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 15 December 2021

The minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 15 December 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Deputy Mayor.

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

The Deputy Mayor presented each of the following Councillors with a badge commemorating their long service as a Member of Crawley Borough Council and thanked them for their long and dedicated service with this Authority:-

The Deputy Mayor then provided the Full Council with a brief update of the Mayoral events attended which included the Remembrance Service, the Royal Marines charity sleigh pull and the annual fundraising event hosted by Greenway Foundation.

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 Leader of the Council moved and presented the report FIN/549of the Head of Corporate Finance, which set out the Budget and level of Council Tax for the year 2022/23. In doing, so he took the opportunity to thank officer in the Finance Team for their hard work and in particular Karen Hayes, Head of Corporate Finance for the budget report and for all her support and hard work over the years as this would be her last budget at the Council. Councillor P Smith seconded the report.

The Full Council was reminded that regulations required all Councils at their annual budget meetings to adopt the practice of recorded votes - that is, recording in the minutes of the meeting how each Councillor present voted on any decision relating to the Annual Budget and Council Tax. This applied not only to substantive Budget motions to agree the Budget and setting Council tax, including precepts, but also on any amendments proposed.

It was noted that the report detailed each of the Revenue, Capital and Housing Revenue Accounts that combined together to formulate ‘the Budget’. In proposing the level of Council Tax for the Financial Year 2022/23, each of those accounts identified had been considered. The combined proposal ensured that the Council had a balanced Budget. It was noted that the report had been considered by the Cabinet on 2 February 2022 and by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission at its meeting on 31 January 2022.

The Council was reminded that the global Coronavirus pandemic had had a significant impact on the Council’s finance and Crawley’s economy had been hit harder than any other areas across the Country. The Budget did draw upon reserves this year and it was recognised there were several aspects within the local government finance reforms that could affect the council; business rates, new homes bonus, the Levelling Up paper and any potential restructuring around local government could result in substantial change. However, there were also opportunities for exciting times and substantial change within the town. Councillor Lamb referenced that whilst the Budget did propose an increase in Council Tax, it was lower, in real terms than the rate of inflation compared to the other Precept Authorities.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Duncan Crow, addressed the meeting and made his budget speech. He commented that whilst there many aspects relating to the capital programme that were welcome there were concerns regarding the fees and charges, especially within the town centre and Tilgate Park car parks and in doing so made an undertaking that if he was delivering the Budget next year he would not raise the parking fees for those sets of car parks.

The Deputy Mayor then opened up the general debate on the proposed Budget report to the Council and Councillors Irvine, Mwagale, C Mullins, Lanzer, S Mullins, McCarthy, Jones, Morris, Brenda Burgess, Lunnon, Burrett, Khan, and P Smith all spoke during debate. Councillor Lamb, using his right to reply stated that he would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Leader of the Council introduced report FIN/557of the Head of Corporate Finance regarding the Treasury Management Strategy for 2022/2023 which the Council was required to approve 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 strategy itself set out how the Council would be investing its money across the course of the year. The item had been previously considered at the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 31 January 2022 and Cabinet on 2 February 2022 Councillor Lamb moved the recommendation which had been amended following a suggestion put forward by Councillor Crow for an inclusion of cryptocurrency as an asset class that the Council would no longer include as an option and included within the Ethical Investment Policy. This was seconded by Councillor P Smith.

Councillor Crow was in support of the report and its recommendations.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves the following items:

a)         the Treasury Prudential Indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement contained within Section 5 of report FIN/557;

b)         the Treasury Management Strategy contained within Section 6 of report FIN/557;

c)         the Investment Strategy contained within Section 7 of report FIN/557, with the addition of crypto currencies to the list in Section 7.2.

d)         to amend the prudential indicators in the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/2023 (FIN/557) as set out in Section 4 of this report (FIN/561) before considering the recommendations contain within it.

Councillor Jones, introduced report CH/195 of the Head of Crawley Homes and explained he was hopeful that an extension to the PSPO would make Crawley a quieter place. It was not a method to punish car enthusiasts and that message should be quite clear, but rather to stop those who use their cars and vehicles as a method to cause disturbance and nuisance to others. The consultation feedback had proven positive and the extension of the PSPO was welcomed. The report was seconded by Councillor Lamb.

Councillors B. Burgess and Jhans also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves the following items:

a)        An extension for a period of 3 years the Borough wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to prohibit vehicle related anti-social behaviour associated with car cruise activity in the borough of Crawley as set out in Appendix A of report CH/195.

b)        that fixed penalties imposed for breaches of the PSPO be maintained at £100.

