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/20

Minutes pdf icon PDF 80 KB

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 19th July 2018

(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 19th July 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

EX/21

Declarations of Members' Interests

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Cabinet

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

EX/22

Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Cleansing advised Members that a campaign against fly tipping would start on 21 September 2018 with a launch event in the Carfax.

 

The Cabinet Member for Local Economy reported that the annual Horsham District Jobs and Skills Fair, held at the Drill Hall on 19th September, had again been a huge success.

 

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture reminded Members of the opening date of The Bridge.  He also referred to measures being taken to deal with rats in Horsham Park and a recent bird trapping incident at Warnham Nature Reserve, Which was being investigated by the RSPCA.

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development advised that the updated Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) would be made public in December/January, following a fact-checking exercise with the parishes.

 

The Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing reported that the Community Safety Partnership had been advised that total crime figures for the area over the last six months had decreased to 2.9%, whilst crime in West Sussex overall had gone up by 1.9%.

EX/23

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:

No questions had been received.

EX/24

Local Plan Review Issues and Options Consultation Draft - Employment, Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development - Feedback on comments pdf icon PDF 137 KB

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

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the summary of representations submitted in response to the Council’s consultation on the Local Plan Review Issues and Options – Employment, Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development be noted, as set out in the report.

 

(ii)        That the publication of the summary of the representations and Horsham District Council’s response be approved as reported.

 

(iii)       That the proposed next steps in respect of the representations submitted be progressed as reported.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         In order to maintain and provide stakeholders with up-to-date information on the Local Plan Review following the processing and analysis of representations and to provide an initial response to the representations.

 

(ii)        To enable the continued progression of the local plan review in accordance with the Council’s published Local Development Scheme (LDS).

 

(iii)       The preparation of the LDS is a statutory requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as amended by the Planning Act 2008, Localism Act 2011, Housing and Planning Act 2016 and the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development reported that, in March 2018, the first stage of the Local Plan Review (Issues and Options - Employment, Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development) had been published for a seven week period of public consultation.

 

A summary of the responses received together with an outline of the proposed next steps was submitted and approval sought for its publication.

 

The Planning and Development Policy Development Advisory Group supported the proposal.

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the summary of representations submitted in response to the Council’s consultation on the Local Plan Review Issues and Options – Employment, Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development be noted, as set out in the report.

 

(ii)        That the publication of the summary of the representations and Horsham District Council’s response be approved as reported.

 

(iii)       That the proposed next steps in respect of the representations submitted be progressed as reported.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         In order to maintain and provide stakeholders with up-to-date information on the Local Plan Review following the processing and analysis of representations and to provide an initial response to the representations.

 

(ii)        To enable the continued progression of the local plan review in accordance with the Council’s published Local Development Scheme (LDS).

 

(iii)       The preparation of the LDS is a statutory requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as amended by the Planning Act 2008, Localism Act 2011, Housing and Planning Act 2016 and the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.

EX/25

To agree the Horsham District Deal pdf icon PDF 140 KB

To receive the report of the Leader

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the “Horsham District Deal” be endorsed, so that it can be signed off by the Leaders of Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council respectively.

 

(ii)        That the Leader of the Council be authorised to approve minor editorial changes prior to publication.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         The agreement between Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council will ensure that both Councils fully understand and support growth priorities for Horsham as identified in the Deal.

 

(ii)        To give the Leader of the Council delegated authority to approve minor changes to the document, without the need for it to be referred back to Cabinet.

Minutes:

The Leader reported that, in 2015, West Sussex County Council worked with the Boroughs and Districts of West Sussex to identify key issues and priorities in relation to planned growth and development within their boundaries over the coming years.  A “Place Plan” had been produced containing demographic and socio-economic information; details of planned housing and economic growth; and planning/economic priorities.  The Place Plans supported prioritisation of investment and lobbying to attempt to secure additional funding for infrastructure.

 

Cabinet subsequently endorsed the “Horsham Place Plan”, which identified the key issues and priorities for Horsham District (Minute No, EX/40 (28.1.16) refers).

 

The “Horsham District Deal” was a proposed agreement between Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council to formalise the priorities identified in the “Horsham Place Plan” and to work together to deliver these key projects, including the provision of new homes, employment floorspace and new infrastructure.  The four key priorities/projects for the District were:

 

·         West of Horsham and North of Horsham Infrastructure Provision

·         Horsham Town Centre- Delivery of a new Town Centre Vision

·         Hurst Road – rationalisation of the public estate (West Sussex County Council had forwarded this Council its share of the total funding received from Government following a successful joint bid from both Councils to the Government’s “One Public Estate Programme phase 6” (£60,000 out of a total of £100,000) to progress the Development Brief for Hurst Road)

·         Former Novartis Site, Horsham Town – redevelopment of the site.

 

Cabinet’s approval of the “Horsham District Deal” was therefore sought.

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the “Horsham District Deal” be endorsed, so that it can be signed off by the Leaders of Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council respectively.

 

(ii)        That the Leader of the Council be authorised to approve minor editorial changes prior to publication.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         The agreement between Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council will ensure that both Councils fully understand and support growth priorities for Horsham as identified in the Deal.

 

(ii)        To give the Leader of the Council delegated authority to approve minor changes to the document, without the need for it to be referred back to Cabinet.

