Agenda and minutes

The Mayor held a minute of silence to allow a moment of reflection to honour the 194 Crawley residents that have sadly passed away within the Borough as a result of Covid-19 and for those who have been affected by the virus. Also in respect of former Councillor David Barry who died recently.

The Mayor then invited the two Group Leaders Councillors Lamb and Crow respectively to say a few words over the impact of the pandemic on Crawley’s residents including over the sad loss of life.

Councillors Lanzer and Mullins, then on behalf of the Council paid their respects to the passing of David Barry with heartfelt and touching tributes.

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 24 February 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 24 February 2021 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 a brief update commenting that he was able to attend the Veterans’ club breakfast club which was an honour.

The Mayor Councillor Guidera, then announced that he would be resigning as a Councillor in the coming days, due to personal reasons and the need to relocate to America to be with family. A copy of his resignation speech is attached as Appendix B to these minutes.

Councillor Crow and Lamb, then paid tribute to Councillor Guidera, for his service to the Town and his residents. Both members also wished him and his family very best for the future.

It was acknowledged that at the AGM that the Deputy Mayor would be in the Chair for the start of the meeting.

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.

There were no questions from the public.

The Full Council considered report LDS/165 of the Democratic Services Manager which set out the current legislative position on the format of Council meetings and requested that the Committee consider the potential options available in relation to those matters.

The report highlighted that:

·                Unless the legal position changed or legislation was extended all Committee meetings from 8 May 2021 would need to revert to in-person meetings as virtual formal meetings would be unlawful. As of 11 March 2021 the legal position remained unchanged.

·                Up to 21 June, meetings would be held in some form of lockdown.

·                Whilst the Council offices remained in the current building, meetings in the committee rooms could include the use of Teams but it would not be possible to accommodate a fully hybrid style meeting. The new Town Hall would have in-built webcasting equipment which would facilitate fully hybrid meetings if required.

The item had been previously considered at the Governance Committee on 15 March 2021. Councillor Burrett moved the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Lunnon. Councillors Crow, Mullins, Lanzer and McAleney also spoke during the debate on the recommendation

Following the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor invited the Democratic Services Manager to commence the voting process. Before the vote commenced, it was confirmed that none of the Labour or Conservative Members requested to vote as an individual, rather than through their respective Group block vote.

For the recommendation: Labour block vote of 15 votes, Conservative block vote of 17 votes, and Councillors Fiveash and Sudan. (34)

Against the recommendation: None (0)

Abstentions: (0)

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

RESOLVED

That the Full Council be recommended to approve that:

a)         In principle and when possible, formal meetings of the Council be held in person and that informal meetings of the Council be digitally enabled.

b)         Dependent on any legislation which comes into force, the Full Council AGM on 28 May 2021 be held virtually.

c)         Should further legislation not be enacted which allows the continuation of virtual meetings, meetings in public held by the Council revert back to in person meetings and the Virtual Committee Procedure Rules and Licensing Sub-Committee (Hearings) Virtual Procedure Rules be suspended with the ability to reinstate them should it become necessary to do so.

d)         Should legislation come into force, the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Group Leaders and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Governance Committee, be delegated authority to amend the Constitution to reflect the wishes expressed by the Committee (and the Full Council, if approved) that the next cycle of meetings (up to and including the 14 July 2021 Full Council meeting) be held virtually.

In line with Constitution’s Call-In Procedure Rule 8, Section 8.3, the Full Council is required to be informed when the Chief Executive has protected a decision from Call-in.

In accordance with the Special Urgency provisions set out in paragraph 16.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules within the Constitution, on 10 March 2021 the Cabinet approved the following in relation to the Crawley Town Investment Plan – Draft Heads of Terms (as set out in Minute 13 to that meeting):

a)      Authorise the Chief Executive to sign the Crawley Town Deal Heads of Terms.

b)      Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition to submit to            Government, on behalf of the Council, further details of the plans and budget profiles for the individual projects within the Crawley       Town Deal and a plan to address the Heads of Terms key conditions.

The Chief Executive (as Head of Paid Service), had agreed that the decision should be Protected from Call-In under Call-In Procedure Rule 8 of the Constitution due to its urgent nature. This was so the Council could respond to the Government by its set deadline of 24 March 2021.

RECOMMENDATION 2

The Full Council is requested to note the use of the protection from Call-In by the Chief Executive in respect of the decision by the Cabinet on 10 March 2021 relating to the Crawley Town Investment Plan – Draft Heads of Terms.

