Agenda and minutes

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 following disclosures of interests were made:

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet held on 29 November 2017.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27 December 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To answer any questions asked by the public which are relevant to the functions of the Cabinet.

Public Question Time will be concluded by the Chair when all questions have been answered or on the expiry of a period of 15 minutes, whichever is the earlier.

The Cabinet received a question from Mr Charles Crane from Bewbush, in relation to the regeneration of the Town Hall scheme and enquired whether there was a risk that costs could potentially increase once demolition had commenced.  Furthermore, it was questioned whether an alternative proposal could include demolition prior to the redevelopment.   Councillor Skudder, as Cabinet Member for Resources advised that a contingency figure was in place to counter any probability of increasing costs however in the unlikely event this occurred, the costs were not envisaged to be significant.  The Leader, Councillor Lamb informed Mr Crane that the current proposal was for the demolition of the existing Town Hall in order to make part of the site available to build the new Town Hall and office building.

To consider any matters referred to the Cabinet (whether by a scrutiny committee or by the Council) and those for reconsideration in accordance with the provisions contained in the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Budget Procedure Rules and the Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution.

It was confirmed that no matters had been referred to the Cabinet for further consideration. The comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Commission had been circulated to all Cabinet Members.  Details of those comments are provided under the minute to which the comments refer.

Housing Portfolio

To consider report SHAPS/67 of the Head of Strategic Housing and Planning Services which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 8 January 2018.

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented report SHAPS/67 of the Head of Strategic Housing and Planning Services.  The report sought approval to adopt a more flexible approach which has been developed in partnership with West Sussex County Council and all the West Sussex Districts and Boroughs in using the Better Care Funding to enable people to live more independently in their own home.

The Cabinet noted the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments from its meeting on 8 January 2018 and then agreed the recommendations.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

1.     approve the Policy approach set out in Section 6.2 of report SHAPS/67.

2.     delegate authority to the Head of Strategic Housing & Planning Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing to make any further amendments to the Policy required in response to the cross-county project outcomes.

Reason for Decision

To continue to respond in the most effective way to the needs of people with disabilities in enabling them to remain living well and independently in their own homes and to make the most effective use of increased funding opportunities provided through the Better Care Fund for Crawley residents.

Planning and Economic Development Portfolio

To consider report PES/266 of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.

The Leader introduced report PES/266 of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services.  The report provided the background to the Manor Royal Business Improvement District (BID), the renewal process, financial and legal implications and recommended that the Cabinet support the continuation of the BID for a further 5 Year term.

It was noted that considerable publicity was available concerning the Manor Royal BID and Members took the opportunity to acknowledge the positive impact on various projects, most notably the significant improvement to the streetscene and environment within the Manor Royal area.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

1)     Agree the proposal from the Manor Royal BID to support the renewal of the BID (BID 2) for a further five year term.

2)     Delegate authority to the Leader of the Council to vote in accordance with the Cabinet decision in relation to the Ballot to renew the BID for its own rated properties in the area.

3)     Agree that the Chief Executive as Returning Officer and Ballot holder should hold a Ballot for the Manor Royal BID Renewal proposal.

4)     Agree that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to complete the necessary legal agreements required for the BID levy, operation together with any other necessary documents for the proposed BID renewal.

5)     Agree that the Council performs the role of billing authority for a further five years, collecting the BID levy on behalf of the Manor Royal BID, subject to the bid securing renewal.

Reason for Decision

i)     Since the original Manor Royal BID Ballot permitted a maximum five year BID period to 31 May 2018, a renewal Ballot is therefore required amongst Manor Royal levy payers to determine whether the majority wish for the Manor Royal BID to continue for a further five years.

ii)    The BID Regulations require the Council as “billing authority” to instruct the “Ballot Holder” to hold the renewal ballot.  The Ballot Holder is “the person the relevant billing authority has appointed under section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (a) as the Returning Officer for elections to that authority” – i.e. the Chief Executive. 

iii)  The Borough Council also needs to determine whether it wishes to undertake the role of billing authority, collecting the BID levy on behalf of the BID, subject to legal agreement.

Resources Portfolio

To consider report HPS/11 of the Head of Partnership Services.

The Cabinet Member for Resources presented report HPS/11 of the Head of Partnership Services.  The report sought approval for a shared service model to be implemented for four years from April 1^st 2018 with Crawley acting as the lead authority, providing services under an Inter-Authority Agreement on behalf of Horsham and Mid Sussex District Councils.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

1)     Approve that Crawley Borough Council become lead authority and provide procurement services on behalf of Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council from 1st April 2018.

2)     Agree to the cost sharing arrangements as set out in paragraph 6.3 of report HPS/11.

3)     Agree to the provision of procurement services under an Inter-Authority Agreement for a minimum period of four years commencing on 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2022.

4)     Agree to accept a delegation from Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council of their procurement functions under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972.

5)     Delegate authority to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to agree the terms of the Inter-Authority Agreement which reflects the principles outlined in the report.

Reason for Decision

The current joint working arrangement with Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex Council is due for renewal on 31st March 2018 and therefore there is a need to agree how procurement services will be provided in the future.

The Leader’s Portfolio

To consider report LDS/134 of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Leader presented report LDS/134 of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.  The report requested Cabinet to consider and authorise the Council to become a member of the Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise (iESE Ltd) a company limited by guarantee and to approve the nomination of a representative from the Council to act as Non-Executive Director of the company and/or a voting delegate at the Annual General Meeting of the company.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

1)     Agrees that Crawley Borough Council should become a member of the Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise (iESE) Limited.

2)     Delegates authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to approve and execute any documentation necessary to give effect to recommendation 2.1(1) in report LDS/134.

3)     To approve the appointment of the Leader of the Council as a Non-Executive Director of iESE and the Chief Executive be appointed as the Council’s Officer Representative to iESE Limited.

4)     Supports the commissioning of work for the Council by way of high level Customer Focus Wheel Assessment.

Reason for Decision

The Council has been invited to join iESE and like many other Local authorities who have joined the Company will benefit from the expertise provided by the organisation for service delivery improvements.