Agenda and minutes

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

The disclosures of interests made by councillors are set out in Appendix A to these minutes.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 13 December 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 13 December 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive and consider any announcements or communications, including any additional Cabinet Member announcements.

The Mayor provided the Full Council with a brief update on the mayoral events attended since the last meeting, which included the busy period leading up to Christmas with carol services around the town.  January had begun with joining fellow councillors and residents to commemorate National Holocaust Day and planting a weeping willow tree in the Memorial Gardens together with meeting the Mayor of Dorsten to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Town Twinning.  The Mayor had also attended Crawley Museum for the launch of the latest exhibition of science fiction costumes, as well as attending St Andrew’s Church in Furnace Green with veterans from the AFVBC for a concert by the Band of the Welsh Guards.

Cabinet Members Councillors Y Khan and Noyce provided the Full Council with further context to their Cabinet Member announcements, as contained within the Supplementary Agenda (Order Paper).

To answer public questions under Full Council Procedure Rule 1.1-E.  The questions must be on matters which are relevant to the functions of the Council, and should not include statements.

One supplementary question from the questioner will be allowed.

Up to 30 minutes is allocated to Public Question Time.

Enclosed is the Labour Amendment 1 to Recommendation 1 2024-2025 Budget and Council Tax. Mover Councillor Jones and Seconder Councillor Nawaz.

This is an update report FIN/650 to the original 2024-2025 Budget and Council Tax report) FIN/642 and contains an amendment to Recommendation 1a following the recent announcement of additional Government funding. As such this amendment will be moved with the main report, rather than as a separate Amendment.

This amendment will be discussed under item 6 Consideration of Full Council Recommendations and Call-in Decision, as part of the discussion on Recommendation 1 2024-2025 Budget and Council Tax

The Leader of the Council presented report FIN/642of the Head of Corporate Finance, which set out details of the Budget and level of Council Tax for the year 2024/25, and report FIN/650 of the Head of Corporate Finance, which set out an update to the original report.  The update comprised an amendment to recommendation 1a, which was proposed as a result of the recent announcement of additional Government funding.

It was noted that the report detailed each of the Revenue, Capital and Housing Revenue Accounts that combine together to formulate ‘The Budget’. In proposing the level of Council Tax for the Financial Year 2024/25, each of those accounts identified had been considered. The combined proposal ensured that the Council had a balanced Budget.

The General Fund budget for 2024/25 forecast a take from balances of £1.2m. It was emphasised that the main additional pressures were an additional £1m for temporary accommodation and £630k for the Town Hall and District Heat Network. Those increases had been balanced by a favourable increase in the level of business ates. The General Fund budget assumed a Council Tax increase below the referendum level of 2.99% or £6.76, which would result in a £232.10 charge for a band D property. The budget also assumed that fees and charges were to be increased by 7% where feasible. It was noted that the report had been previously considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 29 January and the Cabinet on 31 January 2024. Councillor Jones moved the recommendations which were seconded and supported by Councillor Nawaz.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Crow, presented Amendment 2 to Recommendation 1 as shown in the Supplementary Agenda (Order Paper), and in doing so confirmed that it was the intention to take two individual votes on the two recommendations within the amendment. The current financial situation was acknowledged however there were concerns regarding the temporary accommodation budget, level of fees and charges and the need to review the capital programme to identify projects that could potentially be delayed by one year in order to generate additional revenue funding of between £100,000 to £250,000, as well as enabling the deferral of any need to borrow to sustain the capital programme.  The amendment was seconded by Councillor Lanzer.

A single debate occurred on both the recommendation and the proposed amendment. Councillors Lanzer, Irvine, Belben, C Mullins, Burgess, S Mullins, Ali, Lamb, Lunnon, Nawaz and Jones (using his right to reply) all spoke during debate.

The Full Council was reminded that in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, all Councils at their annual budget meetings are required to adopt the practice of recorded votes - that is, recording in the minutes of the meeting how each member present voted on any decision relating to the Annual Budget and Council Tax. This applies not only to substantive budget motions to agree the Budget and setting Council Taxes, including precepts, but also on any amendments proposed.

Following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Full Council considered report FIN/644 of the Head of Corporate Finance. The Leader of the Council presented the report which set out the Treasury Management Strategy for 2024/2025 and included the Council’s Investment Strategy. The Council was required to approve a Treasury Management Strategy before the start of the financial year in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management and the Council’s financial regulations.

