Agenda and decisions

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

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet held on 12 March 2025.

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.

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.

Housing Portfolio

To consider report CH/215 of the Head of Crawley Homes, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 22 April 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)                approves for adoption and subsequent publication the Crawley Homes Maintenance and Repair Policy (Appendix A of report CH/215)

b)                delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make amendments to these policies as further changes to legislation and statutory guidance are introduced or following a subsequent review. 

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

To ensure that Crawley Homes complies with legislation relating to the management of residential accommodation.

To fulfil regulatory requirements, including the provision of direct information to tenants, ensuring transparency and accountability.

To aid staff in making consistent decisions

To support the Crawley Homes 30-year business plan.

To become custom and practice

To ensure that Crawley Homes staff and representatives operate within and understand their responsibilities under the law.

Housing Portfolio

To consider report CH/220 of the Head of Crawley Homes, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 22 April 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)                approves the adoption and subsequent publication of Crawley Homes Resident Engagement Strategy (Appendix A of report CH/220).

b)                delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make amendments to these policies as further changes to legislation and statutory guidance are introduced or following a subsequent review. 

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

To ensure that Crawley Homes complies with the Consumer Standards, published April 2024.  In particular to comply with the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard, whereby providers must provide opportunities to shape the delivery of services.

To formally represent our longstanding commitment to engagement and set out future intentions, thereby developing a relationship of trust between Crawley Homes and its residents.

Housing Portfolio

To consider report CH/221 of the Head of Crawley Homes, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission of 22 April 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)           approves the adoption and subsequent publication of Crawley Homes Hate Incident and Crime policy (Appendix A of report CH/221).

b)           delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make amendments to these polices as further changes to legislation and statutory guidance are introduced or following a subsequent review.

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

To ensure the Council sets out its approach to responding to reports of Hate incidents and crimes.

To fulfil regulatory requirements, including the provision of direct information to tenants, ensuring transparency and accountability.

To provide consistency for staff in making decisions and responding to reports.

To ensure that Crawley Homes staff and representatives operate within and understand their responsibilities under the law.

Housing Portfolio

To consider report CH/217 of the Head of Crawley Homes, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 22 April 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)                approves the adoption and subsequent publication of Crawley Homes Damp and Mould policy (Appendix A of report CH/217)

b)                delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make amendments to this policy as further changes to legislation and statutory guidance are introduced or following a subsequent review. 

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

To ensure that Crawley Homes is compliant with all significant safety legislation relating to the management of residential accommodation.

To fulfil regulatory requirements, including the provision of direct information to tenants, ensuring transparency and accountability.

To ensure that Crawley Homes staff and representatives operate within and understand their responsibilities under the law.

Housing Portfolio

To consider report CH/218 of the Head of Crawley Homes, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 22 April 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)                approves the adoption and subsequent publication of Crawley Homes Asbestos Management Policy, and Crawley Homes Water Safety Policy (Appendices A and B of report CH/218) respectively.

b)                delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make amendments to these policies as further changes to legislation and statutory guidance are introduced or following a subsequent review. 

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

To ensure that Crawley Homes is compliant with all significant safety legislation relating to the management of residential accommodation.

To fulfil regulatory requirements, including the provision of direct information to tenants, ensuring transparency and accountability.

To ensure that Crawley Homes staff and representatives operate within and understand their responsibilities under the law.

Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change Portfolio

To consider report HCS/091 of the Head of Community Services, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 22 April 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)                approves the Off-Street Parking Strategy as set outlined Appendix A of report HCS/091.

b)                delegates authority to Head of Community Services in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member to review and make minor amendments to the strategy as further changes to the legislation and /or statutory guidance are introduced or following any other review.

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation). 

Reasons for the Recommendations

The Off-Street Parking Strategy sets out a coherent framework for the Council to manage its off-street parking assets effectively, fairly, and transparently. It enables clear decision-making about pricing, investment, enforcement, and digital transformation, ensuring that Crawley’s parking provision keeps pace with changing user behaviour and technological innovation.

In declaring a Climate and Nature Emergency in 2024, the Council committed to reducing carbon emissions and supporting modal shift. This strategy identifies how parking provision can both respond to the needs of motorists and actively support the transition to more sustainable transport modes, including walking, cycling, and public transport.

Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change Portfolio

To consider report HCS/092 of the Head of Community Services, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 22 April 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)                agrees the off-street parking sites (K2 Crawley, The Hawth Theatre, Goffs Park Lower) that will be subject to public consultation under the Traffic Management Act 2004 as set out in Appendix A of report HCS/092.

b)                delegates authority to the Head of Community Services to undertake public consultation for the agreed off street car parking sites.

c)                agrees that the results of the public consultation of the off street sites be bought back to Cabinet for further consideration in June 2025.

d)                delegates authority to the Head of Community Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member to issue a notification of variation to charges for Orchard Street Multi-Storey Car Park. 

Reasons for the Recommendations

Following a review of off-street parking sites where issues such as road safety, congestion, capacity constraints or locations incurring regular revenue costs associated with maintenance or operations, a detailed financial and operational analysis was undertaken for three key sites considered to viable to introduce parking charges and wider parking controls.

Where the site is both operationally and socio-economically viable, it is recommended that the Council undertakes statutory consultation under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

This approach ensures that any introduction of parking charges is proportionate, evidence-led, and underpinned by a clear rationale. It also reflects the wider need for sites to be self-sustaining, and where appropriate, capable of generating a modest surplus that can support maintenance, reinvestment, and the financial resilience of the Council’s parking estate.

Orchard Street Multi-Storey Car Park is the Council’s largest Multi-Storey Car Park and is substantially underutilised. Following the successful trial of ‘volume over value’ at Kingsgate Car Park, reducing the parking tariffs at the site, and introducing new ‘Town Centre Worker’ permits alongside the existing Residential and Business Permits scheme seeks to drive up occupancy of the site, and increase overall revenue to the site.