Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Conference Room, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham

Contact: Email: committeeservices@horsham.gov.uk  Direct Line: 01403 215465

Items
No. Item

EX/51

Minutes pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 12th October 2017

(Note: If any Member wishes to propose an amendment to the minutes they should submit this in writing to committeeservices@horsham.gov.uk at least 24 hours before the meeting.  Where applicable, the audio recording of the meeting will be checked to ensure the accuracy of the proposed amendment.)

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12th October 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

EX/52

Declarations of Members' Interests

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Cabinet

Minutes:

Councillor Ray Dawe, the Leader declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item on the implementation of new provisions under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 as he was a landlord of residential properties within the District (Minute No. EX/63 below).

EX/53

Announcements

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

Minutes:

There were no announcements.

EX/54

Public Questions

To receive questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters which in the opinion of the person presiding at the meeting are relevant to the business of the meeting

Minutes:

a) Laura Goldsmith asked the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development:

 

In relation to the proposed site at Smithers Rough, Rudgwick, the Draft Site Allocations DPD states (page 20) “WSCC also raised concerns regarding the vehicular access.  However it has since been confirmed that a suitable access can be achieved”.  The Recommendation (page 21) asserts that “Now that further technical work has been carried out and a satisfactory highway access has been identified, the site is considered suitable for 15 pitches”.

 

On Monday 20th November Mr. Ian Gledhill, Principal Planner at WSCC indicated to me on the telephone that although HDC has submitted various access proposals since the closure of the consultation, none of these have removed his concerns over visibility and the complete lack of pedestrian access at the site, expressed in his comments in the DPD consultation (page 22 of the Regulation 18 Consultation Report – Summary of Representations).

 

In the circumstances how can the Cabinet approve for public consultation a flawed document which is factually inaccurate in asserting that a satisfactory access has been identified at Smithers Rough, when this is clearly not the case?

 

The Director of Planning, Economic Development and Property replied as follows on behalf of the Cabinet Member:

 

Since the close of the previous consultation, the Council has undertaken further technical work on how a satisfactory access could be provided at the Smithers Rough site.  This has been undertaken in consultation with West Sussex County Council.  Whilst it is recognised that the County Council still has some reservations with regard to visibility and pedestrian access, it has confirmed that this would not be a ‘showstopper’.  The Council therefore considers that access can be achieved and that it remains appropriate to carry out further consultation on this site.

 

Ms Goldsmith, as a supplementary question, asked if the Council would disclose details of the proposals for access they were proposing to enable residents to comment upon them.

 

The Director of Planning, Economic Development and Property replied that, as part of the consultation process, the Council would look to design and consult on a proposed access to the site.

 

b) V. Johnson asked the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development:

 

Access and road safety issues were the reason for HDC’s refusal of planning permission for gypsy/traveller use of Smithers Rough as far back as the 1990’s (RW69/92).  Although proposed for gypsy and traveller use in the last Site Allocation process in 2011, the site was not pursued by HDC due to objections on highways grounds from WSCC. There are no pavements and no public rights of way near the site.    Expert evidence submitted to HDC in the recent consultation demonstrates a 20% increase in traffic volume and a 3 mph increase in 85th percentile vehicle speeds on the A281 adjacent to the site since 2012.

 

Policy 23(b) of the HDPF requires that a site should be served by a ‘safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian access’.  In the light of the above, how can  ...  view the full minutes text for item EX/54

EX/55

Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 201 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

Additional documents:

Decision:

            RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

 

(i)         That the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2021/22 be approved.

 

(ii)        That New Homes Bonus be used to finance more infrastructure and investment property already in the capital programme as detailed in paragraph 3.29 of the report.

 

(iii)       That the projected balanced budgets and budget gap as detailed in report be noted.

 

            REASON

 

            To enable a balanced budget target to be established.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets reported that a review of the Financial Strategy, as part of the budget setting process, enabled a balanced budget target to be established with a focus on an affordable level of Council Tax, delivery of the corporate priorities and policies of the Council and the continued enhancement of value for money and satisfaction with services for the residents of the District.

