Brighton & Hove City Council

 

Policy & Resources Committee

 

4.00pm9 February 2023

 

Hove Town Hall - Council Chamber

 

Minutes

 

Present: Councillor Mac Cafferty (Chair) Druitt (Joint Deputy Chair), Gibson (Joint Deputy Chair), Allcock (Joint Opposition Spokesperson), Appich (Joint Opposition Spokesperson), Bell (Group Spokesperson), Allbrooke, Evans, McNair and Yates

 

Also present: Dr Anusree Biswas Sasidharan, Standing Invitee

 

Part One

 

 

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115       Procedural Business

 

(a)          Declarations of Substitutes

 

115.1  There were no substitutes.

 

(b)          Declarations of Interest

 

115.2    Cllr Druitt declared that he was the Managing Director of the Big Lemon bus company and Brighton & Hove Community Transport both of which have contracts with the City Council which were included in the budget papers and had been given dispensation to speak and vote on Item 122.

 

115.3    Cllr Allcock declared that his partner was an allotment tenant and had been given dispensation to vote on speak on Item 127a.

 

115.4    Cllr Gibson declared that his partner was an allotment tenant and had been given dispensation to vote on speak on Item 127a.

 

(c)          Exclusion of Press and Public

 

115.5    The Committee considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of any of the items listed on the agenda.

 

115.6    RESOLVED: That there were no Part Two items on the agenda and so the press and public would not be excluded from the meeting.

 

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116       Minutes

 

116.1  The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

 

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117       Chair's Communications

 

117.1 The Chair gave the following communication:

 

As all here will know, we have recently published our proposal for the city council budget for the upcoming financial year.

This week at the Greater Brighton Economic Board, we heard from the Institute for Employment Studies, who I asked to commission a report on the impact of the cost of living on business across the sub region.

We were reminded of the dire consequences of the rising cost of essentials such as energy and food, which have put a huge squeeze on household and businesses finances. The erosion in household disposable income is the most significant witnessed in a generation.

Our budget comes with a firm warning of the impacts of compounding crises - the cost-of-living crisis, increasing demand on services, inflation and austerity. In particular, the thirteen-year government obsession with slashing, trashing and privatising public services is having a catastrophic impact that we as a city are left picking up in our budget decisions this year.

Here in Brighton & Hove, we’ve taken successful steps to insulate the city from the worst effects of the economic crisis. And yet so many are struggling; with future economic prospects looking bleak, that insulation is wearing thin. Hardship funds are oversubscribed, foodbanks have seen donations drop by over two-thirds and they tell us those previously donating are now looking for help.

It is in these circumstances that the city council has been tasked with setting the annual budget. From the cost-of-living crisis, inflation, war in Ukraine, Brexit, and thirteen years of government cuts to local councils — totalling more than £110 million since 2010 — this budget has only ever presented us with a no-win scenario. In a council that provides hundreds of services every day with over 9000 staff, costing £2.3 million per day, we were faced with finding £20 million savings. Working to find innovative savings and updated projections, we have reduced these necessary savings to £14 million, it is still £14 million too much.

Our priority has been to shield the most marginalised communities from the worst effects of the hand we’ve been dealt. Delivering that was always going to be a challenge. To do so required being upfront about the problem. We are not just blocked in putting forward what we want; we are being forced to take steps that we actively oppose. There’s a reason we’ve described this budget as rigged; the government have implanted such significant cuts into it, that we’re forced and unable to save every service we want to.

Since the first draft was published in December, our team has met with countless residents, employees, and stakeholders to hear feedback and ideas on how to navigate this no-win scenario. Contributions from across the city highlighted the most urgent needs and guided the difficult decisions that have had to be made.

We have worked tirelessly alongside council officers, to produce what we are confident is the best possible budget on behalf of all residents. 

I am pleased to say there is hope to be found even in this crisis. From work to develop our region’s leadership in hydrogen and engineering, to a summit on the cost-of-living crisis, we are finding innovative solutions and uniting people behind them.