The Deputy Mayor informed the Full Council that it was the intention to hold the discussion on Recommendation 4 - Crawley Innovation Centre – Draft Towns Fund Business Case (report PES/395 of the Head of Economy and Planning) from the Cabinet held on 2 February 2022 in Open – Public Session (Part A), noting that the report was an exempt report.

The report documented the draft business case seeking Towns Fund monies for the Crawley Innovation Centre project, following endorsement and support for the project from the Crawley Town Deal Board, and had sought Cabinet approval for the Towns Fund business case and for a summary version of the business case to be submitted to the government. The Innovation Centre was welcomed as an initiative for bringing skills, jobs and further economic development to the town. Councillor P Smith moved the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Lamb.

Councillors Lanzer, Jhans and McCarthy also spoke on the item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves the following items:

a)         the addition of a new capital scheme to the capital programme for the Innovation Centre of £8.4m funded from the Getting Building Fund (subject to LEP board approval).

b)         to increase the capital programme budget for the Innovation Centre by £900,000 of Towns Fund monies subject to a viable business case that satisfies the s151 officer being received on the revenue financial implications to the Council of the project and receipt of approval from Government.

c)         to allocate £1.6 million of Towns Fund revenue funding to the Crawley Innovation Centre project subject to a viable business case and receipt of Government funding.

d)         to authorise the Council’s S151 Officer to request the Local Enterprise Partnership’s powers of flexibility in order to ensure the Getting Building Fund (GBF) monies are defrayed in 2021-22 in accordance with the LEP’s requirements by spending any residual GBF monies on the new Town Hall capital scheme and then rolling forward the equivalent sum from the Town Hall scheme into 2022-23 to ensure delivery of Crawley Innovation Centre project”.

The Deputy Mayor confirmed that Recommendation 5 - Notice of Precept 2022/2023, had been deferred until after West Sussex County Council had its re-arranged Budget and Council Tax Meeting on 28 February 2022. 

An Extraordinary Full Council meeting was arranged for 2 March 2022 to consider Recommendation 5 - Notice of Precept 2022/2023.

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

The Leader, under the Urgent Action decision making powers set out in the Constitution, took the following three decisions which were also protected from Call-In (in accordance with Call-In Procedure Rule 8).

The first decision, which was taken on 10 January 2022, was to approve the revised Additional Restrictions Discretionary Business Grant (ARG) Guidance to take into account the priority areas as a result of the Omicron variant and give delegated authority to the Head of Economy and Planning and the Head of Corporate Finance to make grants within these guidelines. This decision was protected from Call-In so the Council could start supporting its businesses as soon as possible. The decision was reported in Councillors’ Information Bulletin IB/1113.

The second decision, which was also taken on 10 January 2022, was to approve the Council’s Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund Discretionary Relief Guidelines and give delegated authority to designated senior officers to make relief awards within those guidelines.  This decision was protected from Call-In so the Council could start supporting its businesses as soon as possible. The decision was also reported in Councillors’ Information Bulletin IB/1113.

The third decision, which was taken on 8 February 2022, was to amend the Crawley Borough Council (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement and Consolidation) Order 2009.  This decision was protected from Call-In as the Kingsgate Car Park element of the Off Street Parking Order was time critical and urgent as the Car Park was not in use and as such had a negative impact on the Council’s revenue as no income can be collected. Once a decision was made to amend the Parking Order to include Kingsgate Car Park it can be opened which will ensure the best value for money for the taxpayer.  The decision was reported in Councillors’ Information Bulletin IB/1117.

RECOMMENDATION 6

The Full Council is requested to note the use of the Protection from Call-In provision by the Chief Executive in respect of the decisions taken by the Leader relating to the revised Additional Restrictions Discretionary Business Grant (ARG) Guidance and the Council’s Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund Discretionary Relief Guidelines which were both taken on 10 January 2022; and the Amendments to the Crawley Borough Council (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement and Consolidation) Order 2009 which was taken on 8 February 2022.

The Leader, Councillor Lamb introduced the item, which was set out on pages 2 and 3 of the agenda. Councillor Lamb had recently used the Urgent Action decision making powers set out in the Constitution, and had also protected decisions  from Call-In (in accordance with Call-In Procedure Rule 8).

The first decision, which was taken on 10 January 2022, was to approve the revised Additional Restrictions Discretionary Business Grant (ARG) Guidance to take into account the priority areas as a result of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus and give delegated authority to the Head of Economy and Planning and the Head of Corporate Finance to make grants within certain guidelines. This decision was protected from Call-In so the Council could start supporting its businesses as soon as possible.

The second decision, which was also taken on 10 January 2022, was to approve the Council’s Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund Discretionary Relief Guidelines and give delegated authority to designated senior officers to make relief awards within certain guidelines. This decision was protected from Call-In so the Council could start supporting its businesses as soon as possible.