EX/26

Rowan Drive, Billingshurst - Approval of a supplementary budget pdf icon PDF 117 KB

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

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

 

(i)         That the capital budget envelope be increased from £3,000,000 to £3,175,000.

 

(ii)        That a supplementary capital budget of £175,000 be approved for this project.

 

REASON

 

To enable the Council to provide additional temporary accommodation for eligible families in housing need.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing reported that, on 22nd March 2018, Cabinet had approved the appointment of a contractor to for the construction of 17 residential units on two development sites at Peary Close and Rowan Drive within an approved budget allocation of £3,000,000.

 

Following the receipt of planning consent for the development at Peary Close, the contract had been let and works had commenced on site, with a target completion date of 17th May 2019.

 

Consideration of the planning application in respect of the development at Rowan Drive had initially been deferred, owing to objections received during the planning process.  The scheme had therefore been redesigned in order to address the key objections and planning permission had been granted at the Planning Committee (South) meeting on 18th September 2018.

 

Cabinet was advised that three additional cost elements had arisen since March 2018: the cost of the redesign of the development; costs arising from the decoupling of the two construction projects; and the payment of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which was unexpectedly due as temporary accommodation was not excluded from CIL.

 

Cabinet was therefore now requested to recommend Council to approve an additional capital budget allocation of £175,000, increasing the overall capital budget envelope to £3,175,000, and a supplementary capital budget for this purpose.  

 

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

 

(i)         That the capital budget envelope be increased from £3,000,000 to £3,175,000.

 

(ii)        That a supplementary capital budget of £175,000 be approved for this project.

 

REASON

 

To enable the Council to provide additional temporary accommodation for eligible families in housing need.

EX/27

Car parking charges - Dukes Square pdf icon PDF 117 KB

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Local Economy

 

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(i)         That public pay and display car parking be introduced 6pm to 8pm Monday to Friday; 8am to 8pm Saturday; and 9am to 5pm Sundays and Bank Holidays (with the same tariffs as Denne Rd car park).

 

(ii)        That the maximum stay be three hours.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         The car park is currently a season ticket holder only car park; however surveys indicate that outside of the core working hours there is minimal use. Spaces would be available for public pay and display parking, thus fully utilising the car park.

 

(ii)        The location of Dukes Square car park is in a prime location for additional parking, especially on the side of town that has temporarily lost Piries Place car park.

 

(iii)       There is a potential for increasing parking income.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Local Economy reported that Dukes Square Car Park, off Denne Road, was currently available to season ticket holders only, 24hrs a day, seven days a week.  The season tickets were predominantly sold to businesses based in the area who required the majority of their parking during core business hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm).  

 

A number of surveys had highlighted that outside core business hours the car park was rarely used, leaving a number of spaces that could be made available by the introduction of pay and display parking to support visitors to the town centre during the weekends and evenings.  This proposal would also address the need for spaces in the area whilst Piries Place car park was unavailable.

 

It was therefore proposed that a short stay pay and display option with the same tariff as Denne Road car park should be introduced Monday to Friday 6pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday all day.

 

The Local Economy Policy Development Advisory Group supported the proposal.

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)         That public pay and display car parking be introduced 6pm to 8pm Monday to Friday; 8am to 8pm Saturday; and 9am to 5pm Sundays and Bank Holidays (with the same tariffs as Denne Rd car park).

 

(ii)        That the maximum stay be three hours.

 

REASONS

 

(i)         The car park is currently a season ticket holder only car park; however surveys indicate that outside of the core working hours there is minimal use. Spaces would be available for public pay and display parking, thus fully utilising the car park.

 

(ii)        The location of Dukes Square car park is in a prime location for additional parking, especially on the side of town that has temporarily lost Piries Place car park.

 

(iii)       There is a potential for increasing parking income.

EX/28

75% Localisation of Business Rates 2019-20 Pilot Scheme pdf icon PDF 126 KB

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

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

That the submission of a bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for the Council to take part in the 2019/20 pilot for 75% Business Rate retention be approved.

 

REASON

 

If taxation receipts grow faster than spending on additional responsibilities, a successful bid should result in a greater share of local taxation being retained in the area, for the benefit of residents and service users.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets reported that, in 2018/19, all councils in West Sussex had agreed to submit a bid for 100% localisation of Business Rates.  Unfortunately, this bid had not been successful.

 

On 24th July 2018, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had invited pilot bids for 75% localisation of Business Rates in 2019/20.  All the councils in West Sussex had again modelled detailed financial scenarios and were considering whether to submit a bid before the submission deadline of 25th September 2018.

 

Cabinet was therefore recommended to support the submission of a bid for 75% Business Rate retention in 2019/20.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the submission of a bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for the Council to take part in the 2019/20 pilot for 75% Business Rate retention be approved.

 

REASON

 

If taxation receipts grow faster than spending on additional responsibilities, a successful bid should result in a greater share of local taxation being retained in the area, for the benefit of residents and service users.

EX/29

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/30

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 115 KB

To note the Forward Plan

Minutes:

The Forward Plan was noted.

EX/31

To consider matters of special urgency

Minutes:

There were no matters of special urgency to be considered.