Agenda and minutes

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

The minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 25^th April and 23^rd May 2018 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

Councillor David Coldwell declared a personal interest in the Notice of Motion as he was a member of the South Downs National Park Authority.

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

The Chairman of Council reminded Members that they were all invited to attend the Battle of Britain parade and service on Sunday 16^th September 2018. There would be a wreath laying ceremony in the Carfax at 10:30 followed by a Service of Remembrance at St Marys Church.

The Chairman also advised that a Civic Carol Service would be held at 18:30 on Sunday 9^th December 2018 at St Marys Church.

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Cleansing reported that a number of compliments had been received regarding the Council’s waste service and read to Members one that had been submitted through the website.

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture advised Members that it was anticipated that the opening of The Bridge would take place in October 2018 and he would advise them of the date shortly.

Councillor Liz Kitchen, the Council’s representative on the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM), reported that recently criticism had been directed at GATCOM in relation to issues regarding noise and the perception of noise in the local area.  Councillor Kitchen stressed that GATCOM was a consultative body only and had no decision making powers.  She also advised Members that the London Airspace Management Programme would, over the next three to four years, be consulting on changes to airspace.  This consultation would include parish councils and local residents.

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

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

To receive and, if approved, adopt the recommendations of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 12^th June 2018.

(agenda online at: Governance_Committee_agenda )

Councillor Michael Willett, Chairman of the Committee, moved the recommendations contained in Minute GO/6 of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 12^th June 2018 proposing changes to the Constitution of Horsham District Council, including the reinstatement of the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations.  Councillor David Coldwell seconded the proposal.

            RESOLVED

(i)            That the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations, as amended by the Committee and attached to these Minutes, be reinstated in the Constitution as Part 5d.

(ii)           That Article 8 of the Constitution (8.2 Other Committees and Bodies) be amended at parts a) and c) only to read as follows:

“a)        Employment Committee (the Leader of the Council, the Chairman of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition Group or, if they are not available, a Member chosen from a pool of named substitutes)

b)         …

c)         One Policy Development Advisory Group for each of the following portfolios: Community & Wellbeing; Finance & Assets; Leisure & Culture; Local Economy; Planning & Development; and Waste, Recycling & Cleansing (11 Members each including the Cabinet Member) (A variance in size (not exceeding 11) will be permitted by notification of group leaders and the subsequent assent of Council).

d)         …

e)         …”

            REASON

            To comply with Article 13, Review and Revision of the Constitution.

To receive the report of the Director of Corporate Resources

The Director of Corporate Resources reported that the Localism Act 2011 required local authorities to prepare and publish a Pay Policy Statement annually. 

The Pay Policy Statement for 2018/19 had been updated in order to comply with the requirements of the Act and to incorporate changes to pay points as a result of the nationally agreed cost of living rise settlement and increases in the Living Wage (Foundation), the National Living Wage and the various bands of the National Minimum Wage (applicable to casual employees below the age of 25 in some grades only). 

The statement set out the Council’s policies relating to: Chief Officer remuneration; remuneration of the lowest paid employees; and the relationship between Chief Officers’ remuneration and that of other staff.

The publication of this information was a statutory requirement and, once approved, the Pay Policy Statement for 2018/19 would be published on the Council’s website.

It was moved by Councillor Ray Dawe and seconded by Councillor Leonard Crosbie that the recommendation in the report should be approved.

            RESOLVED

            That the Pay Policy Statement 2018/19 be approved for publication.

            REASON

            To comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 to approve a published pay policy annually.

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 Slinfold Neighbourhood Plan had been subject to a Referendum on 19^th July 2018, where the majority (83%) of those who voted were in favour of the Plan.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet Member thanked the Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Planning steering group for the effort they had put in to the preparation of the Plan.  The local Members also paid tribute to the work of the Parish Council and local residents and supported the Cabinet Member’s recommendation.

Council’s approval was therefore sought to make the Slinfold 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 Slinfold Parish in addition to the Horsham District Planning Framework.

It was moved by Councillor Claire Vickers and seconded by Councillor Stuart Ritchie hat the recommendation in the report should be approved.

