Public Document Pack
1 June 2020
Joint Strategic Committee
- 9 June 2020
- Date:
Time: Venue:
6.30 pm Remote Meeting
Committee Membership:
Adur District Council: Councillors; Neil Parkin (Leader), Angus Dunn (Deputy Leader), Carson Albury, Brian Boggis, Emma Evans and David Simmons
Worthing Borough Council: Councillors; Daniel Humphreys (Leader), Kevin Jenkins (Deputy Leader), Edward Crouch, Heather Mercer, Elizabeth Sparkes and Val Turner
Agenda
Part A
- 1.
- Declarations of Interests
Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.
If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.
- 2.
- Minutes
To approve the minutes of the Joint Strategic Committee meeting held on 10 March 2020, copies of which have been previously circulated.
- 3.
- Public Question Time
To receive any questions from the public. Questions should be submitted by noon on Friday 5 June 2020 to Democratic
Services, [email protected]
(Note: Public Question Time will operate for a maximum of 30 minutes)
- Items Raised under Urgency Provisions
- 4.
5.
To consider any items the Chairman of the meeting considers to be urgent.
Chief Executive’s use of Urgency Powers during the Covid-19 Global Pandemic (Pages 1 - 6)
To consider a report from the Chief Executive, a copy is attached as item 5.
6. 7.
Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan - establishing the network of the future through consultation (Pages 7 - 92)
To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 6.
Collaboration with West Sussex County Council on Procurement of a Countywide Electric Vehicle Charging Points Network (Pages 93 - 108)
To consider a report from the Director for Digital & Resources, a copy is attached as item 7.
- 8.
- Moving Forward with Citizen Wifi (Pages 109 - 122)
To consider a report from the Director for Digital & Resources, a copy is attached as item 8.
- 9.
- Asset Management Plan (Pages 123 - 150)
To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 9.
- 10.
- Adur and Worthing Gypsy & Traveller Encampments - response to the
recommendations from the JOSC working group (Pages 151 - 158)
To consider a report from the Acting Director for Environmental Services, a copy is attached at item 10.
- 11.
- Use of s106 contributions to improve Widewater Bridge, Lancing (Pages
159 - 166) To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 11.
12. 13. 14.
Worthing Community Infrastructure Levy - Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) (Pages 167 - 196)
To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 12.
Procurement Approach for Worthing Integrated Care Centre (WICC) Development (Pages 197 - 224)
To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 13.
Worthing Public Realm - Delivering enhancements at Portland Road (Pages
225 - 268) To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 14.
15. 16. 17.
Unlocking Development at Decoy Farm (Pages 269 - 276)
To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 15.
Buckingham Multi-Storey Car Park Regeneration Scheme (Pages 277 - 282)
To consider a report from the Director for the Economy, a copy is attached as item 16.
Referral of Motion on Notice from Worthing Borough Council (Pages 283 -
286) To consider a report from the Acting Director for Housing & Wellbeing, a copy is attached as item 17.
- 18.
- Referral of Motion on Notice from Worthing Borough Council (Pages 287 -
290) To consider a report from the Acting Director for Housing & Wellbeing, a copy is attached as item 18.
Part B - Not for Publication – Exempt Information Reports
None.
Recording of this meeting
The Council will be voice recording the meeting, including public question time. The
recording will be available on the Council’s website as soon as practicable after the
meeting. The Council will not be recording any discussions in Part B of the agenda (where the press and public have been excluded).
For Democratic Services enquiries relating to this meeting please contact:
For Legal Services enquiries relating to this meeting please contact:
- Neil Terry
- Susan Sale
Democratic Services Lead 01903 221073
Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer
- [email protected]
- 01903 221119
Duration of the Meeting: Four hours after the commencement of the meeting the
Chairperson will adjourn the meeting to consider if it wishes to continue. A vote will be taken and a simple majority in favour will be necessary for the meeting to continue.
Agenda Item 5
Joint Strategic Committee
9 June 2020
Agenda Item 5
Key Decision: No
Ward(s) Affected: N/A
Chief Executive’s use of Urgency Powers during the Covid-19 Global Pandemic
Report by the Chief Executive Executive Summary
1. Purpose
Due to the current pandemic situation it has been necessary for the Council’s to be able to respond very quickly during the emergency and this has necessitated, on some occasions, needing to make decisions as a matter of urgency.
The Chief Executive has therefore been called upon to use his powers to make urgent decisions and this report advises Members of the Executive of the executive decisions made, and asks for their endorsement to those decisions.
2. Recommendations
The Joint Strategic Committee is recommended to note the content of the report and endorse the decisions made by the Chief Executive and refer the decision to increase the Treasury Management limits onto Council for noting and endorsement.