The item had been previously considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Cabinet on 29 January and 31 January 2024 respectively. Councillor Jones moved the recommendation which was seconded and supported by

Councillor Nawaz.

RESOLVED

That Full Council approves:

a)    the Treasury Prudential Indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement contained within Section 5.4 of report FIN/644

b)    the Treasury Management Strategy contained within Section 6 of report FIN/644

c)     the Investment Strategy contained within Section 7 of report FIN/644.

The Full Council considered report HCS/073 of the Head of Community Services. The Cabinet Member for Public Protection presented the item and in doing so noted that the Council was obliged to provide a Licensing Policy, under the Licensing Act 2003, for liquor, late night refreshment and regulated entertainment. The legislation required the policy to be updated every 5 years.

The item had previously been considered by the Licensing Committee as well as the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Cabinet respectively. Councillor Jones moved the recommendation which was seconded and supported by Councillor Yasmin Khan.

Councillor Burgess also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves and adopts the proposed revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2024 -2029, as detailed in Appendix B to report HCS/073, made under the Licensing Act 2003 with a view to implementation on 1st March 2024.

The Full Council considered report HCS/072 of the Head of Community Services. The Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change presented the report, which sought to introduce a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict anti-social and criminal behaviour within council-owned multi-storey car parks in Crawley following public consultation on the matter.

The item had previously been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and the Cabinet on 29 January and 31 January 2024 respectively. Councillor Jones moved the recommendation which was seconded and supported by Councillor Noyce.

Councillors Lanzer and Burgess also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council makes a PSPO in the form set out in Appendix A to report HCS/072 with the restricted area being Orchard Street multi-storey car park (Pegler Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 7AE), Town Hall multi-storey car park (Exchange Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1UZ), and Kingsgate multi-storey car park (Queensway, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1EN) which should come into force on 26 February 2024 for a period of three years.

Councillor Jones presented Recommendation 5, which set out the Notice of Precept 2024/25 from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex and West Sussex County Council, which combined with the previously agreed Crawley Borough Council precept to formulate the Council Tax Resolution for 2024/25.

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor Nawaz.

Councillor Crow also spoke on this item.

Following approval of the Council’s budget in recommendation 1 in report FIN/642 and the amendment to recommendation 1a in report FIN/650 and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the names of the councillors voting for and against recommendation 5 were recorded as set out below:-

For the recommendation: Councillors Ali, Ashraf, Ayling, Belben, Bounds, Burgess, Burke, Charatan, Crow, Hart, Hellier, Irvine, Jaggard, Jhans, Jones, K Khan, Y Khan, Lamb, Lanzer, Lunnon, McCarthy, Millar-Smith, Morris, C Mullins, S Mullins, Mwagale, Nawaz, Noyce, Pendlington, Piggott, Pritchard, Raja, Rana, and Russell. (34)

Against the recommendation: None. (0)

Abstentions the recommendation: None. (0)

The Mayor declared the recommendation was carried with 34 votes in favour and 0 votes against, with 0 abstentions.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council, following the receipt of the notice of precept from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex and West Sussex County Council and the approval of the Council’s budget approves the following:

1.          That it be noted that on 31 January 2024 the Leader of the Council under delegated powers calculated the Council Tax Base 2024/25 for the whole Council area as 36,637.0 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")] ; and

2.          That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2024/25

is calculated at £8,503,448.

3.          That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2024/25 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

To consider, in accordance with Full Council Procedure Rule 1.1-H, the following Notice of Motion to be moved by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor  Irvine.

The Full Council considered the Notice of Motion – Motion on Declaring a Housing Emergency – as set out on page 101 of the agenda.

The Motion was moved and presented by Councillor Jones, who in doing so gave further explanation of the reasoning behind the motion.  It was seconded and supported by Councillor Irvine.

Councillor Crow moved and presented Amendment 3 to the Notion of Motion (as shown in the Supplementary Agenda). The amendment was seconded by Councillor McCarthy.

Councillors Lunnon, Burgess, C Mullins, Lanzer, Nawaz, Piggott, Y Khan, Belben, Charatan and S Mullins also spoke on the item.

