Agenda and minutes

The Mayor asked all present at the meeting to observe a two Minute’s silence, as a mark of respect and sympathy for the victims and their families, who suffered as a result atrocities which took in New Zealand on 15 March 2019.

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.

The disclosures of interests made by Councillors were set out in Appendix A to the minutes.

To receive and consider any announcementsor communications.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Full Council wished Councillors Boxall, Cheshire, Quinn, Skudder and Tarrant all the very best for the future as they would not be standing again as Borough Councillors. He thanked them all for their service to the Town.  Councillors of both political groups took the opportunity to convey their thanks for the support provided and work undertaken throughout the years.

The Mayor then provided the Full Council with a brief update of the brief update of the Mayoral events he had attended since the last meeting including helping to present the restored George Hotel sign to Crawley Museum, attending Crawley Community Awards and meeting the Mayor of Madeira which helped to provide a greater understanding of the links between Crawley and Madeira together with highlighted many of the town’s assets and achievements including Tilgate Park, the town centre and Manor Royal.

To answerpublicquestionsunder Council Procedure Rule10.The questionsmust be on matterswhich are relevanttothe functionsofthe Council, andshould not includestatements.

One supplementaryquestionfrom thequestioner will be allowed.

Up to 30 minutesisallocatedto PublicQuestionTime.

There were no questions from the public.

To approve as a correct recordthe minutesofthe meetingof the Full Council held on 27 February 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 27 February 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor subject to the following two changes.

1. That the word “investigation’ be deleted and replaced with the word ‘investigate’ in the initial response by Councillor Lamb to the Public Question, page 6 in Minute 3 (Public Question Time).

2. That the first table on page 15, Minute 8 (2019/20 Budget and Council Tax -

(Recommendation 1) - Cabinet – 6 February 2019) be replaced with the table set out

below as the line in grey below was incorrect in the minutes contained in the Agenda.

Prior to the introduction ofthe Minutesofthe Cabinet, Overviewand Scrutiny CommissionandCommittees (ascontained in the BookofMinutes), Memberswill be given the opportunity to indicate on which items they wish tospeak.

TheseReservedItemswill then bethe onlymattersto bethe subject ofa debate.

Councillors indicated that they wished to speak on a number of items as set out in the following table:

1)            Toreceive theminutes ofthe meetings ofthe Cabinet,Overviewand Scrutiny Commission and Committees, as listed on page 27, and set out in the appendices to this item.

2)            Toadopt any of therecommendationsto Full Council,which have notbeenreservedfor debate and as listed on page 27, and set out in the appendices to this item.

1)            Moved by Councillor Rana (as the Deputy Mayor):-

RESOLVED

That the following reportsbe received:

·         Governance Committee – 5 March 2019

·         Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 11 March 2019

·         Planning Committee – 12 March 2019

·         Cabinet – 13 March 2019

·         Audit Committee – 19 March 2019

2)            Thatthe recommendationscontained inthe reportson thefollowing matters,which had not been reserved for debate, be adopted:-

Constitutional Amendments for Development Consent Orders and Planning Performance Agreements – Governance Committee – 5 March 2019 (Recommendation 1)

The Full Council considered reportPES/315 of the Head of Planning and Economy, which had previously considered Governance Committee on       5 March 2019.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council to approve the following changes to the Constitution:

a)     An additional responsibility for decision making be allocated to the Planning Committee (with a presumption that the matter be recommended to Full Council unless timescales were prohibitive): “Where a Written Representation is to be provided to a Development Consent Order Application Process, if the Council is a host authority”;

b)     That all other responses, decisions and actions during the Development Consent Order application process including The Examination are delegated to the Head of Economy and Planning;

c)     That the negotiation and completion of development consent obligations (Section 106 planning agreements) are delegated to the Head of Economy and Planning;

d)     That any subsequent responses to non-material and material changes are delegated to the Head of Economy and Planning;

e)     That decisions on the discharge of Requirements are delegated to the Head of Economy and Planning;

f)      That power to take enforcement action under Part 8 of The Planning Act 2008 is delegated to the Head of Economy and Planning and The Head of Legal, Democracy and HR;

g)     That Planning Performance Agreements are negotiated and agreed by the Head of Economy and Planning

Changes to the Constitution – Governance Committee – 5 March 2019 (Recommendation 2)

The Full Council considered reportLDS/149 of the Head of Legal, Democracy and HR, which had previously considered Governance Committee on 5 March 2019.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council to approve the following changes to the Constitution:

Councillor Thomas, on behalf of the Labour Group, stated that the rationale for bringing forward this item.  It was believed that it was a matter of public record that two complaints had been made against Councillors which had been upheld and sanctions applied.  It was questioned whether sanctions were applied and adhered to by those whom against the complaints were made.  In response Councillors Lunnon as Chair of the Governance Committee which oversees the standards process confirmed that a report had been provided on Councillors who had breached the code of conduct since the new system had been in place. This had been published in the council’s Councillor’s Information Bulletin. Whilst Councillor Lunnon could not provide all the details he hoped that all Councillors would agree to the findings of the Independent Person given their balanced view and judgement.