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- 3.0
- Context
- 3.1
- In March 2020 a global pandemic was declared as a result of Covid-19. The
Councils were faced with unprecedented times and were required to swiftly respond to the emergency for the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities and economies.
3.2
3.3
On some occasions, decisions had to be made very quickly and to delay action to fulfill the usual procedural requirements of executive decision making, would have caused significant prejudice.
The Council has approved a Scheme of Delegations to Officers and within it have included the authority to the Chief Executive to make decisions on behalf of the Executives and the Councils in an emergency situation such as this one.
- 3.4
- The Chief Executive has made 3 Executive decisions in recent weeks relying
on these urgency provisions. On each occasion he has consulted with the Leaders of the Councils. The Scheme of Delegations provides that the use of these powers should be reported to the Council, or the Executive, as appropriate, as soon as practicable.
- 4.0
- Issues for consideration
- 4.1
- Government Funding for Business Grants
4.1.1 The Treasury Management Strategy Statement is approved by the Councils before the start of each financial year. It sets out prudent investment limits with different counterparties in order to protect the financial security of the Councils by diversifying investment risk. Any breaches of the limits must be reported to the Councils.
4.1.2 The approved limits allow sufficient flexibility to manage fluctuations in the short term cash held by the Councils. For example Council Tax is received throughout the month, but the precept shares are forwarded on the 5th of the month - consequently the liquidity position can vary significantly but those funds cannot be invested over a long period. The Treasury Management service uses money market funds, call accounts and the Councils’ banker, Lloyds, to hold the cash until it is needed.
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4.1.3 On April 1st Adur District Council received £17.64m and Worthing Borough
Council £26.13m from the Government to distribute in the form of Business Grants under the Coronavirus Act 2020. Additional Covid-19 grants have also been received to provide relief to the local community, support the additional costs that the Councils are incurring, and to compensate for the loss of income.
4.1.4 The Councils have been successful in distributing a large proportion of the business grants already paying 2,298 local businesses, a total of £28.34m (as at 21st May):
No of business paid
Amount
£m
- Adur
- 847
- £10.22m
- £18.12m
- Worthing
- 1,451
4.1.5 But it was not possible to accept the grant funding and also adhere to the counterparty investment limits whilst managing these short term funds. Consequently the Chief Executive used his urgency powers to approve changes to the investment limits for three months (April - June).
4.1.5 For Worthing Borough Council the investment limit was increased from £3m per counterparty to £6.5m per counterparty, with an overall total for money market funds of £26m. The limit for Lloyds Bank was increased to £7m
4.1.6 For Adur District Council the investment limit was increased from £3m to £5m per counterparty with an overall total for money market funds of £20m. The limit for Lloyds Bank was increased to £6m.
- 4.2
- Discretionary Scheme for Business Grants
4.2.1 Following the roll out of the Government’s Business Grant Scheme, it became clear that there were a number of local businesses who were unable to benefit from any of the existing forms of support. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have subsequently allocated funding to local Councils to distribute to local businesses in the form of discretionary grants based on 5% of the amount likely to be awarded (Adur £564,500, Worthing £973,500).
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4.2.2 Following the provision of high level guidance by BEIS, the Councils have drafted a scheme for the administration of these additional grants in consultation with Local Authorities across West Sussex. BEIS expected that these grants would start being paid from 1st June 2020, especially in the light of the hardship being experienced by the local business community.
4.2.3 To meet this ambitious timescale, a new scheme has been devised and was approved by the Chief Executive in late May 2020. It was not possible in the circumstances to seek approval in a timely manner from the JSC.
- 4.3
- Provision of Accommodation at Chatsworth Hotel
4.3.1 Towards the end of March 2020, the Government directed that Local
Authorities arrange for all homeless people and rough sleepers to be off the streets as soon as possible and for Councils to provide accommodation for them to enable them to isolate as per government guidance. The Councils acted swiftly in securing accommodation at the Chatsworth Hotel for this purpose and were very quickly able to offer accommodation to homeless and rough sleepers. Initially anticipated that an arrangement would be made to offer accommodation to key workers and NHS workers where required, however demand from the increased flow of newly homeless resulted in this arrangement not being pursued and the provision is used solely for single homeless people.
4.3.2 It was necessary to enter into a contract for the provision of accommodation and services urgently, and there was insufficient time to comply with the Council’s usual decision making procedures. The Chief Executive was therefore asked to make an urgent decision on behalf of the Councils.
4.3.3 A contract was entered into for the block booking of 97 hotel rooms and some limited services (night porter, handy person on sight and laundry service). The contract was initially for a period of 13 weeks, which can be extended by agreement or terminated by the Council on 4 weeks notice. The total value of the initial contract of 13 weeks was £211,848.