The Mayor introduced the item, which was set out on page 3 of the agenda that the Chief Executive on 10 March 2021, used her protection from Call-in authority in relation to a decision taken by the Cabinet on the Crawley Town Investment Plan – Heads of Terms. In line with Council’s Constitution use of her protection from Call-in must be reported to Full Council.

The reasons for the protection was the deadline for the Chief Executive to submit the Heads of Terms back to the Government by 5pm on 24 March 2021 the same day as the Full Council meeting. The Mayor confirmed the Chief Executive had submitted the Heads of Terms back to the Government before the deadline.

The Mayor moved the recommendation which was seconded by the Deputy Mayor.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council notes use of the protection from Call-In by the Chief Executive

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

The Council considered the Notice of Motion 1 - ‘Crawley’s Peoples Future’ as set out in the Full Council’s agenda. The Motion was moved and presented by Councillor Sudan in do so gave further explanation behind the reasoning behind the Notice of Motion. Councillor Fiveash then seconded it.

Councillor Crow then moved and presented the Conservative amendment, (as shown in Supplementary Agenda Order Paper). The amendment was seconded by Councillor McCarthy.

Councillor Lamb then moved a Procedural Motion in relation to FCPR 11.1 (m) That the item/issue now be voted upon. The Procedural Motion was then seconded by Councillor Lunnon.

Clarification was provided to the Full Council on what the moved Procedural Motion meant in practical terms, namely if it was carried, then there would be no further debate on the Notice of Motion and the associated Amendment and voting then commence, on both.

The Mayor then invited the Democratic Services Manager to commence the voting process on the Procedural Motion.

For the Procedural Motion: Labour block vote of 14 votes, and Conservative block vote of 17 votes. (31)

Against the recommendation: Councillors Fiveash and Sudan (2)

Abstentions: Councillor Pickett (1)

The Mayor declared the Procedural Motion was carried – votes in favour 31, and votes against 2 with 1 abstention.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves Procedural Motion in relation to FCPR 11.1 (m) That the item/issue now be voted upon, namely that the vote commence immediate on the Notice of Motion and the related Amendment

The Mayor asked the Democratic Services Manager to commence the voting process on the proposed Conservative Amendment on the Notice of Motion, as moved by Councillor Crow and Seconded by Councillor McCarthy.

For the Amendment: Conservative block vote of 17 votes. (17)

Against the Amendment: Labour block vote of 14 votes, Councillors Fiveash and Sudan (16)

Abstention: Councillor Pickett (1)

The Mayor declared Amendment was carried – votes in favour 17, and votes against 16 with 1 abstention.

The Mayor asked the Democratic Services Manager to commence the voting process on the proposed Substantive Notice of Motion as amended.

For the Substantive Notice of Motion: Labour block vote of 14 votes, Conservative block vote of 17 votes, Councillors Fiveash and Sudan. (33)

Against the Substantive Notice of Motion: None (0)

Abstention: Councillor Pickett (1)

The Mayor declared Substantive Notice of Motion as carried – votes in favour 33, and votes against 0 with 1 abstention.

RESOLVED

Crawley’s economy has been hit hard throughout the pandemic, largely (but not wholly) due to the hit taken by Aviation and related businesses. This council has done all it can to support the Town’s economy in securing a thriving future – perhaps, for better or worse, less reliant on aviation.

Difficult decisions have had to be made and the need to focus on Crawley’s economic recovery is justified. Difficult decisions will no doubt need to be made in the future and it is right that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Committees, as listed on page 37, 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 Malik (as the Deputy Mayor):-

RESOLVED

That the following reportsbe received:

Licensing Committee – 2 March 2021

Audit Committee – 3 March 2021

Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 8 March 2021

Planning Committee – 9 March 2021

Cabinet – 10 March 2021

Governance Committee – 15 March 2021

The following item which were not Full Council Recommendations were selected as

Items for Debate:

Councillor Purdy explained the rationale for bringing forward this item for debate was that as the Hazelwick AQMA was declared in 2015 to satisfy the requirements of the Environment Act 1995, to monitor air quality and mitigate air borne pollution. It was disappointing that air quality had not improved and as a consequence the extension to the AQMA was proposed. Investigating the extension was one of the many recommendations from the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel and it was welcomed that this was being addressed so early. A single management area should enable a holistic air quality action plan to be implemented in a co-ordinated manner.

Councillors R Burgess, P Smith, Burrett, B Burgess and Lamb also spoke on this item.

Councillor Jhans responded on this item included that air quality in Crawley in generally good and he welcomed the extension to the AQMA and noted that it was recommendation from the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel to have an AQMA in the Hazelwick area.