Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 13 July 2020

The Group received the notes of the previous meeting.

• Community Link team update
• Track and trace update
• Funding

The Head of Environmental Health & Licensing joined the PDAG to give a service update.  The department had maintained its services and continued to support businesses successfully during the pandemic, despite an increase in demand for their services.

The presentation began with an overview of the Commercial Team’s inspections of businesses and investigations of complaints made by the public. There was a backlog of food safety inspections because of premises closures during lockdown.

Environmental Health had also worked with partners to produce Covid-19 risk assessments and safety policies, which businesses were now required to undertake to protect their employees and the public.

The Licensing team had offered free Tables and Chairs licenses across the district in response to the pandemic, to enable people to eat outside. The pandemic had also caused challenges for Taxi drivers across the district.

The Housing team were continuing with disability adaptations and housing inspections after a lull caused by the lockdown.  

There had been a rise of reports of bonfires over the first period of lockdown. However on the whole the messaging regarding bonfires being unacceptable had been effective.

The Head of Environmental Health & Licensing gave an update on Covid-19 Infection rates and Track & Trace within the district.  There had been a small number of local outbreaks, which reflected rising infections nationally.

o   Community Development team changes

o   Community Lottery

o   Health and Wellbeing team changes and aspirations for place based service delivery

o   Housing team changes

o   Ministry Housing Communities & Local Government funding bid for rough sleeping

o   Community Safety Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) renewal

The Head of Housing & Community Services joined the PDAG to give a service update.   A new full time employee had joined the Community Development Team, funded through the West Sussex voluntary sector alliance. The new post will allow the team to meet additional demand created by Covid-19, and support the district’s Community Partnerships and new community groups.

The Head of Housing & Community Services reminded the Group that a report would be considered by Cabinet on 24 September, which recommended that the Council’s Community Lottery continue after a successful first year. It was noted that the Lottery had already raised just under £57,000 for 81 local causes.

The Heath & Wellbeing Team were aiming to shift to delivering programmes with focused outcomes in areas where specific needs had been identified, including helping older residents become active again after the lockdown with the Strong and Steady programme.

Throughout Covid-19 Housing Services had dealt with rising demand for Corona housing placements. 19 rough sleepers had been housed at usual establishments plus an additional resource at the Chatsworth Hotel in Worthing and permanent housing solutions will have been identified for all of them. The Head of Housing & Community Services gave an overview of the plans to grow the Housing Team in response to an identified demand that is set to grow.

The Ministry of Housing, Community & Local Government have made additional funding for rough sleepers available and Housing Services have submitted a bid for facilitating 24/7 supported accommodation.  

The Community Safety Team have been reviewing the current Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).  A revised order will be consulted on, if approved by  Cabinet, with a view to being adopted 1 April 2021.  The PSPO applies across the whole of the district to prevent nuisance and anti-social behaviour. The revised PSPO would retain existing activities whilst also adding a range of others including: intoxication by psychoactive substances; antisocial behaviour in car parks and stairwells; selling of periodicals which include a prize completion dependant on skill; no unlicensed busking; and no drinking alcohol in The Causeway and Gardens of Remembrance.  The Group noted that the PSPO did not cover criminal activity.

To note the Forward Plan extract for the Community Matters and Wellbeing Portfolio

The Forward Plan extract was noted.