 

The budget for 2017/18 had been approved in February 2017 and a balanced budget projected for 2017/18 through to 2019/20, with a projected deficit in 2020/21.  Since then, further work had been undertaken on income generation, continuing the business transformation journey to the next stage and other efficiency measures to mitigate cost pressures that continued to rise.  The submitted report set out the proposed strategy for the period 2018/19 to 2021/22, to establish the context for the Council’s budget and medium term financial planning scenarios and assumptions.

 

The report referred to the strategic political, economic and regulatory outlook; budget assumptions based on the implementation of current income and efficiency actions; inflation cost pressures and interest rates; Council Tax; the localisation of Business Rates; New Homes Bonus; the capital programme; reserves and reserve strategy; Future Horsham initiatives; and potential actions to further mitigate the deficit in 2021/22 and beyond.

 

The Finance and Assets Policy Development Advisory Group had considered and supported the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy.

 

            RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

 

(i)         That the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2021/22 be approved.

 

(ii)        That New Homes Bonus be used to finance more infrastructure and investment property already in the capital programme as detailed in paragraph 3.29 of the report.

 

(iii)       That the projected balanced budgets and budget gap as detailed in report be noted.

 

            REASON

 

            To enable a balanced budget target to be established.

EX/56

Approval of Multi-Functional Device Tender Process pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

 

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

That the Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, be authorised to award the contract for the provision of multi-functional devices when the joint tender process has been completed.

 

REASON

 

To avoid an unacceptable delay in the contract award process.

           

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets submitted a report seeking the delegation of authority to the Director of Corporate Resources for the award of a contract for the supply and maintenance of the Council’s Multi-Functional Devices (MFD).  The Council was currently taking part in a joint tendering process with Crawley Borough and Mid Sussex District Councils and the award of the contract would be unduly delayed if each Cabinet had to make a decision on the award of the contract at the end of the process.

 

The proposed contract would also provide the Council with further opportunity to call off additional services covered under the Managed Print Services Contract including hybrid mail, external print room services, scanning and documentation storage at any time during the term of the contract.

 

The Finance and Assets Policy Development Advisory Group had been consulted and supported the proposal.

 

            RESOLVED

 

That the Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, be authorised to award the contract for the provision of multi-functional devices when the joint tender process has been completed.

 

REASON

 

To avoid an unacceptable delay in the contract award process.

 

EX/57

Draft Gypsy and Travellers Site Allocation Document Preferred Strategy pdf icon PDF 159 KB

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

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the draft Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal documentation be published for an eight week period of consultation from 1st December 2017 to 26th January 2018.

 

(ii)        That the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development be authorised to agree minor editorial changes.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         To ensure that the statutory requirements in The Housing Act 2004 and Town and County Planning (Local Planning) England Regulations 2012 are met in terms of seeking to provide for Gypsy and Traveller pitches to meet the identified need and inviting public participation in the preparation of a new planning document for the District.

 

(ii)        To allow for minor editorial changes. Any significant changes to the draft document would need to be reported back to Cabinet for approval before publication for consultation.

Minutes:

One member of the public spoke in objection to the inclusion of the Smithers Rough site in the draft Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document.

 

The Director of Planning, Economic Development and Property presented a report on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development seeking  approval for the publication of the draft Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document for an eight week period of consultation, between 1st December 2017 and 26th January 2018.  The consultation would be run in accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement, which had been adopted in February 2017.

 

The draft document was an updated version of the Draft Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations of Land Document Development Plan Document - Preferred Strategy that had been published for consultation in April 2017.  It had been necessary to prepare an updated document in light of the responses received on the earlier consultation and as a result of further technical work.  A number of sites included in the April 2017 document were no longer available for Gypsy and Traveller use (Hurston Lane, Storrington; Fryern Road, Storrington; Parson’s Field, Pulborough; and Rowfield Nursery, Billingshurst) and a new site was proposed at Bromeliad Nursery, Billingshurst.  It was also proposed to increase the number of pitches at Smithers Rough from 12 to 15.

 

It was necessary to consult on these potential changes before considering the next stage of the Plan preparation and, if agreed for consultation, the document would not form Council policy at this stage.