            RESOLVED

            That the Slinfold Neighbourhood Plan be formally “made” part of the statutory Development Plan, following the Referendum held on 19^th July 2018.

            REASON

            To meet the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

To consider the following Notice of Motion, submitted by Councillor Paul Marshall in accordance with Rule 4a.26 of the Council’s Constitution:

“This motion is seeking the support of Horsham District Council in objecting to the South Downs National Park (SDNP) actions in implementing a Judicial Review challenging Highways England preferred A27 Arundel improvement scheme announced recently.

The action taken by the SDNP has completely ignored the traffic volume and the environmental impact that residents have had to put with in south of the district that is also part of the South Downs National Park. The residents for years have been waiting for an improvement scheme that will make the A27 route accessible as opposed to circumnavigating A283 and other local roads to avoid the A27 congestion.  Residents who live in the vicinity of A283 particularly the villages of Steyning, Wiston, Washington, Storrington, Amberley & Pulborough have had to put up with this traffic in both directions as a consequence.

Storrington, along with Cowfold, are two villages designated as Air Quality Management Areas, (AQMA). Storrington is a direct consequence of the diversionary traffic. This village has circa 20,000 average vehicle movements daily with high recorded pollutants registered. Two areas, Manleys Hill and West Street have significant pollutant levels recorded well above legal recommendations.  

It is no longer acceptable for residents to put up with the consequences. Residents have participated in the consultation process undertaken by Highways England extensively. The SDNP have not consulted residents in the SDNP or neighbouring villages about their decision to oppose the preferred improvement routes which will be a major relief road for the SDNP.

I am asking this Council to formally write to the Chair of SDNP objecting to its actions and expressing disappointment about their decision in challenging Highways England. This has a disregard to those residents who have to suffer the environmental impact in the south of the District.”

The following Motion, of which notice had been given in accordance with Rule 4a.26 of the Council’s Constitution, was moved by Councillor Paul Marshall and seconded by Councillor Paul Clarke.

“This motion is seeking the support of Horsham District Council in objecting to the South Downs National Park (SDNP) actions in implementing a Judicial Review challenging Highways England preferred A27 Arundel improvement scheme announced recently.

The action taken by the SDNP has completely ignored the traffic volume and the environmental impact that residents have had to put with in south of the district that is also part of the South Downs National Park. The residents for years have been waiting for an improvement scheme that will make the A27 route accessible as opposed to circumnavigating A283 and other local roads to avoid the A27 congestion.  Residents who live in the vicinity of A283 particularly the villages of Steyning, Wiston, Washington, Storrington, Amberley & Pulborough have had to put up with this traffic in both directions as a consequence.

Storrington, along with Cowfold, are two villages designated as Air Quality Management Areas, (AQMA). Storrington is a direct consequence of the diversionary traffic. This village has circa 20,000 average vehicle movements daily with high recorded pollutants registered. Two areas, Manleys Hill and West Street have significant pollutant levels recorded well above legal recommendations.  

It is no longer acceptable for residents to put up with the consequences. Residents have participated in the consultation process undertaken by Highways England extensively. The SDNP have not consulted residents in the SDNP or neighbouring villages about their decision to oppose the preferred improvement routes which will be a major relief road for the SDNP.

I am asking this Council to formally write to the Chair of SDNP objecting to its actions and expressing disappointment about their decision in challenging Highways England. This has a disregard to those residents who have to suffer the environmental impact in the south of the District.”

Members debated the motion with particular reference to the remit of the SDNPA to preserve and enhance the natural environment of the National Park; air quality issues in the south of the District; possible loss of funding for any improvement of the A27 if the Judicial Review (JR) proceeds; the regrettable use of JR as a mechanism to put forward the SDNPA’s argument; and the need for adequate infrastructure to accommodate increased housing in the area.

On being put, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was: 

RESOLVED

That the Council write to the Chair of the South Downs National Park Authority objecting to its actions and expressing disappointment about their decision in challenging Highways England.

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

No questions had been received.

To consider matters certified by the Chairman as urgent

There was no urgent business.