Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 15^th February 2017 and the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 30^th March 2017

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 15^th February and the Extraordinary meeting of Council held on 30^th March 2017 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Council, the Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive

The Chairman:

·        reminded Members of the special tribute concert in memory of George Cockman which would be taking place at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Cuthman in Steyning at 2pm on Saturday 6^th May 2017

·        referred to the impending departure of the following officers, wishing them well for the future and thanking them for their significant contributions during their time at Horsham:

o   Natalie Brahma-Pearl, Director of Community Services, leaving at the end of June to take up the post of Chief Executive of Crawley Borough Council;

o   Aidan Thatcher, Head of Development, leaving at the beginning of June to take up the post of Head of Planning for Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils; and

o   Paul Cummins, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, leaving at the end of June to take up the post of Head of Legal Services at Milton Keynes Council.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development congratulated the Head of Development and his team on achieving a 100% success rate in meeting their targets for the processing of planning applications.

To receive questions from the public under Rules 4a.2(f) and 4a.8-18

No questions had been received.

To receive questions from Members under Rules 4a.20(b)-25

No questions had been received.

To receive recommendations from the Cabinet meeting of 30th March 2017 on the adoption of the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule

(agenda online at: Cabinet_agenda )

Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule

Mr Kornycky addressed the Council in respect of this item with particular reference to the area of land designated as zero rated for residential development in the North of Horsham Strategic Development Area.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development reported that, following three rounds of public consultation, the Council had now received the Independent Examiner’s report following his examination of the draft Horsham District Council Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule.

The Independent Examiner had recommended that the draft Horsham CIL Charging Schedule should be approved without any further modifications and Cabinet was therefore recommending the adoption of the Horsham District Council Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule to Council.

            RESOLVED

            That the Horsham District Council Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule be adopted, to be implemented from 1st October 2017 or as soon as practicable thereafter, in consultation with the Cabinet Member.

            REASON

            To enable the Horsham CIL Charging Schedule to be adopted as Council Policy and to ensure that CIL contributions are provided to support the development identified in the HDPF over the Plan period (up to 2031).

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development reported that, following extensive preparations and Examination, the Thakeham Neighbourhood Plan had been subject to a Referendum on 22^nd March 2017, where the majority (93%) of those who voted were in favour of the Plan.  

Council’s approval was therefore now sought to make the Thakeham Neighbourhood Plan part of the statutory Development Plan, as required by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Localism Act 2011.  This would mean that the Plan would be used in the determination of planning applications in Thakeham Parish in addition to the Horsham District Planning Framework.

            RESOLVED

            That the Thakeham Neighbourhood Plan be formally “made” part of the statutory Development Plan, following the Referendum held on 22^nd March 2017.

            REASONS

(i)         The preparation of the Thakeham Neighbourhood Plan to 2031 has followed the statutory procedures set out in The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended). The plan has successfully undergone examination and has satisfied the basic conditions and the plan is in conformity with the Horsham District Planning Framework (HDPF).

(ii)        Where a Referendum results in a majority ‘yes’ vote, the Local Planning Authority is required to “make” the Neighbourhood Plan within 8 weeks of the referendum decision in accordance with Regulations.

To receive the report of the Monitoring Officer

Members were reminded that, at its meeting on 7^th December 2016, Council had created a new Governance Committee and dissolved the Personnel Committee as part of its review of the Constitution.

An amendment to the Scheme of Members’ Allowances was therefore now sought such that the Chairman of the Governance Committee would receive a Special Responsibility Allowance in respect of that role.  The members of the Independent Remuneration Panel had been consulted and recommended that the Chairman of the Governance Committee should receive the same allowance as would have been paid to the Chairman of Personnel Committee.  This meant that the proposed amendment to the Scheme of Members’ Allowances would effectively be cost neutral in respect of the overall scheme.

            RESOLVED

(i)         That the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel be noted, as submitted.

(ii)        That the Scheme of Members’ Allowances be amended to award a Special Responsibility Allowance to the Chairman of Governance Committee in accordance with the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

(iii)       That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Chairman of Governance Committee be backdated to the date of his election as Chairman of that Committee on 1^st March 2017.

(iv)       That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the necessary amendments to the Constitution to put into effect the recommendations at (i), (ii) and (iii).

REASON

To put into effect the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

No reports had been received.

To consider matters certified by the Chairman as urgent

There was no urgent business.