 

Also, since the report had been written, planning applications at Oakdene, Blackgate Lane had been granted and it was proposed that, if approved, the document would be factually updated to reflect this situation.

 

Any representations submitted during the consultation period would be considered at a future meeting.  This could include evidence updates or further work on proposed sites or consideration of new land/ sites that could be proposed to the Council as part of the consultation.

 

A Proposed Submission version of the Development Plan Document, incorporating the comments received, would then need to be agreed by the Council for a minimum six week consultation under Regulation 19 of the Town And Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.  All comments made at that stage would be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate together with the draft plan and any proposed modifications for independent examination.  It was anticipated that the Proposed Submission consultation would be held in late spring/early summer 2018, with the Examination of the plan in autumn 2018 and that the document would be adopted in late 2018/early 2019, depending on the timescales set by the Planning Inspectorate.

 

The Planning and Development Policy Development Advisory Group had supported the proposed approach to publish a draft site allocations document for consultation.

 

Members of Cabinet emphasised the importance of having a policy document in place in order to be able to deal with unauthorised sites.  They also emphasised that, at this stage,  ...  view the full minutes text for item EX/57

EX/58

Horsham Town Centre Vision Statement pdf icon PDF 173 KB

To receive the report of the Leader

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the representations and responses received during the consultation be noted (Appendix C to the report) and the Horsham Town Centre Vision statement be approved, as amended (Appendix E to the report).

 

(ii)        That the Vision Delivery Schedule be endorsed (Appendix D to the report).

 

(iii)       That the Leader of the Council be authorised to approve, prior to publication:

 

(a)        minor editorial changes, including expanding the list of consultees; and

 

(b)        an introductory statement, summing up the Vision.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         Amendments have been made in the light of responses received on the draft Horsham Town Centre Vision statement.

 

(ii)        To provide guidance on the future development of Horsham Town Centre and to implement a Delivery Schedule of projects to further develop the Vision in detail.

 

(iii)       There is a need to allow for minor editorial changes. Any significant changes to the document would need to be reported back to Cabinet for approval before publication.

Minutes:

Four members of the public spoke with reference to the need for an overall vision for cycling into and across the town centre; the identified potential for additional car parking and housing on the Royal Sun Alliance & Station car parks, with particular reference to the possible loss of New Street Gardens to provide access to the site; and general comments on the Vision as a whole.

 

The Leader reported that in May and June of this year the Council had proactively sought the views of the Neighbourhood Councils and other key organisations regarding ideas for Horsham town.  Early engagement was also undertaken through Members’ seminars, a stakeholder workshop and individual discussions.  In addition, a thorough review of Horsham town was undertaken looking at population, social and economic factors, retail, visitor and hotel accommodation, and a car parking study was also undertaken.  The review included an analysis of the town centre’s current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

 

This information was used to draft a Vison for the town, which formed the basis of a public exhibition and consultation.  The exhibition attracted over 1100 visitors and 164 individual written responses to the survey were received together with many other suggestions and observations.  The overwhelming message from this exercise was that, whilst embracing change, Horsham’s ‘market town’ character should be kept and enhanced.  There was significant support for all seven strategic directions described in the Vision document.

 

The Town Centre Vision Statement was amended as a result of this feedback and a further public consultation ran from mid- September to mid- October 2017.  The proposals included improvements to Blackhorse Way and to the public realm in the Bishopric, a refurbished Queen Street entrance to the town and improved wi-fi hotspots, lighting, planting and pedestrian walkways.  Whilst the Council did not own many of the sites mentioned, it would work closely with landowners to explore and deliver schemes that bene?ted the town.

 

This was a visionary rather than a planning document, setting the high level direction of travel whilst clarifying the issues to be addressed.  Detailed projects, as listed in the report, would follow in due course.

 

The Leader emphasized that each project would be a major and detailed area of work in itself and gave assurance that there would be full consultation before any of the proposals were progressed.

 

Approval of the Town Centre Vision statement, which had been amended in the light of public and stakeholder representations received during the consultation carried out in September and October 2017, was therefore now sought.

