of 5% increase apart from the following:
• Pest control fees which are contracted through a preferred contractor and offers 50% discount to resident receiving benefits.
• The collection and kennelling of stray dog’s service which under a new contract from mid 2021.
• The Taxi charges will be addressed by the Licensing Committee in the new financial year
• The houses of multiple occupation and the dangerous wild animal contracts are for review on the anniversary of their implementation dates.
The procurement process for the Council’s community and voluntary partnerships agreement has been concluded and successful bidders notified. West Sussex County Council (in partnership with Districts and Boroughs within Sussex) is dealing with the Citizens Advice contract which ends shortly.
With regards to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, he confirmed that £25k has been set aside to match fund celebrations of this landmark in communities across Mid Sussex. The proposed funding is for non-profit making community organisations to help with cost of appropriate activities. Parish and Towns Councils can apply in partnership with other groups and submissions are due by 21 February. A decision on successful applications will be made at a Cabinet Grants Panel on 8 March.
He also confirmed the intention to attend the Police and Crime Scrutiny Panel on Friday 28 January where the budget and precept for 2022/23 will be put forward. He noted a Member’s request to raise the subject of more connectivity for CCTV to assist in responding to acts of vandalism in Cuckfield and East Court. He confirmed that the issue has been raised during the WSCC budget working group.
In conclusion he reminded Members that 27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day and encouraged everyone to spare a thought for people who have lost their lives during the Holocaust.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning
The Cabinet Member noted that the consultation on Inspectors Major Modifications to the Sites DPD finished on 24 January with 260 responses received, centred mainly on ‘Folders Lane’ and ‘Selsfield Road, Ardingly’. Officers are collating responses to classify them for the Inspector to review.
Contracts for ecology landscape and archaeology advice expire 31 March and a procurement process for new service providers has been completed. All three contracts have been placed with ‘Place Services’.
With regards to electric vehicle charging points, the Government has taken the initiative to insist all new houses have it from June 2022. However there are building regulations (S1) with a transition provision on electric vehicle chargers that effectively states that if a developer applies before 15 June 2022 and starts construction within a year then the new regulations do not apply. He agreed to provide Members with more detail on Building Regulation S1.
He noted that Homes England continues to progress on the Hurst Farm site and the Council awaits the outcome of the Rampion 2 proposals at Twineham.
The Cabinet Member also provided an update on the current position of rough sleepers within the District noting that the vast majority of cases are linked to mental health, substance dependency and no family support network. There are now 3 rough sleepers within the District and Turning Tides will be launching a mobile community hub located in carparks across the District where rough sleepers can meet their key worker, shower and have hot food and have access to Wi-Fi to apply for benefits.
He provided an update on the 257 affordable homes delivered between April and December 2021 and noted that in the last quarter the Council has assisted 17 families into private rental accommodation. There are also 19 families living in Council owned temporary accommodation and the Council intends to continue with acquiring such properties with 5 units coming on stream and negotiation on a further 10 to assist in keeping families housed within the District. The Council also received a grant for Discretionary payments and by the end of December had made 21 awards totalling £160k to help prevent homelessness and support vulnerable people.
A Member asked in light of the strong Surrey County Council SA DPD consultation response, particularly regarding sites SA19 and 20 and the overcapacity of A22/264 junction, will this District Council commit to find an actual working solution? The Cabinet Member agreed to consult with officers and confirm what the exact position is. He noted that in terms of a total commitment it will need to be a pragmatic one that works and is within our bounds to deliver.
In response to a Member’s question on whether the Council has delivered more homes than the Government’s target he confirmed that if houses have been over delivered now, they provide a buffer should any developers go bankrupt, and they can be added into the new housing delivery numbers.