As the business of the meeting had not been completed within the scheduled two hours and 30 minutes, a vote on continuation in line with Council Procedure Rule 8.3 was held. The Mayor required the Full Council to consider if it wished to continue with the meeting.

Having put it to the vote, the Council agreed that the meeting be continued for an additional period not exceeding 30 minutes.

Following the agreement of the Full Council to continue the meeting, the Mayor restarted the discussion on Notice of Motion 1 – Declaring a Housing Emergency. 

Councillors Irvine, Jaggard, Pritchard, and Jones then spoke on the item.

The Mayor called for a vote on the proposed amendment in respect of Notice of Motion 1 – Declaring a Housing Emergency, which fell by 15 votes in favour, 19 against and 0 abstentions.

The Mayor then called for a vote on the substantive Notion of Motion (Notice of Motion 1 – Declaring a Housing Emergency), which was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED

This Council recognises the growing pressures on Local Authorities relating to housing, and that Crawley is one of the worst affected areas in the country with a number of factors driving increasingly unsustainable revenue costs relating to temporary accommodation for the Council.  These factors include:

·            The unaffordability of home ownership for an increasing number of people

·            A shrinking private rented sector with soaring rents (8% increase in the last year) that also makes this option for housing unaffordable for a growing number of people

·            the shortage of council and other social housing to meet demand

·            Water Neutrality planning restrictions imposed by Natural England slowing down new development

As of 6 February 2024, this has resulted in:

·            2796 applications made for the 243 housing units made available in the last 8 months, so over 11 applicants per property resulting in over 260 bids for every property

·            485 households, or 1224 people, living in temporary accommodation

·            One pound in every three of the Council's net revenue budget being spent on temporary accommodation

The Council also recognises the likelihood of a worsening situation given the presence of four Asylum Contingency hotels in the borough and the decision of the Home Office to disperse those seeking asylum directly into communities without a managed process or proper support in place.

This is despite the range of Council efforts to tackle structural pressures including, but not limited to:

·            One of the best records in the country developing social housing, delivering over 1600 affordable units over the past 10 years, and continuing to bring new sites forward

·            Buying additional properties such as the recent acquisition of 6-9 Ifield Road

·            Retrofitting thousands of our social housing stock with water saving devices to allow us to build more homes

·            Pursuing long leasing opportunities for temporary accommodation to increase supply and reduce costs

·            Bidding for funding streams from multiple sources to support new affordable housing and temporary accommodation delivery

·            Using over £500k of funding over the past two years to support people to stay in their accommodation and prevent them from becoming homeless

Whilst the Council's teams will continue to do everything in its powers to meet the needs of our residents and meet our statutory obligations, the system was not created to deal with these numbers. The driving forces are not in the Council's control and the Council under the current funding arrangements does not have the resources to solve the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

There will be a maximum of 30 minutes for Councillors’ Question Time (CQT). Councillors may ask questions relating to either a portfolio issue or with regard to the functions delegated to a Committee.

There are two methods for Councillors asking questions:

1.     Councillors can submit written questions in advance of the meeting and written answers will be provided on the evening of the Full Council.

2.     Councillors can also verbally ask questions during the CQT.

Councillors have the opportunity to ask oral supplementary questions in relation to either of the methods above.

As the business of the meeting had not been completed within the scheduled two hours and 30 minutes, a vote on continuation in line with Council Procedure Rule 8.3 was held. The Mayor required the Full Council to consider if it wished to continue with the meeting.

Having put it to the vote, the Council agreed that the meeting be continued for an additional period not exceeding 30 minutes.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Committees, as listed on page 43, and set out in the appendices to this item and to debate any Reserved Items contained within those Minutes.

NB:  In advance of the meeting Political Groups can identify any items they wish to debate as a Reserved Item.  These Reserved Items will then be the only matters to be the subject of debate.

Moved by Councillor K Khan (as the Deputy Mayor):-

RESOLVED

That the following reportsbe received:

·        Planning Committee – 4 December 2023

·        Licensing Committee – 12 December 2023

·        Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 8 January 2024

·        Planning Committee – 9 January 2024

·        Cabinet – 10 January 2024

·        Licensing Committee – 15 January 2024

·        Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 29 January 2024

·        Cabinet – 31 January 2024

There were no items for debate.