 

Members of Cabinet discussed a number of issues including the development of cycle routes and links; the need for designs sensitive to the character of the town; changes in retailing; and the need for appropriate planting.

 

Other Members welcomed the Vision as a basis for improving and making the town centre more attractive, whilst retaining its character as a market town.

 

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the representations and responses received during the consultation be noted (Appendix C to  ...  view the full minutes text for item EX/58

EX/59

Play Strategy 2017-2027 pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

            That the Play Strategy 2017–2027 be approved and adopted, as submitted.

 

            REASON

 

            Some of the council’s play infrastructure is aging and in need of replacement.  Additionally, the Horsham District Planning Framework plans for the delivery of 16,000 new homes between 2011 and 2031 and, although pressure on public finance is unlikely to abate during this period, the framework brings opportunities to secure and deliver new play infrastructure.  Given these factors, it is important that the Council has a clear vision of its play priorities and how these can be delivered.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture reported that, as the Council’s Play Strategy was in need of updating, a draft Play Strategy for the period 2017-2027 that reviewed successes over the last ten years and set the context for play provision in the district over the next ten years had been prepared.  The proposed strategy identified a vision and aims for play and detailed actions and projects prioritised for delivery during the term of the strategy.

 

The Leisure and Culture Policy Development Advisory Group supported the proposal.

 

            RESOLVED

 

            That the Play Strategy 2017–2027 be approved and adopted, as submitted.

 

            REASON

 

            Some of the council’s play infrastructure is aging and in need of replacement.  Additionally, the Horsham District Planning Framework plans for the delivery of 16,000 new homes between 2011 and 2031 and, although pressure on public finance is unlikely to abate during this period, the framework brings opportunities to secure and deliver new play infrastructure.  Given these factors, it is important that the Council has a clear vision of its play priorities and how these can be delivered.

EX/60

Policy for Issuing Fixed Penalty Notices pdf icon PDF 119 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

            That the new policy for issuing Fixed Penalty Notices be approved and adopted, subject to the amendment of the statement regarding data retention, as discussed.

 

            REASON

 

            To allow authorised Council staff to enforce legislation by means of a fixed penalty notice applying a standardised procedure.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing submitted a report seeking approval for the formal adoption of a policy for issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.

 

The proposed policy identified the offences for which fixed penalties could be issued and set out the scale of the penalties, the procedures for the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notice’s and how an offender would be taken to Court if the Fixed Penalty Notice remains unpaid. Offences included those relating to litter and waste, breaches of Public Space Protection Orders, nuisance parking and abandoned vehicles, graffiti and fly posting

 

The proposed policy aggregated existing departmental policies into a single policy for the authority following changes to the legislation available to local councils.

 

It was noted that the last sentence of the section within the proposed policy regarding data retention would be amended to read “These records will be held and disposed of securely in line with Data Protection legislation and the Council’s Privacy Policy.”

 

The Community and Wellbeing Policy Development Advisory Group supported the proposed policy.

 

            RESOLVED

 

            That the new policy for issuing Fixed Penalty Notices be approved and adopted, subject to the amendment of the statement regarding data retention, as noted above.

 

            REASON

 

            To allow authorised Council staff to enforce legislation by means of a fixed penalty notice applying a standardised procedure.

EX/61

Affordable Housing Investment pdf icon PDF 178 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection

 

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the Council’s approach to investing in affordable housing be supported, as set out the report.

 

(ii)        That it be noted that further work would be undertaken in developing and assessing options for the delivery of affordable housing as detailed in the report.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         To assist the Council in achieving its target of delivering 240 affordable homes a year through the allocation of affordable housing commuted sum payments to maximise on site delivery.

 

(ii)        To assist the Council to achieve its objective to reduce the number of households having to be placed in bed and breakfast accommodation through the provision of additional temporary accommodation.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection reported that the Council’s Housing Strategy (adopted in 2013 and reviewed in 2017) had the objective of increasing the supply of homes that people in housing need could afford.  This commitment had delivered 1186 new affordable rented and shared ownership homes across the District since 2010.

