Agenda

Delegated planning decisions for the week beginning 13 March 2023 are attached.  Contact for enquiries: Jean McPherson, Group Manager (Development Management) on jean.mcpherson@crawley.gov.uk.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for Ifield Wood, Rusper is attached.

Early in 2022, the Full Licensing Committee amended the Councils Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy to include the mandatory requirement for all licensed drivers (current and new) to complete an Essential Safeguarding Course via a Council nominated provider no later than 31st March 2023.

It has become apparent that at least 400 drivers have failed to complete this course and will not meet the deadline. Demand is now outstripping supply and an extension to the deadline until 30th September 2023 was therefore considered necessary. The primary purpose of the taxi licensing regime is public safety and failure to complete this may compromise this objective.

Therefore, on 17 March 2023, the Deputy Chief Executive (on behalf of the Head of Community Services whilst a vacancy for that post remained) took the decision to extend the timescale for completion of the Essential Safeguarding Course (Taxi Drivers) via a Council Nominated Provider no later than 30th September 2023.  The Chair (Councillor Irvine) and Vice Chair (Councillor Ali) of the Licensing Committee, as well as the Cabinet Member (Councillor Jhans) all gave their approval to the extension.

Pre-Election Period Guidance for Councillors and Officers for the Borough Elections in 2023 is attached.

In line with Paragraph 3.4 of the “Executive” Function (the Leader and the Cabinet) as set out in the Constitution, the Leader has decided to refresh the Cabinet Member portfolios and has created a new portfolio.  There will be a Cabinet Member for Public Protection dedicated to keeping our communities safe from crime, nuisance and anti-social behaviour, and to ensuring that our businesses and landlords meet regulatory standards and provide quality services.  This new role will be covered by the Leader until an appointment is made.

This change result in a new Cabinet Member portfolio, and amendments to several other portfolio titles and responsibilities.  The new Cabinet will consist of the following Cabinet Member Portfolios:

·        Leader of the Council.

·        Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Culture.

·        Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change.

·        Cabinet Member for Housing.

·        Cabinet Member for Leisure and Wellbeing.

·        Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development.

·        Cabinet Member for Public Protection.

·        Cabinet Member for Resources.

The amended responsibilities are attached and take immediate effect.  The Constitution and relevant pages of the Council’s website will be amended in due course.

At the last Overview and Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 6 March 2023 queries were asked regarding additional information on the number of CBC tenants who are under-occupying/registered to downsize.  A response to those queries is attached.

£778 million has been offered to 107 projects for Wave 2.1 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Match funding from Wave 2.1 applicants supplies an additional £1.1 billion.

Crawley Borough Council are pleased to announce they have been offered £6,800,000 of this government grant funding.  This will enable 408 worst energy efficient properties in Crawley to be retrofitted with loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation and replacement windows as part of a complete energy saving retrofit.

The 408 properties would as a minimum save £285 year on energy bills and 1.3 tons of carbon each per year and would be completed over the next two years as part of Crawley Councils plan towards achieving net zero target before 2040.

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