Agenda and minutes

Venue: Park Suite, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham

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

Items
No. Item

CO/44

Minutes pdf icon PDF 787 KB

To approve as correct the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on:

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 5th December 2018 and 24th January 2019 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

CO/45

Declarations of Members' Interests

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

CO/46

Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Chairman referred to the recent deaths of three former Members of the Council: Sally Horner (1989 to 2011), John Cox (2003 to 2009), and Alan Chisholm (1991 to 1999).  Tributes were paid by current Members and a quiet period of reflection was observed.

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development reported that the Council had been shortlisted as a finalist in the Royal Town Planning Institute Planning ExcellenceAwards 2019 in respect of the Abingworth Meadows development in Thakeham.

 

The Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing gave updates on: progress on the Peary Close temporary accommodation scheme; the expansion of the neighbourhood wardens’ scheme; and a Member briefing being held on 26th February on the proposed creation of a Housing Company to deliver affordable housing in the District.

 

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Cleansing reported on action being taken to address litter on the highway and the need for public involvement in reporting incidents and providing evidence.

 

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture reminded Members that this was the last opportunity to contribute towards the commissioning of a plaque to be installed in Steyning commemorating ex-Councillor George Cockman.

 

The Cabinet Member for Local Economy advised that footfall in Horsham Town Centre had been up by 12% on the previous year over the Christmas period.

CO/47

Questions from the Public

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

 

Minutes:

No questions relevant to the business of the meeting had been received.

CO/48

Recommendations from Cabinet pdf icon PDF 48 KB

To receive the recommendation from the meeting of Cabinet held on 24th January 2019 on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme

(The report of the Director of Corporate Resources to Cabinet on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme is online at: Cabinet_agenda )

Minutes:

Council Tax Reduction Scheme

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets gave an overview of the Council’s current Council Tax Reduction scheme, together with a recommendation from Cabinet that no changes were made to the scheme for 2019/20.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019/20:

 

(i)         Maintains the existing protected groups.

 

(ii)        Maintains the existing £10,000 capital limit and band D restriction.

 

(iii)       Maintains the existing practice of charging at least 10% of the Council Tax bill to all unprotected groups.

 

REASON

 

Council Tax Reduction schemes are annual schemes and therefore require an annual review and approval, even when no changes to the scheme are being proposed.

CO/49

Budget 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Strategy pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To approve the recommendations from Cabinet

Minutes:

Further to the detailed consideration of the Budget for 2019/20 by the Cabinet, Councillor Brian Donnelly, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets introduced this item; presented the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of the 2019/20 budget; and moved that they be approved.  Councillor Stuart Ritchie seconded the proposal.

 

Councillor Donnelly noted that the Council was able to set a budget for 2019/20 that would generate a surplus, which would help towards funding future transformation to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.  It was also currently projected that there would be a budget surplus in 2020/21, and the budget projections for 2021/22 and 2022/23 were close to breakeven, provided significant transformation continued to be delivered.  Additionally, in 2019/20, the Council would be delivering a £19,800,000 capital programme, while the level of council tax proposed remained the lowest in West Sussex and in the lowest quartile nationally.  Councillor Donnelly thanked all staff for their work in maximising efficiency and achieving savings, which made a positive contribution to the Council’s current and predicted financial position.  He also thanked the Director of Corporate Resources and her team for their hard work in briefing Members at a number of meetings and producing the budget report.

 

Councillor David Skipp, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group endorsed the Cabinet Member’s thanks to officers for producing the budget now before Members.   He agreed with the Cabinet Member’s positive comments regarding the Council’s current financial position and also noted that planning for the future in the current uncertain financial situation was difficult.  He noted that in October 2012 the Council had agreed a minimum level of general reserves of £6,000,000, which was accepted as a sound principle.  However, the Council’s general reserves now stood at £11,100,000.  He noted that the Council was currently investigating the possibility of setting up a housing company to enable the provision of more affordable housing throughout the District using commuted sums from S106 agreements.

 

Councillor Skipp then moved an amendment to the motion by the addition of the following recommendation: “In view of the significant solvency of this Council, the commuted sum comprising £12,000,000 from S106 agreements should be enhanced by £2,000,000 a year for the next three years from Council funds in order to ensure that much-needed affordable accommodation is provided within this District.”

 

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Christine Costin.

 

Members debated the amendment, expressing support for the provision of affordable housing through the proposed setting up of a housing company, which was due to be considered by Cabinet in March.  However, generally, Members did not support making an additional commitment as now proposed in view of future uncertainties regarding the Council’s finances.

 

Having been moved and seconded, the amendment was put.