In this bugdet, vital public services will continue to be funded. From nurseries to adult care facilities, to grants to help maintain people in their homes, services for the most vulnerable have been protected wherever we can. We are building new affordable housing, becoming the biggest provider of affordable rented housing in the city, and providing over 200 additional council homes over 2023-24. There will be investment in public toilets with a business plan to safeguard their future. Our plans will open as many as possible in Spring while reviewing closed sites. Tree planting will be maintained and parks are staying open, with improvements to children’s play areas. We’ve worked to minimise the total amount of job losses and we’ll actively work with our valued trade unions to, as far as possible, remove compulsory redundancies. Councillors’ allowances are being frozen, and both the Mayor’s office and Council Senior Management are having to make significant savings.

Nonetheless, the reality of this budget is grim. There are reductions in service, both now and in the future, and I call on the city to prepare for tough days ahead.  While we are confident that this is the best possible budget in these conditions, we want to be upfront that this is not good news for many. 

We need to be clear and united in who is responsible. Whilst ministers have cynically shifted the blame to local councils, it is unavoidable that the primary burden of the financial situation driving this budget is being placed on us by the Government. This council must be both united and consistent in lobbying government with the loudest voices for the funding we know Brighton & Hove needs and deserves.

We must also be united in navigating this situation to the best of our combined abilities. Now is not the time for partisan jockeying – not when there are lives and livelihoods on the line. I call on every councillor on Brighton and Hove City Council to join with us making decisions based on what is best for our residents, local businesses, council staff and visitors. Work with us, and help the city stay united in this turbulent time.

 

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118       Call Over

 

118.1  The following items were reserved for discussion:

 

Item 122 – General Fund Revenue Budget, Capital & Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24.

 

Item 123 – Targeted Budget Management 2022/23 Month 9

 

Item 124 – Housing Revenue Account Budget & Capital Investment Programme 2023/24 and Medium Term Financial Strategy

 

Item 127 – City Development and Regeneration Building Regulation Application Fees.

 

Item 127a – Fees and Charges 2023/24

 

The following items were agreed without discussion:

 

Item 125 – Review of Council Pay Structures

 

Item 126 – Adult Social Care Charging Policy 2023/24

 

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119       Public Involvement

 

(a)          Petitions

 

119.1  The Chair noted that there were two Petitions, and a Deputation which had been referred from the last meeting of Full Council, which all related to the potential closure of public toilets. He therefore advised that he would take all three items together and provide one response.

 

119.2  Mr Penwarden presented the following petition which had been signed by 5,223 people:

 

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council urge the Council to reconsider their proposals to close toilets across public parks in Brighton and Hove.

The impact of this decision on the use of our public parks and open spaces has not been taken into consideration. For example, in Preston Park alone in 2022, over 26,000 people took part in a parkrun, and these people will no longer have access to public toilets. Many of these people will be visitors to the City, who often then spend the day in Brighton. The proposal also identifies 14 disabled toilet facilities for closure across the City. This will have a very negative impact on disabled people. The Council needs to put any decisions on the closure of public toilets on hold until the public has been properly consulted, and a full impact assessment has been undertaken.

119.3  Ms Claxton presented the following petition which had been signed by 8,400 people:

 

Brighton Council are proposing the closure of at least 15 public toilets, including disabled ones from 1st April. These include ones in many popular parks such as Stanmer, Wild Park, Preston Park and many along the seafront including Ovingdean, Rottingdean, Black Rock, King Alfred. 


This simply can not happen, not only does this affect the general users going for a walk or using the area, but sporting events, such as parkruns and many community, educational and other groups that use these open spaces. Many events simply will not be able to take place without these toilets.
It will also do nothing to help the cleanliness of the city which will become increasingly unpleasant in the height of summer with all the visitors to the city. These important public health facilities should be being increased in number, not decreased.

 

119.4 The Chair’s response to these petitions is set out in paragraph 120.3

 

119.5  RESOLVED: That the Petitions be noted.

 

(b)          Written Questions

 

119.6  Ms A Cook asked the following question:

 

Why is the Youth Arts Award thought eligible for a budget cut when it is the last hope of a 16+ education for the city’s children who, like my daughter, have had their educations wrecked by Covid-19 restrictions?

 

My daughter couldn’t cope with loosing real contact with friends and teachers through school life and having all her plans, hopes and dreams cancelled in 2020. It made her seriously ill. 

