Democracy in Crawley

How decisions are made and who represents you

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room A & B - Town Hall

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: democratic.services@crawley.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Disclosures of Interest and Whipping Declarations

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, Councillors of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

 

Councillors must also declare if they are subject to their party group whip in relation to any items under consideration.

 

Minutes:

The following disclosures were made:

 

Councillor

Item and Minute

Type and Nature of Disclosure

 

Councillor

R A Lanzer

Council Tax Empty Property Premiums

(Minute 4)

Personal Interest –

Member of WSCC

 

 

Councillor

K Sudan

Council Tax Empty Property Premiums

(Minute 4)

Personal Interest –

Member of WSCC

 

 

Councillor

D Crow

Crawley Homes Additional Staffing Requirements

(Minute 5)

Personal Interest –

Member of WSCC

 

 

Councillor

R A Lanzer

Crawley Homes Additional Staffing Requirements

(Minute 5)

Personal Interest –

Member of WSCC

 

 

 

 

Councillor

K Sudan

Crawley Homes Additional Staffing Requirements

(Minute 5)

Personal Interest –

Member of WSCC

 

 

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 109 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 3 September 2019.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 3 September were approved as a correct record and signed by the Acting Chair. 

 

3.

Public Question Time

To answer any questions or hear brief statements from the public which are relevant to the items on this agenda.  The period will end after 15 minutes or later at the Chair’s discretion.

 

Minutes:

No questions from the public were asked.

 

4.

Council Tax Empty Property Premiums pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To consider report FIN/478 of the Head of Corporate Finance.

Minutes:

The Commission considered report FIN/478 with the Leader of the Council and the Head of Corporate Finance.  Since April 2013, billing authorities have been able to charge an additional premium of 50% on properties which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for more than two years. This has meant that the council tax charged is 150% of the normal charge for that property. Legislation has changed to allow councils to increase the premium above the previous 50% limit, with the amount of the premium increasing the longer the property is left empty. The report sought agreement to increase empty homes premiums to ensure that empty homes are encouraged to be occupied.  The intention behind the legislation for the charging of premiums is to encourage owners of long term empty properties to bring them back into use in order to increase the supply of housing

 

During the discussion, the following points were expressed:

·        Clarification was sought on the exemptions provided from the premium, particularly for those in care.

·        It was felt there was a moral duty to implement, particularly given the current housing situation, as it may incentivise owners to bring the properties back into use. 

·        Recognition that there were currently inspections that took place in various forms to establish empty establishments.

·        Acknowledgement that any application to reduce or waive a premium was governed by legislation. 

·        Explanation was sought as to responses to other authorities that had increased premiums beyond 50%.

·        Acknowledgement that there were no costs to the implementation of the scheme.

·        Support for the report and for publicity following Full Council in October.

 

RESOLVED

That the Commission agreed to support the recommendations to the Cabinet.

 

5.

Crawley Homes Additional Staffing Requirements pdf icon PDF 270 KB

To consider report CH/186 of the Head of Crawley Homes.

Minutes:

The Commission considered report CH/186 with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Head of Crawley Homes.  The report sought agreement for additional staffing within Crawley Homes owing to additional work created by Universal Credit, the approach to fire safety and adding further flatted properties with a cleaning requirement.

 

Councillors made the following comments:

·        It was noted that part of recommendation 2.2a within report CH/186 would be amended as follows (changes highlighted in bold): “Approve four FTE additional posts of Housing Officer immediately with the provision of two further FTE posts to enable efficient rent collection following changes relating to Universal Credit…”

·        Acknowledgement that staff receive full training to assist customers. Officers work to facilitate engagement with those in need to identify and resolve issues, as it was recognised that older debts were more difficult to remedy.

·        Recognition that currently were was not a timescale for the full rollout for Universal Credit.  It was envisaged that the additional posts would be fulltime posts, however it was acknowledged that there was a natural turnover of the workforce and vacant posts would be reviewed as the roll-out of the scheme progressed.

·        Acknowledgement that whilst jobs change, it was important that arrears were kept to a minimum as much as possible. 

·        Clarification was provided as each neighbourhood patch and the number of properties.

·        Further information was obtained as to early intervention together with the sanctions that could be applied for those tenants that did not keep to their agreements.

·        Confirmation was provided that the Older Persons Service was focused on those in need and tailored to meeting individual needs.

·        It was discussed that it would be beneficial for Councillors to gain further experience from staff ‘first hand’.  An option was proposed for an introductory office visit for Councillors.

 

RESOLVED

           That Commission agreed to support the recommendations to the Cabinet.

 

6.

Establishment of and Appointments to Scrutiny Panels

It is the responsibility of the Commission to establish Scrutiny Panels as required and to appoint a Chair to each Panel (allowing the Panel Chair to confirm the terms of reference for their review).