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the voting in respect of the amendment was recorded and was as follows:

 

FOR THE MOTION: Councillors: Christine Costin, Leonard Crosbie, David Skipp

 

AGAINST: Councillors: John Bailey, Andrew Baldwin, John Blackall, Toni Bradnum,  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO/49

CO/50

Council Tax 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 112 KB

To approve the formal Council Tax Resolution for 2019/20

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Brian Donnelly and seconded by Councillor Stuart Ritchie that the Council Tax resolution for 2019/20 be approved.

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the voting in respect of the motion was recorded and was as follows:

 

FOR THE MOTION: Councillors: John Bailey, Andrew Baldwin, John Blackall, Toni Bradnum, Karen Burgess, Peter Burgess, John Chidlow, Jonathan Chowen, Philip Circus, Paul Clarke, David Coldwell, Roy Cornell, Leonard Crosbie, Ray Dawe, Brian Donnelly, Matthew French, Billy Greening, David Jenkins, Nigel Jupp, Liz Kitchen, Lynn Lambert, Adrian Lee, Gordon Lindsay, Tim Lloyd, Christian Mitchell, Mike Morgan, Brian O’Connell, Stuart Ritchie, Kate Rowbottom, Jim Sanson, Ben Staines, Simon Torn, Claire Vickers, Michael Willett, Tricia Youtan

 

AGAINST: None

 

ABSTAIN: Councillors: Christine Costin, David Skipp

 

ABSENT: Councillors: Alan Britten, Jonathan Dancer, Tony Hogben, Paul Marshall, Josh Murphy, Godfrey Newman, Connor Relleen

 

The motion was declared CARRIED and it was:

 

            RESOLVED

 

            1.         The Council Tax Base 2019/20 be noted

 

a.    for the whole Council area as 62,187.0 (Item T in the formula in section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”) and

 

b.    for dwellings in those parts of its area to which as Parish Precept or Special Expenses relates as shown below:

 

 


 

Parish

2019/20 tax base

Amberley

329.1

Ashington

1,136.7

Ashurst

148.5

Billingshurst

4,156.8

Bramber

409.4

Broadbridge Heath

2,271.3

Coldwaltham

470.0

Colgate

1,353.3

Cowfold

843.1

Henfield

2,699.1

Itchingfield

757.5

Lower Beeding

541.7

North Horsham

8,705.2

Nuthurst

1,056.2

Parham

124.7

Pulborough

2,527.5

Rudgwick

1,394.6

Rusper

907.5

Shermanbury

288.3

Shipley

634.2

Slinfold

900.5

Southwater

4,526.2

Steyning

2,565.5

Storrington & Sullington

3,283.7

Thakeham

1,007.1

Upper Beeding

1,447.3

Warnham

989.5

Washington

1,083.9

West Chiltington

2,189.1

West Grinstead

1,308.3

Wiston

108.0

Woodmancote

272.6

Horsham Town

11,750.6

Total

62,187.0

 

2.         That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2019/20 (excluding Special Expenses and Parish precepts) is £149.53

 


 

3.         That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2019/20 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

(a)

£83,563,123

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

 

(b)

£70,366,846

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

 

(c)

£13,196,277

being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

 

(d)

£212.20

being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts).

 

(e)

£3,897,764

being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO/50

CO/51

Reports of representatives

To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies

Minutes:

Councillor Liz Kitchen, the Council’s representative on the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM), updated Members on a number of current issues including the London Airspace Modernisation Programme (LAMP). Use of the emergency/standby runway, Gatwick railway station/Gatwick Express, and noise management.

 

Councillor Christine Costin gave an update on Horsham in Bloom.

 

Councillor David Coldwell, the Council’srepresentative on the South Downs National Park Authority, updated Members on the current position regarding the A27 at Arundel and progress on the National Park Local Plan.

CO/52

Calendar of Meetings 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 108 KB

To receive the report of the Chief Executive

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Executive reported on the proposed programme of Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings, including standing Cabinet Member Policy Development Advisory Groups, for 2019/20.  It was noted that the calendar proposed monthly meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as agreed by that Committee.

 

Members and officers had been consulted to ensure that the proposed programme met the requirements for reporting on statutory matters, such as the budget and final accounts, and comments received had been taken into account in the submitted calendar.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the calendar of meetings for 2019/20 be approved as submitted.

 

REASON

 

To fix a programme of Council meetings, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, and to approve a calendar for Cabinet and Committee meetings, which enables the Council to transact its business in a timely and efficient manner

 

CO/53

Members' Questions on Notice

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

Minutes:

No questions had been received.

CO/54

Urgent Business

To consider matters certified by the Chairman as urgent

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.