 

We’ve all suffered, but taking away the last hope of getting an A Level from children like this is abhorrent. Arts Award is a glint of hope on a dark horizon for many.

 

The Chair gave the following response:

 

I’d like to say from the outset that making very tough financial decisions, especially when it comes to children’s services is never easy nor wanted. I’m also acutely aware that such difficult decisions will impact on some children and their families in the city. 

 

These decisions are never taken lightly or without every possible alternative being explored and taken into consideration.  The council’s finances are under extreme pressure as we try to maintain vital services for all our 300,000 residents.  But with a budget overspend of £11 million this year and an expected shortfall of £21 million  next year, there is no alternative but to reduce some of the 700 services we provide every day. This is on top of central government cuts over the last 10 years that have seen our annual funding reduced in real terms by more than £100 million.  Add this to escalating inflation, the cost-of-living crisis and rising demand for statutory council services, the council simply doesn’t have the resources to do everything it currently does going forward.   Given our dire financial situation, every part of the council has been told to look at their service areas and identify potential savings.  No one working at the council wants to reduce any services but sadly there is no choice.  

 

When considering potential savings we had to consider all services, which includes the Arts Award Project. We recognise the value in the service but have had to propose the saving given the challenging financial context.  

 

We have had to consider alternative ways of delivering services to children and families, including transforming services. Part of this transformation is developing Family Hubs within the city, therefore we will use the new family hubs teams to work with young people that are impacted by the closure of this service (if this is the decision) and work with them to understand their needs.  

 

This is a draft proposal and councillors will make a decision when the council sets its budget in February 2023.   

 

I hope this addresses your concerns about what I appreciate is a very difficult proposal.  

 

(c)          Deputations

 

119.7  There were no Deputations

 

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120       Items Referred from Council

 

120.1  A Deputation presented at Full Council held on 2 February 2023 was referred to this meeting. The Deputation was initially referred to the next meeting of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee but it was felt that this meeting would be more appropriate.

 

120.2  The following Deputation on Public Toilets had been presented to Full Council by Ms A Fletcher:

 

            Public Toilets

 

With regard to the proposed public toilet closures, while many individuals – and in some cases businesses – across the city would be detrimentally affected, we believe that for one particular group these proposals are actually discriminatory and if implemented will be highly prejudicial to their wellbeing. There may be no statutory duty to provide such facilities, as the council repeatedly states, but we argue there is a humanitarian duty to do so.

 

This deputation speaks on behalf of those people with disabilities, often

hidden, that require ready access to toilet facilities. Below are some actual lived experiences of hidden disabilities, representing a tiny fraction of those likely to be impacted within our city.

 

Lucy has Irritable Bowel Syndrome with chronic diarrhoea. This is what her recent day trip to London from Brighton involved:

At least 4 weeks before, stopped drinking alcohol so my bowel could calm down.

 No dinner the night before.

 Breakfast on day: ½ slice of toast and 1 inch of tea. Go to loo at friend’s, walk to

Brighton station, go to loo, panic about train toilets.

 Arrive in London, head to venue, queue for toilet. After the show, go to a restaurant to use their loo.

 Return on 8pm train. EATING AND DRINKING NOTHING ALL DAY except sips from a bottle of water.

 

Oliver, aged 5, has recently been diagnosed with Coeliac disease, and the tiniest grain of gluten makes him very ill very quickly. In the back of the car, overhearing his mum and nan discussing the proposed toilet closures, he stated indignantly: “No, they can’t close them because when my tummy is upset, I really need the toilet because I have issues!”

 

Nicky says: I have a permanent ileostomy stoma since my colon and rectum were removed due to cancer. I am learning to live with a permanent change to the way my body works and having to use a prosthetic device (a stoma bag). Confidence is something that takes a knock when you have surgery like this. Having access to a public toilet is of utmost importance to anyone with a stoma to be able to live, work and participate in our surroundings. The proposed closures will inhibit my ability to go about a normal life, and I will be unable to enjoy a full integration into the community. I already have anxiety about leaving my home, for fears of my bag leaking in public (which is messy and smelly!).

