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 Extraordinary Full Council held on 12 July 2024.

The minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 12 July 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 17 July 2024.

The minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 17 July 2024 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 then provided the Full Council with a brief update on the Mayoral events attended since the last meeting which included attending the Rotary Club Investiture Ceremony, the 100^th birthday celebration at Deerswood Lodge Care Home and witnessing an unforgettable charity football match hosted by the Russell Martin Foundation.  After a nine year absence, Queens Square in Crawley once again hosted the Mela performance. It was an honour to open the event.

The Leader of the Council, followed by Cabinet Members Councillors Y Khan and Irvine, 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 1.2-D.  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 asked at the meeting. The Full Council noted the written question submitted in advance of the meeting along with the response which was include with the Supplementary Agenda – Order Paper.

The Full Council considered report FIN/658 of the Head of Corporate Finance on the Quarter 4 Budget Monitoring. The Leader of the Council presented the report which set out a summary of the Council’s outturn for the year for both revenue and capital spending for the financial year 2023/24. It identified the main variations from the approved spending levels and any potential impact on future budgets.

The recommendation was seconded and supported by Councillor Nawaz.

Councillor Crow also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council:

a)             agrees to the transfers of reserves and level of balances as outlined in Section 10 of report FIN/658.

b)             approves the addition to the Capital Programme of £1.1m funded from the Better Care Fund. (para 9.3 of report FIN/658).

c)             approves the addition to the Capital Programme of £60k for Three Bridges Station funded from S106 monies received (para 9.6 of report FIN/658).

The Full Council considered report FIN/659 of the Head of Corporate Finance. The Leader of the Council presented the report, provided details of the outturn position for treasury activities and highlighted compliance with the Council’s policies previously approved by the Full Council. The CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management recommends that Councillors be updated on treasury management activities regularly and the report ensured the Council was implementing best practice in accordance with the Code.

The recommendation was seconded and supported by Councillor Nawaz.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves of the increase in the 2024/25 Operational Boundary and Authorised Limits contained within section 5.4 of report FIN/659.

Full Council considered report FIN/660 of the Head of Corporate Finance. The Leader of the Council presented the report which sought approval to changes to the Council’s Contract Standing Orders (CSOs) and Procurement Code to reflect the Procurement Act 2023.

The recommendations were seconded and supported by Councillor Nawaz.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves the revised Procurement Code attached as Appendix A to report FIN/660.

The Mayor informed the Full Council that it was the intention to hold the discussion on recommendation 4 – Temporary Accommodation Acquisitions Programme in open public session (Part A), noting that the report SHAP/090 of the Head of Strategic Housing was an exempt (Part B) report.

The Full Council considered report SHAP/090 of the Head of Strategic Housing. The Leader of the Council introduced the report which sought approval for the expansion of the temporary accommodation acquisitions programme and to accept the allocation of grant funding from the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) along with the Full Council’s approval for the required budget to support the opportunity acquisitions necessary to achieve the objectives of the programme.

The recommendations were seconded and supported by Councillor Irvine.

Councillor Crow, spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves the uplift to the Temporary Accommodation Acquisitions Budget as detailed in section 5.8 of report SHAP/090, for the purposes of securing additional temporary accommodation aimed primarily at reducing the financial burden of using expensive nightly-paid accommodation and to enable the LAHF funding allocation to be utilised.

The Full Council considered report  PES/459 of the Head of Economy and Planning. The Leader of the Council welcomed this report to the Full Council. The report sought to recommend to the Full Council that it approve the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2023-2040 for its adoption, in accordance with the recommendations, subject to the Main Modifications necessary for soundness set out in the Inspectors’ Final Report. The draft Local Plan before them had been found to be sound and legally compliant by the Independent Planning Inspectors subject to some minor technical modifications. The process started in 2018 and has had 5 separate consultation periods and endorsement by the Full Council on 3 different occasions, and the Plan had navigated a unique set of circumstance including water neutrality and would now assist in providing protection against unwelcomed development. The Planning Team were commended for the work throughout the process and on the compilation of the Local Plan.

Councillor Jones moved the recommendation which was seconded and fully supported by Councillor Nawaz.