4.3.4 The Chief Executive made the following decision on 31st March 2020:
● To release £121,000 from reserves (60% from WBC budget and 40% from ADC budget) for the purposes of the Council commissioning accommodation and related services at the Chatsworth Hotel to provide assistance to those in need of emergency accommodation and others requiring assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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● To approve the Councils entering into the Contract as set out above, and delegating authority to legal officers to sign such a contract on behalf of the Councils.
5.0 Engagement and Communication
In making executive decisions under urgency powers delegated to him by the Council, the Chief Executive consulted with the Leader of each Council, as well as the Council’s Statutory Officers.
- 6.0
- Financial Implications
- 6.1
- The grants awarded to the business community are fully funded by the
resources provided by BEIS.
- 6.2
- Any amendment of the Treasury Management limits is normally approved by
Council. Any breach of these indicators would need to be reported to Council in due course. To ensure that the Council remained within its approved investment limits, the Chief Executive exercised his emergency powers to increase the Counterparty limits for a short period of time. The treasury management team then carefully managed these additional sums to ensure they were spread across a wide range of counterparties, drawing down the funds evenly to ensure that the additional risks were managed appropriately.
- 6.2
- Under the Council’s contract orders, a budget must exist for the costs
associated with a contract for the Council to be able to let that contract. To enable the letting of the contract for Chatsworth Hotel, funds were released by the Chief Executive.
- 7.0
- Legal Implications
- 7.1
- Paragraph 2.1.2 of the Officer Scheme of Delegations provides the Chief
Executive with the authority to "take urgent action on behalf of the Councils".
Urgent means a "matter of pressing importance requiring swift action given the gravity of the situation, to prevent damage (or further damage) to life, limb, infrastructure or the financial integrity of the Councils".
In taking such urgent action the Chief Executive is obliged to consult with the relevant Leader.
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Background Papers
● Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council Scheme of Delegations to Officers
● Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council Contract Standing Orders
Officer Contact Details:-
Susan Sale / Sarah Gobey Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer / Chief Financial Officer 01903 221119 [email protected] / [email protected]
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Agenda Item 6
Joint Strategic Committee
9 June 2020
Agenda Item 6
Key Decision: No
Ward(s) Affected: All
Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan - establishing the network of the future through consultation
Report by the Director for the Economy Executive Summary
1. Purpose
1.1. The purpose of this report is to seek approval to adopt the final version of the Adur & Worthing Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP): a high level, strategic network plan for safe and accessible future cycling and walking infrastructure provision.
1.2. This report outlines recently published government guidance for walking and cycling provision relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; and seeks member approval for urgent work with West Sussex County Council on local improvements in line with the Adur & Worthing LCWIP. The published
guidance documents are: Traffic Management Act 2004: network management in response to COVID-19; and Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer public places - urban centres and green spaces.
1.3. A Draft version of the LCWIP was presented to the Joint Strategic
Committee on 7th November 2019, where Members approved the draft version being taken through Public Consultation between November 2019 and January 2020.
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1.4. The report presents the outcomes of the public consultation, in particular, the overwhelming support for improved cycling and walking infrastructure provision (see section 4). It seeks approval for amendments made to the Plan as a result of consultation responses.
1.5. The Plan was produced with the consistent support and input from the Adur
& Worthing Cycling & Walking Group; and oversight and support from West Sussex County Council.
- 2.
- Recommendations
In relation to the Adur & Worthing LCWIP: 2.1. To note the outcomes of the Public Consultation; 2.2. To approve the amendments made to the cycling network routes and walking zones listed at paragraph 4.7 (Worthing) and 4.8 (Adur) in response to the consultation; and
2.3. To approve the formal adoption of the Final LCWIP and the utilisation of the document to support funding or investment opportunities on the network.
2.4. To delegate authority to the Director of Economy & Place in consultation with the relevant Executive Member to make minor design amendments to the Plan prior to publication.
In relation to the COVID-19 guidance from government for interventions on the traffic network and in public spaces to allow for social distancing and active travel:
2.5. That the Director for the Economy be granted delegated authority in consultation with the Leaders of Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils to: 2.5.1. Work with, agree proposals and submit representations to West
Sussex County Council for the implementation of emergency interventions on the road networks to include emergency traffic regulation and road closure orders.
2.5.2. Develop proposals for ‘safer public spaces’, working with West
Sussex County Council where their involvement is required; and also
2.5.3. Allocate finance secured through the Business Rate Pool for these interventions in anticipation of the distribution of the £250,000,000 government finance allocated for these emergency measures.