 

Nicky’s cancer, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other conditions can all lead to an ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy. My ileostomy resulted from a perforated bowel caused by diverticular disease. An ileostomy is a stoma that exits from the small bowel and the large bowel is not used at all (unlike a colostomy which exits from your large bowel). Your large bowel reabsorbs water and nutrients from what you eat and drink, and so the output from an ileostomy is not like a normal stool but is actually very liquid (it can be like water) and pretty constant. Your bag fills up very quickly and can need emptying as often as every hour or even half hour. You can never forget it is there and you are constantly patting it to see if it is getting full and needs emptying. You are always thinking ahead to the next toilet and where it is. You are filled with fear and dread if you think you may not reach it in time.

 

We acknowledge that if what we have described is not your own lived

experience, you may not have understood just how utterly dependent some people are on public toilets. What we’ve described is a fraction of what people live with; it happens to be our own lived experiences. Please don’t let lack of knowledge or understanding lead to enforcing something that is clearly discriminatory and prejudicial to the wellbeing of so many. Please don’t force us and others like us to stay home because we simply do not dare to venture out into our home city.

 

120.3  The Chair provided the following response to this item and the two petitions presented under Item 119(a):

 

Thank you to you all for your petitions, deputation and campaigning on this issue.

 

Our plans will open as many as possible in Spring while reviewing closed sites. There will be investment in public toilets with a business plan to safeguard their future. We will increase funding of £465k to bring the budget to £1.365m. Once the decision is made at budget council in two weeks, seasonal recruitment will start.

 

I couldn’t agree more with what you are saying: public toilets are a basic service that people across the city depend on every day. I am pleased to be able to tell you that thanks to the joint efforts of residents, council officers and councillors, we are proposing more funding for public toilets to keep as many of them open as possible, and a long-term plan is being developed for how to keep them that way. 

 

I appreciate that there was real concern regarding the possible closure of facilities, and I hope that through my chairs communications and what you’ve heard in this meeting, you understand the immensely difficult decisions we are being forced to make as a consequence of this economic crisis. Part of making those decisions includes listening to residents and making adjustments. That is local democracy in action.

 

The budget is currently £905k which is insufficient to run and maintain all toilets, in light of inflationary pressures on utilities, fuel, consumables, maintenance costs including significant wage increases for some of the lowest paid staff in the council.

 

This administration is proposing an additional £400k funding for next year which is what is needed to reopen as many public toilets as possible per normal in the spring. We will be continuing to review sites where there are issues, and looking to open those that are currently closed at the earliest possible opportunity. Despite this additional funding it should be noted that not all toilets will open immediately because we will have to recruit new staff, a task which has been made considerably harder since Brexit.

 

We have set aside £65k for a Project Manager, to work through these complexities and to oversee the development of toilets in the city for the long-term. Nationally Greens are calling for public toilet access to be made a statutory duty, which means that we would have to receive central government funding it, and therefore pressure the government to give us more funding for it.

 

In terms of the next steps, these proposals will be put in a report outlining the future of public toilets going through the democratic decision-making process. Given that this is a service that the city council is already providing and given that the budget proposal is to inject more money, officers have advised that it is appropriate for this to be sent to the service committee, the Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee.

 

120.4  RESOLVED: That the Deputation be noted.

 

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121       Member Involvement

 

121.1  There were no Petitions, Written Questions, Letters or Notices of Motion

 

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122       General Fund Revenue Budget, Capital & Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24

 

122.1  The Committee considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget and the Capital and Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24.

 

122.2  Members referred to the recommendation 2.1(viii) regarding the possible introduction of a 100% discretionary premium on second homes and asked how much income that could potentially generate. The Chief Finance Officer said that officers would need to know exactly what the legislation was and whether the government were able to close any loopholes associated with such a policy, and the possible figure of £2m in the report was speculative,

 

122.3  Members noted the reduction in the working balance as set out in Table 3 and asked what impact that had on the Council’s overall financial health and what would happen if the £2m underspend was not achieved. The Chief Finance Officer said that the Council had a working balance and could replenish the £4.9m, but it did reduce the potential ability to meet any unexpected events that may occur in 2023/24 and which was why the Council held a recommended £9m balance.

 

122.4  Members asked for further information on the £210k savings on Supported Employment provision. The Executive Director Families, Children & Learning said that the Supported Employment team supported adults over the age of 20 with disabilities into employment, and the saving related to 4.7 FTE posts within that team. The committee were advised that the Youth Employability Service, which worked with young people, would continue.