 

A significant part of the strategy had been realised by using affordable housing commuted sum payments (secured from housing developers through Section 106 agreements where affordable housing was not provided on site).  This approach had seen an investment of over £8,000,000 over a seven year period and had helped deliver 240 of the 1186 affordable rented units.

 

In order to deliver affordable rented housing in the District, the Council had historically worked very closely with a number of Registered Providers such as Saxon Weald, Stonewater and Hyde Housing.  This approach had become much more challenging when the Government introduced a requirement for Registered Providers to cut rents in real terms by 1% p.a. for a period of four years.  As a result of this, Registered Providers reassessed their financial models, halted their proposed development plans and became more reliant on greater contributions from commuted sums.  This period of uncertainty also coincided with a sharp increase in the level of commuted sums collected by the Council, primarily due to progress with large scale housing developments such as the West of Horsham schemes.

 

This year, the Government had made a number of new announcements and statements on the housing crisis and affordable housing.  It was therefore considered a good time to review the Council’s approach to investing in affordable housing.  The report set out the future direction for the Council as it continued to invest in affordable housing and make the best use of commuted sums. It recommended that the Council continued to work with Registered Providers and invested in good quality temporary accommodation.  It was also proposed that the Council should undertake further work to assess the case for the creation of a vehicle to enable the direct delivery of affordable housing.  In undertaking this work the Council would need to be mindful that the Government had not yet fully articulated its view of the future for affordable housing.

 

The Housing and Public Protection Policy Development Advisory Group supported the proposal.

 

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the Council’s approach to investing in affordable housing be supported, as set out the report.

 

(ii)        That it be noted that further work would be undertaken in developing and assessing options for the delivery of affordable housing as detailed in the report.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         To assist the Council in achieving its target of delivering 240 affordable homes a year through the allocation of affordable housing commuted sum payments to maximise on site delivery.

 

(ii)        To assist the Council to achieve its objective to reduce the number of households having to be placed in bed and breakfast accommodation through the provision of additional temporary accommodation.

EX/62

Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grants pdf icon PDF 151 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection

 

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

            That the scheme of discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant assistance detailed in the report be approved.

 

            REASONS

 

(i)         To enable the Council to sustain a robust Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy.

 

(ii)        To use effectively the increase in funding the Better Care Fund is providing to local authorities for home adaptations.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection reported that a West Sussex County-wide project was currently being undertaken to explore innovative new ways of delivering Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs).  As part of this project it had been agreed that a more flexible approach to the use of discretionary DFGs should be adopted in order to help and improve the health and well-being of disabled people and make more use of the additional resources available.  Approval was therefore sought to introduce a number of housing interventions to use discretionary DFGs to assist people with repairs and adaptations in their homes.

 

The Housing and Public Protection Policy Development Advisory Group supported the proposed approach.

 

            RESOLVED

 

            That the scheme of discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant assistance detailed in the report be approved.

 

            REASONS

 

(i)         To enable the Council to sustain a robust Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy.

 

(ii)        To use effectively the increase in funding the Better Care Fund is providing to local authorities for home adaptations.

EX/63

Implementation of new provisions under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 pdf icon PDF 216 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection

 

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the use of the enforcement powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 be approved.

 

(ii)        That the use of civil penalties for housing offences in appropriate circumstances be approved.

 

(iii)       That the charging scheme for civil penalties be approved as reported.

 

(iv)       That the updated Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, to include the use of civil penalties and rent repayment orders, be approve as submitted.

 

(v)        That the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to issue civil penalties and to agree the sum of civil penalties on a case by case basis in line with the approved Enforcement Policy and approved Charging Scheme.

 

REASON

 

To ensure that the new powers are used to tackle the problem of rogue landlords.

Minutes:

Councillor Ray Dawe, the Leader, declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item as he was a landlord of residential properties within the District.  He withdrew from the meeting and the Deputy Leader presided during consideration of the item.

 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection reported on details of the powers introduced by the Housing and Planning Act 2016 relating to the Government’s response to tackling rogue landlords and improving the private rental sector.

