Agenda and minutes

Venue: via Remote Video Link

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

Items
No. Item

CO/57

Declarations of Members' Interests

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

CO/58

Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling & Waste announced that the West Sussex Climate Change Board met on 24 March for the first time.  The board was chaired by WSCC and comprised the relevant directors and portfolio holders from across the county.  It will facilitate the exchange of information and good practice and ensure cohesion between local authorities. 

CO/59

Recommendations from Cabinet pdf icon PDF 478 KB

To receive the recommendations as approved at the meeting of Cabinet held on 25 March and, if approved, to adopt the recommendations therein:

 

(a)     Improvement of Community Facilities in Denne Ward (the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets is online at: Adenda item 8 )

 

(b)     Use of Additional Restrictions Grant for Projects to Assist Economic Recovery (the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets and Local Economy & Parking is online at: Agenda item 9 )

 

(c)     Council Tax Support Scheme – Additional Discretionary Discounts (the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets in online at: Agenda item 10 )

Minutes:

Improvement of community facilities in Denne Ward

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets reported on proposals to renovate St Peter’s Hall and the RAFA club.  The Council had successfully applied for a government Energy Efficiency Grant of £238,000 to reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings.  Alongside these works, it was proposed to create a fit-for-purpose and efficient space for use by the local community. Council was recommended to approve the budget to carry out these works.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Tony Hogben.

 

The Cabinet Member advised that the anticipated budget had been increased because the timescales required to secure the grant funding gave inadequate time for a competitive tender process. The proposed budget recommended to Council was therefore £130,000 higher than that originally proposed. 

 

The Cabinet Member advised that the return on the investment would be reduced from approximately 4% to 2.5% of the revised cost.   He also stated that, should officers succeed in negotiating a variation to the grant conditions to allow time to secure a more competitive price, the additional £130,000 may not be required.

 

Cabinet had approved the project to refurbish these buildings, and Members were supportive of the proposed budget, as revised, and welcomed the improvements to this community facility in Denne.   

 

RESOLVED

 

That a budget of £630,000 for 2021/22 be approved for the project, of which £238,000 will be grant funded.

 

REASON

 

To upgrade poor quality community facilities in Denne Ward and to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings.  The proposals meet the Council policies to move towards net zero emissions by 2030 and to provide facilities to support health and wellbeing in the community.  The reasons for rejecting alternative courses of action are dealt with in the body of the report.

 

 

Use of Additional Restrictions Grant for projects to assist economic recovery

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets and Local Economy & Parking reported that a budget was sought from Council to enable Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) money, which was not needed for the Discretionary Business Grants scheme, to be spent on projects to support the business economy in Horsham District. 

 

The Council had set up the Discretionary Business Grants scheme to enable the ARG to be distributed amongst relevant businesses.  The Cabinet Member advised that in order to receive a further tranche of ARG, the Council was required to spend its existing allocation and this proposal would allow the surplus to be allocated to new and existing projects.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Brian Donnelly.

 

Councillor Matt Allen welcomed the proposal and thanked officers for their work in supporting businesses throughout the pandemic. However he considered that proposed projects should include those put forward by Neighbourhood Councils and the business community as well as Parish, District and County officers.  He therefore moved an amendment to the second recommendation so that projects put forward by Neighbourhood Councils and the business community could be included.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Frances Haigh.

 

The Cabinet Member agreed that the inclusion of  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO/59

CO/60

Urgent Business

To consider matters certified by the Chairman as urgent

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.