 

Climate Change Scrutiny Panel

Following the Full Council meeting in July 2019, and in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Commission is recommended to consider the establishment and nominations received for the ‘Climate Change’ Scrutiny Panel based on a 5 member Panel consisting of Councillors:

J Hart, K L Jaggard, G S Jhans, T Lunnon and A Pendlington.

 

The careful selection and prioritisation of review work is essential if the scrutiny function is to be successful, achieve added value and retain credibility. The work programme should also be realistic, flexible and retain spare capacity so that additional matters raised during the year can be addressed.

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

Following the declaration of a ‘climate emergency’ at Full Council meeting in July 2019, the Commission was recommended to consider the establishment and any nominations received for the ‘Climate Change’ Scrutiny Panel.  This Panel would focus on the workings and activities of Crawley Borough Council relating to carbon emissions.

 

Nominations had been received for the ‘Climate Change Scrutiny Panel’, along with nominations for Chair for Councillors K L Jaggard and G S Jhans.

 

A vote was taken. Both Councillors Jaggard and Jhans received 5 votes each and as a result the Acting Chair had to use their casting vote.

 

As a result of the vote, and in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Commission confirmed the establishment of the ‘Climate Change Scrutiny Panel’, with the membership of Councillors J Hart, K L Jaggard, G S Jhans, T Lunnon and A Pendlington with Councillor Jaggard as Chair.

 

 

7.

Forward Plan - and Provisional List of Reports for the Commission's following Meetings

To consider any requests for future items. Those highlighted items have been referred to the Commission.

 

Title

Notice

published

Decision due

2019/2020 Budget Monitoring – Quarter 1

13/11/2018

25/09/2019

Council Tax Empty Homes Premium

26/07/2019

25/09/2019

Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy

20/06/2019

25/09//2019

Crawley Town Centre Business Improvement District

6/06/2019

25/09/2019

Crawley Homes Additional Staffing Requirement

19/07/2019

25/09/2019

Budget Strategy 2020/21 – 2024/25

13/11/2018

27/11/2019

Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2019/2020

13/11/2018

27/11/2019

Review of Statement of Licensing Policy Gambling Act 2005 (2020 - 2023)

10/04/2019

27/11/2019

Crawley 2035: Crawley Borough Local Plan 2020 - 2035

18/06/19

27/11/2019

Homelessness Strategy 2019 - 2024

11/03/2019

27/11/2019

Tenancy Strategy 2019

11/03/2019

27/11/2019

2019/2020 Budget Monitoring – Quarter 2

13/11/2018

27/11/2019

Water Services Procurement

29/05/2019

27/11/2019

Three Bridges Station Improvement Final Design

10/04/2018

27/11/2019

Waste and Recycling Contract– provisional referral

12/03/2019

27/11/2019

Appointment of Contractor for Crawley Homes Lifeline Monitoring Service

26/06/2019

27/11/2019

Brownfield Land Register 2019 update

(Delegated)

11/09/2019

02/12/2019

2020/2021 Budget and Council Tax

13/11/2018

05/02/2020

Treasury Management Strategy 2020-21

13/11/2018

05/02/2020

Capital Strategy 2020/2021

13/11/2018

05/02/2020

2019/2020 Budget Monitoring – Quarter 3

13/11/2018

05/02/2020

Irrecoverable Debts 2019/20 (over £50,000)

13/11/2018

05/02/2020

Allocating Monies Collected Through CIL 2020/2021

13/08/2019

11/03/2020

Calculation of Council Tax Base – for purposes of setting level of Council Tax for 2020/2021

(Delegated)

13/11/2018

Not before 01/12/2019

Calendar of Meetings 2020/2021

(Delegated)

28/01/2019

Not before 02/12/2019

Calculation of the Non-Domestic Rates income for year 2020/21

(Delegated)

13/11/2018

Not before 01/01/2020

Irrecoverable Debts 2019-2020 (Under £50,000)

(Delegated)

13/11/2018

05/02/2020

Allocating Monies Collected Through CIL 2020/21

13/08/2019

11/03/2020

Determine Grant applications for 2020/21 and Grants budget

(Delegated)

20/02/2019

23/03/2020

 

 

Minutes:

The Commission confirmed the following reports:

 

25 November 2019

All the reports listed below for November (with the exception of Three Bridges Improvement Scheme Final Design and Waste & Recycling Contract are Policy Framework Documents)

·        Budget Strategy 2020/21 – 2024/25

·        Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2019/2020

·        Review of Statement of Licensing Policy Gambling Act 2005 (2020-2022)

·        Crawley 2035: Crawley Borough Local Plan 2020-2035

·        Homelessness Strategy 2019 - 2024

·        Tenancy Strategy 2019

·        Three Bridges Improvement Scheme Final Design

·        Waste & Recycling Contract (provisional referral)

 

3 February 2019

·        2020/2021 Budget and Council Tax

·        Treasury Management Strategy 2020-21

·        Capital Strategy 2020/2021