 

The Act introduced a range of measures that were intended to be implemented in 2017:

·        Civil penalties of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution for certain specified offences (came into force on 6 April 2017);

·        Extension of Rent Repayment Orders to cover illegal eviction, breach of a Banning Order and certain other specified offences (came into force on 6 April 2017);

·        Database of rogue landlords and property agents convicted of certain offences (scheduled to come into force on 1 October 2017);

·        Banning Orders for the most serious and prolific offenders (scheduled to come into force on 1 October 2017).

 

It was recommended that Cabinet should adopt the new powers to impose civil penalties and impose Rent Repayment Orders for certain housing offences under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and determine a charging scheme.

 

The Housing and Public Protection Policy Development Advisory Group supported the adoption of the new powers.

 

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the use of the enforcement powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 be approved.

 

(ii)        That the use of civil penalties for housing offences in appropriate circumstances be approved.

 

(iii)       That the charging scheme for civil penalties be approved as reported.

 

(iv)       That the updated Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, to include the use of civil penalties and rent repayment orders, be approve as submitted.

 

(v)        That the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to issue civil penalties and to agree the sum of civil penalties on a case by case basis in line with the approved Enforcement Policy and approved Charging Scheme.

 

REASON

 

To ensure that the new powers are used to tackle the problem of rogue landlords.

EX/64

Sussex and Surrey Joint Fuel Procurement e-auction - contract for the supply of fuel for the Council's vehicle fleet pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Cleansing

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

            That the bid submitted by Company A be accepted and they be awarded the contract as the preferred supplier of diesel for the next two years.

 

            REASON

 

            The e-auction offers a preferential overall cost per litre for fuel based on given volumes within a partnership using our current supplier with fixed margins applied to supply diesel from current supplier Company A.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Cleansing reported that the current contract for supply of diesel, which was the main form of fuel for the fleet of vehicles serving a number of departments, had not been reviewed for a number of years. Therefore an exercise had been undertaken to obtain diesel at the most competitive price balanced against quality and the ability to supply.

 

In order to achieve best value a reverse electronic auction had been conducted on behalf of the Sussex and Surrey Joint Procurement Partnership, from which Horsham District Council benefited.  The joint procurement exercise included a number of essential service providers such as the Sussex and Surrey emergency services, which helped provide the associated economies of scale.

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the bid submitted by Company A be accepted and they be awarded the contract as the Council’s preferred supplier of diesel for the next two years.

 

            REASON

 

            The e-auction offers a preferential overall cost per litre for fuel based on given volumes within a partnership using our current supplier with fixed margins applied to supply diesel from current supplier Company A.

EX/65

Overview & Scrutiny Committee

To consider any matters referred to Cabinet by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee – there are no matters outstanding

Minutes:

There were no matters currently outstanding for consideration.

EX/66

To note the Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Minutes:

The Forward Plan was noted.

EX/67

To consider matters of special urgency

Minutes:

There were no matters of special urgency to be considered.

EX/68

To consider the following exempt or confidential information

Minutes:

            RESOLVED

 

            That, under Regulation 21(1)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 by virtue of paragraph 3 and, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

EX/68a

Acquisition of Investment Property in Billingshurst

(Exempt by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information))

 

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

 

Decision:

            RESOLVED

 

            That the proposed purchase be approved and the Director of Planning, Economic Development and Property be authorised to complete the purchase subject to satisfactory due diligence.

 

            REASON

 

            To enable the Council to expand its commercial Investment Portfolio in order to continue to build a revenue stream to support the Council’s general activities and to acquire a property which has development potential to extend the local car park.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets reported on the proposed acquisition of an investment property in Billingshurst.

 

The proposed acquisition, which met the relevant criteria, would be funded from the capital budget allocated for the purpose of acquiring commercial investment properties as they arose from time to time in the District provided that they achieved a 6% yield.

 

            RESOLVED

 

            That the proposed purchase be approved and the Director of Planning, Economic Development and Property be authorised to complete the purchase subject to satisfactory due diligence.

 

            REASON

 

            To enable the Council to expand its commercial Investment Portfolio in order to continue to build a revenue stream to support the Council’s general activities and to acquire a property which has development potential to extend a local car park.