Councillor Sudan, on behalf of the Labour Party, explained the rationale for bringing forward this item for debate. She thanked the Panel Members and officers for their work undertaken on scrutiny review which was acknowledged as having a broad scope.  The Panel had focused on where it could add value to improve the life changes of those growing up in the town.  It was hoped the recommendations addressed some of the concerns around the low level of social mobility and assisted in achieving success in whatever way it could be achieved for individuals.

Councillors Guidera, Thomas, Lanzer and P. Smith also spoke on the subject.

Councillor Lamb responded on this item adding that he had requested the Scrutiny Review following the Government’s Social Mobility Commission highlighted the borough as the worst in the South East. He commended the work of the Panel and Officers, focusing on where the Council can add value and influence, with particular attention on where there has been impact on people’s lives.  It was recognised that the successful delivery of many of the recommendations would require co-operation, effort and effective communication between CBC, WSCC and the business and voluntary sector.

Councillor Crow, on behalf of the Conservative Group, explained the rationale for bringing forward this item for debate. Councillor Crow expressed concern for the large amounts shown within the report and questioned what measures could be used earlier in the process.

Councillors Tina Belben also spoke on the subject. 

Councillor Lamb responded on this item and mentioned that it was a known fact that retail was a struggling industry and whilst items unfortunately occasionally had to be written off the council had one of the best recovery rates in the country. 

To consider, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, the following Notice of Motion to be moved by Councillor Lamb and seconded by Councillor Jones

The Council considered the Notice of Motion 1 ‘Helping Vulnerable Crawley Families Motion ‘as set out in the Full Council’s agenda. The Motion was moved and presented by Councillor Lamb and seconded and supported by Councillor Jones.

During the debate on the Motion Councillors Thomas, Quinn, Cheshire, and Sudan all spoke in support. Councillor Lamb also used his right to reply to speak at the end of the debate.

RESOLVED

Crawley Borough Council notes:

·                That since 2012, ‘Think Family’ has provided key worker support to vulnerable families to prevent families breaking down and children being taken into care.

·                That between 2012 and 2020 it is projected over 5,000 families will have made significant and sustained progress, many based here in Crawley.

·                That the West Sussex County Council report ‘Evaluating The Impact of The National Troubled Families Initiative (Think Family)’ of May 2018 concluded that all the data showed that Think Family clearly ‘improves sustainable outcomes.’

·                That on the financial cost alone, the costs of preventing family breakdown are far smaller for the public sector as a whole than allowing the collapse of vulnerable families and the multi-agency costs created. The human cost is greater still.

Crawley Borough Council further notes:

·                That West Sussex County Council has recently approved £4.9m to be cut from ‘Integrated Prevention and Earliest Help’, the budget Think Family is funded from.

·                That public services require money to function.

Crawley Borough Council calls upon:

·                West Sussex County Council to commit to maintaining Think Family funding, enabling vulnerable Crawley families to stay together.

To answer Councillors’ writtenquestionsunder Council Procedure Rule 11.3.

Councillors’ written questions, together with the answers, were published in advance of the start of the Meeting. The questions were as follows:-

Questioner                    Councillor Crow

Addressed to                 Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development

Subject(s)                     Expenditure and allocation of Section 106 monies

Questioner                    Councillor Eade

Addressed to                 Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development

Subject(s)                     Vandalism of the water feature in Queens Square

Questioner                    Councillor Crow

Addressed to                 Cabinet Member for Housing

Subject(s)                     Impact of the Spare Room Subsidy – It was noted that the 

                                      published response missed out the years referenced (2014 – 

                                     2018).

Anopportunityfor CabinetMembersto report verbally (ifnecessary)on issuesrelating totheirPortfolio not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

To answer questionsto CabinetMembersunder Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

Up to 15 minutesisallocatedfor questionsto CabinetMember

To answer questionsto Committee Chairs.

Up to 15 minutesisallocatedfor questionsto CommitteeChairs.