Agenda

Delegated planning decisions for the week beginning 9 November 2020 are attached.  Contact for enquiries: Jean McPherson, Group Manager: Development Management on jean.mcpherson@crawley.gov.uk.

The following documents are attached in relation to Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders:

·       List of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders.

·       Crawley Southwestern Bypass (westbound), Broadfield (Appendix A).

·       London Road (southbound), Langley Green (Appendix B).

·       Pelham Drive, Broadfield (Appendix C).

Consideration report PES/365 of the Head of Economy and Planning is attached.

In line with the Special Urgency provisions set out in paragraph 16.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules within the Constitution, on 17 November 2020 Councillor Peter Lamb, as Leader of the Council, approved the following under delegated powers:

• The revised guidelines over the Business Grant Applications (Local Authority Additional Restrictions Discretionary Grants Fund) so that local business can apply for the further Discretionary Business Grant payments as soon as possible.

• That the use of the additional funding of £2,248,180 is available for Discretionary Business Grant payments to support Crawley local businesses, this is for the period up to 31^st March 2022.

• Delegated authority to the Head of Corporate Finance in consultation with the Head of Economy and Planning, or another senior Officer, the decisions on individual business grant payments, subject to successful due diligence checks, application assessment and fraud checks.

Special Urgency was used for this decision as it had been impracticable to publish a Forthcoming Decision Notice for the 28 clear days period and to publish the report for five clear working days.  The Chair of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission has agreed the use of the Special Urgency.

Protected from Call-In – In line with Call-In Procedure Rule 8 the Chief Executive has protected these decisions from Call-In due to their urgent nature.  This is so the Council can start supporting its businesses as soon as possible.

The Transformation Plan re-launched in 2017 incorporated seven key themes and activities to deliver against the corporate priorities. This plan was refreshed in November 2019 to cover the period from 2019-2022. Such has been the progress made against the Plan, and such has been the impact of Covid-19 both on community needs and Council finances, it was decided to refresh the Transformation Plan for the period 2020-22.

The Transformation Board has undertaken a review of the previous Plan and drafted a new Plan. This has been shared with Cabinet and the Overview & Scrutiny Commission for comment.

On 3 November 2020 the Deputy Chief Executive approved the Transformation Plan 2020-22.  The approved Plan is attached.

Following Cabinet’s consideration of report HCS/02 on 4 October 2017 it was agreed that changes to the Burial Ground Regulations would be amended under delegated powers (and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability) as and when required.

The Council has been requested to consider allowing pre-purchase of exclusive right of burial to enable residents to know they will be buried in a particular grave space (or a particular graveyard if it is not possible to allocate a specific space at the point of pre purchase).

Therefore on 4 November 2020, the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability has agreed that the Council permit pre-purchase of grave spaces, albeit with the restrictions noted below, to ensure continuity of supply to respond to on-going demand from Crawley residents, and that the following amendment to the Council’s Burial Ground Regulations be made.

1.      To permit pre-purchase of grave spaces at Snell Hatch Cemetery and Little Trees Cemetery, with the following conditions applied.

a)     Pre-purchase of grave spaces be limited to residents only but with discretion considered for those that have a strong affiliation with Crawley (eg, where the deceased lived a large proportion of their life in Crawley but were living elsewhere immediately prior to their death)

b)     Pre-purchase of grave spaces will be permissible providing there remains at least a three year supply of available grave spaces (based upon the take up of spaces over the previous three years).

c)     Pre-purchase will normally be on the basis of purchasing the exclusive right of burial for the next available sequential space at the time of purchase. However, should the layout of grave spaces restrict access to facilitate the subsequent digging of the grave, pre-purchase will be offered on the basis of the next available space when the individual dies and will therefore be the right to be buried in the named cemetery rather than in a specific plot.

d)     Pre-purchase of the exclusive right of burial to be for a 50 year term from the date of purchase with the option available to purchase a further 50 years at the end of the initial term.

e)     Pre-purchase will be limited to individuals for personal use with the ability to make provision for transfer to an immediate family member upon their death.

2.      Within the context of the above conditions, the specific wording of the amendment to the burial ground regulations to be delegated to the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services.

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