Decisions Made

It was proposed to increase the Lifeline charges by 10% for the financial year 2023/24. This is 5% above the Council wide price increase for fees and changes which has been agreed at 5%.

This price increase is in line with current inflation figures and would bring the cost of the lifeline unit and pendant to £4.40 per week (40p per week increase). This increase would continue to ensure the service is competitively priced against our main competitors.

All customers will be switched to a new Digital Lifeline in the next two years. This will involve capital expenditure of 120,000 pounds over the next two financial years. In order to make the project viable the aim is to reach a target fee for the Lifeline of £4.75 per week by 2025/2026.

Due to the current volatility of inflation rates we are unable to predict future inflation levels. However, it is recognised that inflation levels may reduce in subsequent years. This will mean the target income of £4.75 by 2025 2026 will easily achieved with lower % price increases in subsequent years.

This decision has been taken following full consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing who gave approval for this price increase following a briefing meeting on 7th December 2022.

On 6 July 2022 Cabinet considered report SHAPS/86 and approved the proposed strategy to dispose of the site at Telford Place for an all-affordable housing scheme, and authority was delegated to the Head of Strategic Housing Services, the Head of Crawley Homes, the Head of Corporate Finance, and the Head of Governance, People & Performance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Housing to complete all relevant legal documentation in order to enter into the necessary contracts to achieve the approved recommendations, which included the Council securing the Affordable Rent units within the proposed scheme.
Accordingly, an ‘Agreement for Sale’ and an ‘Agreement for Lease’ have been prepared and are now ready to be exchanged, with this notice serving to announce this intention.

The Agreement for Sale addresses the land sale to Platinum Skies Crawley Limited (PSCL) with Affordable Homes & Healthcare (AHH) as the parent company, where the land is restricted to affordable housing use only. The transaction will complete subject to certain conditions being satisfied, most notably upon achieving a successful planning application, which must be submitted within six months of exchanging contracts. The planning application is to be for a 100% affordable housing scheme, aiming at achieving 35% as affordable rent, 35% as shared-ownership, and 30% older-persons shared-ownership. The land price will be determined by the number of units approved by Planning, which is based on a formulae ranging between a minimum of 250 units and capped at 300 units.

The Agreement for Lease enables the Council to acquire the completed affordable rent units on a 999-year leasehold interest, where the purchase price will be finalised once Planning is approved, which is based on securing these rental units at cost using a formulae set out in the agreement, with deposit payments to be made at certain milestones. In the event that the purchase price exceeds the currently approved HRA budget, then the agreement will be conditional on the required budget uplift being approved by Council.

That the Head of Strategic Housing Services, the Head of Crawley Homes, the Head of Corporate Finance, and the Head of Governance, People & Performance (in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Housing) approve the ‘Agreement for Sale’ and the ‘Agreement for Lease’ ready for exchange. This Notice serves to announce this intention to exchange contracts.

This decision will achieve the resolutions agreed by Cabinet on 6 July 2022, which includes the Council securing the Affordable Rent units within the proposed scheme.

To install a new Artificial Cricket Wicket in Grattons Park to be used by RAMS Cricket Club.

Sussex Cricket have identified a £7,500 funding package to be used at Grattons Park to install a new artificial wicket and includes a 5-year maintenance package within this agreement. Sussex Cricket to procure and manage the works and have a contractor in place to carry out the installation in early 2023.

RAMS CC to initially enter in to a 3-year Temporary Licence permitting use for the playing of cricket by the licensee, designated hours between 12:30pm and 19:30pm on Saturdays; up to 18 games per year.

The council will benefit from a licence fee of £761.40 per annum. Additional fees and charges will apply for ad-hoc bookings up to maximum of 12 additional games and or training sessions per year.

At the end of the term agreement RAMS CC, as the licensee, is obligated to return the Property back to its original lawn condition or for the licence to be transferred to another club with agreement from the council.

The introduction of Cricket at Grattons Park will provide improved sporting facilities and increase provision of new pitches within the borough given the high levels of demand and current and future lack of capacity to meet these needs as recommended within our local Playing Pitch Strategy (2020)

To grant permission for Sussex Cricket to install a new artificial wicket at Grattons Park and to approve an initial 3-year temporary licence with RAMS CC.

This decision has been taken by the Head of Community Services, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Wellbeing.