Delegated planning decisions for the week beginning 5 September 2022 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.

·        Balcombe Road, Pound Hill/Maidenbower (Appendix A).

·        Winfield Way, Broadfield (Appendix B).

·        Wye Close, Broadfield (Appendix C).

Please note the following changes and cancellations to Committee dates:

·       Governance Committee: the meeting scheduled for Monday 19 September has been rescheduled to take place on 10 October 2022 at 7pm.  This change was made following the sad passing of Her Majesty the Queen.

·       Employment Panel: the meeting scheduled to take place on 22 September 2022 has been cancelled.

·       Audit Committee: the meeting scheduled for 27 September 2022 has been cancelled.

These decisions were taken in consultation with the relevant Committee Chairs.

The current lease for Atlantic House expires within 18 months.  On 7 September 2022, the Chief Executive took the decision to simultaneously grant a new lease to a new occupier following the surrender of the existing lease by the current occupier.  The transaction is at no financial loss to the Council as the surrender premium covers any rent-free period. 

This decision was taken in consultation with the Leader and the Head of Corporate Finance.  Further information on the details of the transaction are available from the Council's Asset Manager.

On 14 September 2022, CouncillorJones, as Leader of theCouncil (and inconsultation with theChief Executiveand the Head of CorporateFinance), took thedecision to approve the Council’s Revised Energy Rebate Discretionary Guidelines and give delegated authority to designated senior officers to make relief awards within these guidelines.

The Council has been allocated £201,750 of grant funding from a £144m discretionary fund from the Government ‘to provide support to other energy bill payers who are not eligible under the terms of the core band A – D energy rebate scheme'.

Crawley Borough Council has worked with all other West Sussex Districts and Boroughs to agree a joint scheme.  A scheme was approved in March 2022, however, there has been low take up across the County for this joint scheme, therefore the scheme has been amended to allow a top-up for those on Council Tax Reduction.

So that an online application process can become live to enable the Council to start supporting eligible residents as soon as possible this decision has been taken using the Special Urgency Procedures set out in the Constitution and has also been Protected from Call-In by the Chief Executive.

The report (Consideration Report FIN/590 of the Head of Corporate Finance) on which this decision was taken is attached.

Following an internal audit review of Financial Resilience, the Head of Governance, People & Performance has agreed to amend paragraph B.7 of the Financial and Budget Procedure Rules (contained within the Council’s Constitution) so it now reads (new wording shown in red): “The Head of Corporate Finance will seek views on the revenue and capital proposals via the Budget Advisory Group or through a Member Seminar and the Overview and Scrutiny Commission.”

This change will come into immediate effect and the Constitution will be updated to reflect this change when it is next published.

Information on the Warmer Homes Programme is attached.

Staff changes for August 2022 are attached for Councillors only.

Press releases are available at www.crawley.gov.uk/news