Councillors Lanzer, Pritchard, Jaggard, Lunnon and Nawaz also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council be recommended to adopt and publish the submitted Crawley  Borough Local Plan 2023-2040 (May 2023) and Local Plan Map, amended to include all the Main Modifications recommended by the Planning Inspectors to make the Plan ‘sound’, together with other consequential and minor amendments as additional modifications, in accordance with Regulation 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulation 2012 and Section 23(2) and (3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by s112(3) of the Localism Act 2011), as set out in report PES/459.

The Mayor informed the Full Council that it was the intention to hold the discussion on recommendation 6 – Tilgate Youth Centre Redevelopment in open public session (Part A), noting that the report CH/209 of the Head of Crawley Homes was an exempt (Part B) report.

The Full Council considered report CH/209 of the Head of Crawley Homes. The Leader of the Council presented the report to the Full Council which sought approval of a scheme budget for the site's redevelopment, and authority to enter into a contract for the construction of 6no. dwellings. He also highlighted a proposed technical revision to recommendation 2.2c as detailed in report CH/209a of the Head of Crawley Homes.

Councillor Jones moved the recommendation which was seconded and supported by

Councillor Irvine.

Councillors Crow, Lanzer, Hilton and Jaggard also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves the proposed scheme’s budget - stated under sections 6.7 and 6.12 within report CH/209, which includes approving the appropriation of land from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account at a value of £175,000 (as identified in 7.5 of report CH/209) - for the delivery of six affordable residential units (flats) at the Tilgate Youth Centre site, Shackleton Road.

The Mayor informed the Full Council that it was the intention to hold the discussion on recommendation 7 – Housing Acquisitions and Future Delivery in open public session (Part A), noting that the report CH/210 of the Head of Crawley Homes was an exempt (Part B) report.

The Full Council considered report CH/210 of the Head of Crawley Homes.The Leader of the Council introduced the report which sought approval for the acquisitions of properties available in the market aimed at addressing specific housing needs, and sought the Full Council’s approval to authorise an uplift in the Crawley Homes Acquisitions Budget in order to support this objective. It was noted that one of the objectives for pursuing these market acquisitions was to maximise the funding allocation awarded to Crawley Borough Council by the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF), and to satisfy the requirements of this LAHF allocation in the most effective way.

The recommendations were seconded and supported by Councillor Irvine.

Councillor Crow, spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves the uplift to the Crawley Homes Acquisitions Budget from available funding sources as detailed in sections 5.9 (use of S106 monies) and 5.10 (10% contingency) and 5.11 (summary of budget requirement) of report CH/210, for the purposes of securing additional affordable housing in order to satisfy the housing requirements that meets the objectives of the LAHF funding allocation.

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

The Full Council considered the Notice of Motion – Changes To The Winter Fuel Allowance and Protecting Pensioners From Fuel Poverty – as set out on page 97 of the agenda.

The Motion was moved and presented by Councillor Crow who, in doing so, gave further explanation of the reasoning behind the Motion, and moved and accepted his own amendment to the Motion (as set out on page 17 of the Order Paper) to become the substantive Notice of Motion. He noted the reason for his own amendment was to ensure a full debate could occur on his Notice of Motion – Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and Protecting Pensioners from Fuel Poverty. The elements removed from the original Motion were similar and mirrored elements within the second Notice of Motion of the agenda, and he did not want to cause any duplication or affect the discussion of the changes to the winter fuel allowance.

The substantive Notice of Motion was seconded and supported by Councillor Burgess.

Councillors Lanzer, Jones, Jaggard, Lunnon, and Pritchard all spoke during the debate.

Councillor Crow used his right to reply and, in doing so, requested a recorded vote on the debate.

Following the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor invited the Democracy and Data Manager to commence the recorded voting process.