The third decision, which was taken on 8 February 2022, was to amend the Crawley Borough Council (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement and Consolidation) Order 2009. This decision was protected from Call-In as the Kingsgate Car Park element of the Off-Street Parking Order was time critical and urgent as the Car Park was not in use and as such had a negative impact on the Council’s revenue as no income could be collected. Once a decision was made to amend the Parking Order to include Kingsgate Car Park it could be opened which ensured the best value for money for the taxpayer.

Councillor Lamb moved the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor P Smith.

RESOLVED

The Full Council notes the use of the Protection from Call-In provision by the Chief Executive in respect of the decisions taken by the Leader of the Council relating to the approval of the revised Additional Restrictions Discretionary Business Grant (ARG) Guidance, the approval of the Council’s Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund Discretionary Relief Guidelines and delegation and amending of the Crawley Borough Council (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement and Consolidation) Order 2009 in relation to Kingsgate Car Park which were taken on 10 January 2022 and 8 February 2022 respectively.

To consider report FIN/559 by the Head of Corporate Finance

Councillor Millar-Smith as Chair of the Audit Committee introduced report FIN/559 of the Head of Corporate Finance.  The current auditor appointment arrangements covered the period up to and including the audit of the 2022/23 accounts. The Council opted-in to the ‘appointing person’ national auditor appointment arrangements established by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the period covering the accounts for 2018/19 to 2022/23.

PSAA was currently undertaking a procurement for the next appointing period, covering audits for 2023/24 to 2027/28.  All local government bodies needed to make important decisions about their external audit arrangements from 2023/24 and there were options to arrange their own procurement and make the appointment themselves or in conjunction with other bodies, or they can join and take advantage of the national collective scheme administered by PSAA.  The report recommended to continue the status quo and accept the PSAA invitation to opt-in to the sector-led appointment to external auditors for five financial years from 1 April 2023.  The report was seconded by Councillor Ayling.

Councillor Crow also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves to continue the status quo and accept the Public Sector Audit Appointments’ (PSAA) invitation to opt-in to the sector-led appointment to external auditors for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

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

The Council considered the Notice of Motion 1 ‘Additional Discretionary Council Tax Discount’ as set out in the Full Council agenda. The Motion was moved and presented by Councillor Lamb and seconded and supported by Councillor P Smith.  It was acknowledged that the funding came from Central Government and the proposal would assist vulnerable working age residents.

During the debate Councillors Crow, Ali, Irvine, S Mullins, Khan, T Belben, Jones, P Smith all spoke in support of the Notice of Motion.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves an Additional Discretionary Council Tax Discount of up to £150.00 per household for working age Council tax reduction claimants.  This will reduce Council Tax bills by up to £150.00 for vulnerable working age residents.

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

The Council considered the Notice of Motion 2 – Donating the Mayoral Ball Budget to the Deputy Mayor's Charities as set out on page 69 of the Full Council agenda.

The Motion was moved and presented by Councillor Khan and doing so gave further explanation on the reasoning behind the Notice of Motion. Councillor Crow seconded the Motion and in doing so he asked that the Deputy Mayor provide the Full Council with some further information about the SEDS charity.

In response to the requested, Councillor Flack thanked Councillors for putting forward the Motion and stated that SEDS – the Sussex Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Disorders Support – was a local charity that was very close to her heart. SEDS provides vital support to its members in answering their queries and helping them to access support, whilst raising awareness of the condition to the public, which was particularly crucial given the often-invisible nature of it. The charity also effectively lobbies the local Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that medical professionals in the local area were educated and understand the condition. Councillor Flack also stated that as the vote was about her Deputy Mayoral Charities that she would be abstaining from the vote.

The Deputy Mayor then called for the vote on the Notice of Motion, which was carried by 31 votes in flavour, 0 against and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has unfortunately not been possible to host the usual fundraising functions for the Deputy Mayoral charities this year. The Mayor’s Ball and other civic events could not be held.

In order to ensure that these charities, The British Red Cross, and SEDS (Sussex Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Support Group), receive the recognition and support they deserve, Full Council resolves to make a donation of £5000 (divided equally between the charities) from the ceremonial budget. This amount had been allocated for the Mayor’s Ball along with other ceremonial and Civic events for the 2021/22 Council year.

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 had not been completed within the scheduled 2 hours 30 minutes a vote on continuation, and in line with Council Procedure Rule 8.3, was held. The Deputy 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 17, 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.

RESOLVED

That the following reportsbe received:

Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 10 January 2022

Planning Committee – 11 January 2022

Cabinet – 12 January 2022

Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 31 January 2022

Cabinet – 2 February 2022

Planning Committee – 8 February 2022

It was noted that there were no other items reserved for discussion.