Agenda

Delegated planning decisions for the week beginning 25 September 2023 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.

·       Artel Croft, Three Bridges (Appendix A).

·       Old Brighton Road, Langley Green (Appendix B).

·       Hophurst Hill, Crawley Down (Appendix C).

·       Newton Road, Northgate (Appendix D).

West Sussex County Council is proposing to carry out road safety works at Ifield Roundabout, Crawley. The forthcoming works will include:

·       Replacement of life-expired road traffic signs

·       Vegetation clearance

·       Reduction of speed limit from 50mph to 30mph on Ifield Roundabout and both A23 Crawley Avenue approaches

The scheme is primarily intended to help reduce the number of recorded injury collisions by improving road users’ visibility and positively assist their decision making at the roundabout.

The works will be carried out from 2 October to 15 December. It is anticipated most will be undertaken Mondays to Fridays between 07.30 and 17.30hrs with temporary lane closures in place.

Answers to frequently asked questions are attached for information.  Please contact David Jukes (Senior Engineer, Improvements) at David.Jukes@westsussex.gov.uk if you have any further questions. Further information may also be found at one.network/uk/westsussex.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area. The CIL Regulations 2010 as amended, part 7 state that 15% of the total CIL contributions collected are to be allocated for spending in agreement with local communities – the Neighbourhood Improvement Strand (NIS).

In October 2017, Cabinet approved a crowdfunding model as the preferred option for the future governance of the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand (NIS).

Crawley Borough Council used monies collected through the Neighbourhood Improvement Strand to create the Neighbourhood Improvement fund. There was a requirement for match funding from the groups and the council would pledge up to 50 per cent of the total project costs, capped at £5,000. In March 2022, the match funding element was reduced to 25%.

In November 2022, Cabinet approved, subject to public consultation, the implementation of a new “hybrid” model, which retained £75,000 from the CIL NIS, to maintain the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund with an annual contribution of £25,000, from the CIL NIS, until March 2025.

The outcome of the 4-week public engagement exercise was that the Council only received one response from Crawley Community Action who expressed support for the amendments to the governance of the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand; no comments were received from any other organisations / individuals from the wider community.

Therefore, the following, agreed by Cabinet in November 2022 (PES420), has duly been implemented - Allocate £75,000 of CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand monies to the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund, until 31st March 2025.

Cabinet also agreed in November 2022 to delegate authority to the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, to implement any procedural modifications to the CIL Neighbourhood Improvement Strand, including in response to the public engagement exercise.

Neighbourhood Improvement Fund and amendment to eligibility criteria - Rationale:  Currently the criteria states that the Council will fund up to 75% of the total funding target for a neighbourhood improvement project, capped at £5,000. To be considered to receive a contribution from Crawley's Neighbourhood Improvement Fund, applicants therefore currently need to prove that they can fund at least 25% of the costs of their project using “match funding” from their own money or finances from third parties. The requirement to find match funding to finance at least 25% of project costs is a real barrier to community organisation applicants who find it difficult to access funding at the best of times economically. The current economic climate makes that challenge even more significant. The removal of the match funding requirement would also bring the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund in line with other Council funding schemes, and it should encourage more neighbourhood-based community organisations to apply.

On 27 September 2023 the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, therefore  ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Information is attached.

Further to the item which was published last week (IB/1201), please note that the period for submitting relevant representations to the Planning Inspectorate which commenced on Wednesday 20^th September, will now end at 11:59pm on Monday 6^th November 2023 rather than 4^th November previously notified.

The application documents can be found on the Rampion 2 page of the Planning Inspectorate’s website here Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm | National Infrastructure Planning (planninginspectorate.gov.uk).  Any party wishing to make representations (giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the Application) must register as an interested party and make their relevant representations on this webpage.

The following documents are attached in relation to the recent review of polling districts and polling places.

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