Forthe Substantive Notice of Motion:Councillors Belben, Bidwell, Burke, Burgess, Crow, Hellier, I Khan, Jaggard, Lanzer and Ramsay. (10)

Against the Substantive Notice of Motion: Councillors Adeniyi, Ashraf, Ayling, Barrott, Charatan, Hart, Hilton, Irvine, Jones, K Khan, Y Khan, Lunnon, C Mullins, Nawaz, Noyce, Patel, Pritchard, Rana, Russell, Sivarajah and Yianni. (21)

Abstentions:None (0)

RESOLVED

The Mayordeclared thatthe proposed Notice of Motion - Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and Protecting Pensioners from Fuel Poverty hadfallen –votes infavour 10, and votes against 21 with 0 abstentions.

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 Chris Mullins

The Full Council considered the Notice of Motion – Promotion of Pension Credits – as set out on page 99 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 C Mullins.

Councillor Ramsay moved and presented the Amendment to the Notion of Motion (as shown in the Supplementary Agenda from page 21). The amendment was seconded by Councillor I Khan.

Councillors Jaggard, Pritchard, Lanzer and Crow then spoke on the item.

The Mayor called for a vote on the proposed amendment in respect of Notice of Motion – Promotion of Pension Credits, which fell by 10 votes in favour, 21 against and 0 abstentions.

The Mayor then called for a vote on the proposed Notice of Motion – Promotion of Pension Credits, which was carried by 21 votes in favour, 0 against and 10 abstentions.

RESOLVED

This Council notes the pressures on the nation’s finances caused by the £22 billion black hole created by the previous Conservative Government and the difficult choices this has created, including restricting those pensioners eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance to those in receipt of pension credits.

This Council further notes that official figures from the ONS estimate that there are approximately 1,500 eligible households who are not currently claiming the pension credit in Crawley Borough.

The Council recognises the efforts already being undertaken by Crawley Borough Council officers to spread awareness, including the successful 'Money Worries' page on the council's website containing a 'Help for Pensioners' section specifically addressing Pension Credit take up, the Winter Warmer Event at K2 on Thursday 17 October between 11am and 3.30pm where staff will be on hand to help submit an application, and regular drop ins at the Town Hall doing likewise.

Whilst much is being done, we are keen to go even further. 

Therefore, this Council calls on our officers to use any other effective measures, including:

a)        working with other partners such as Citizens Advice, and voluntary and community groups within the Borough, to assist with applications and to maximise the number of eligible pensioners in Crawley taking up their entitlement to Pension credits,

b)        increase publicity on this issue including through the winter edition of Crawley Live,

c)        investigating if a targeted campaign would be feasible based on previous successful take up efforts for other methods of assistance, and

d)        helping signpost any pensioners on low incomes to other sources of help that may be available, such as the Household Support Fund, to mitigate any shortfall.

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 Full 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 Full 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 27, 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 Hart (as the Deputy Mayor):

RESOLVED

That the following reportsbe received:

·             Audit Committee – 9 July 2024

·             Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 23 July 2024

·             Cabinet – 24 July 2024

·             Licensing Committee – 5 August 2024

·             Planning Committee – 27 August 2024

·             Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 2 September 2024

·             Audit Committee – 3 September 2024

·             Cabinet – 4 September 2024

·             Governance Committee – 9 September 2024

·             Overview and Scrutiny Commission – 30 September 2024

·             Planning Committee – 1 October 2024

·             Cabinet – 2 October 2024

Councillor Lanzer explained his rationale for bring forward this item for debate. He highlighted a number of aspects from within the Quarter 1 Budget Monitoring report, including expressing concerns over the projected overspend of £575k due to the ratable values of the empty floor of the Town Hall, partly as a result of the levels of rental income achieved on the filled floors and how that the Commission’s comments to the Cabinet did not address the overspend, even though it had been discussed. He also commented that within the report, but hidden, was the fact that in the 2023-24 Outturn Report, it failed to include, within the Mayor Repair Reserve section, the loan to the Public Works Loan Broad of £12mil. 

Councillor Jones, as the Cabinet Member with responsibility for finance responded, commenting that the Council was currently in the process of appealing the level set for the ratable value for the empty floors and he would not comment on the levels of rents of our tenants in a public meeting, but would happily meet Councillor Lanzer and the Head of Corporate Finance to go through the matter outside of the meeting. On the error, it was simply due to a missing line in the Outturn report considered by Councillors, the loan had been included correctly within the Council’s ledger and in the Statement for Accounts.