 

122.5  In response to a question on the repayment of the loan for the i360, the Chief Finance Officer confirmed that the minimum repayment would be over a twenty-year period. Members noted that the i360 were to provide a business case at the end of January 2023 and asked if the expected payment £1m in the next financial year was set out in that document. The Chief Finance Officer advised that the business case had not yet been agreed, and the sum of £1m was based on discussions with the i360 Board and their ideas for improving their cost base and income for the next year, and it was hopeful that the amount paid would be significantly higher than that.

 

122.6  Members referred to the proposed saving of £300k revenue saving on heritage lamps through the introduction of LED lights and asked for more information. Officers confirmed that the saving would through the additional energy saving from using LED lights, there was external funding and carbon neutral funding which would be used to upgrade and renew the first eighty heritage lights on the seafront. It was confirmed that whilst the lights looked Victorian they were actually modern.

 

122.7  The Committee voted on the recommendations and they were agreed by a majority vote, with the Labour and Conservative Councillors abstaining.

 

122.8  RESOLVED:

 

That Policy & Resources Committee recommends to Council:

 

1.    The Administration’s proposed budget and Council Tax increase on the Brighton & Hove element of the council tax, comprising:

i) A general Council Tax increase of 2.99%;

ii) An Adult Social Care Precept increase of 2.00%;

iii) The council’s net General Fund budget requirement for 2023/24 of £232.385m;

iv) The 2023/24 budget allocations to services as set out in Appendix 1;

v) The Budget Strategies and proposed savings as set out in Appendix 1:

vi) The one-off resource allocations as set out in the table at paragraph 5.14.

vii) A recommended working balance of £9.000m (approximately 3.9% of the net budget) to be maintained over the period of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

viii) Approval, in principle, to consideration of introducing a 100% discretionary premium on second homes, subject to the recommendations of an officer report to Policy & Resources Committee as soon as practicable following Royal Assent of the relevant legislation, and application of these resources to replenish the council’s reserves within the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

 

2.    That Council notes the updated 4-Year Medium Term Financial Strategy included in Appendix 1 including predicted budget shortfalls of £58m over the 4-year period.

 

3.    That Council approves the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 at Appendix 2 comprising:

i) The strategy for funding the investment in change, including the flexible use of capital receipts as set out in section 7;

ii) The capital resources and proposed borrowing included at Annex A of the Capital Strategy;

iii) The Capital Investment Programme for 2023/24 of £211.698m included atbAppendix 1 and incorporating allocations to strategic funds.

 

4.    That Council notes the Equalities Impact Assessments to cover all relevant budget options as set out in Appendix 6.

 

5.    That Council further notes that approval of the budget is an indicative resourcing decision to be taken in the context of the explanation given in the Legal Implications paragraph 18.3.

 

6.    That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as set out in Appendix 3 comprising:

i) The Annual Investment Strategy;

ii) The Prudential and Treasury Indicators;

iii) The Minimum Revenue Provision policy;

iv) The authorised borrowing limit for the year commencing 1 April 2023 of £607m.

 

7.    That Council notes that supplementary information needed to set the overall council tax, including a detailed Budget Book, will be provided for the budget setting Council meeting as listed in paragraph 12.3.

 

That Policy & Resources Committee:

 

8.    Agrees that the council’s Chief Finance Officer be authorised to make any necessary technical, presentational or consequential amendments to this report before submission to Budget Council.

 

9.    Notes the Business Framework set out in Appendix 7 which will underpin the management, governance and delivery of the council’s services.

 

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123       Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2022/23: Month 9 (December)

 

123.1  The Committee considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

 

123.2  In response to questions from members the Executive Director Families Children & Learning confirmed that the average unit cost of £13,493 per week for children in care related only to a small number of young people with extremely complex needs, the cost of home to school transport was an area of concern nationally, and the underspend against the Brighton and Hove Inclusion Support Service was due to delays with Educational Psychologists.

 

123.3  In response to questions from members the Executive Director Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities advised that the funding and emphasis on homelessness prevention was increasing, and resources were being moved from putting people in emergency accommodation to trying to get early resolution of people’s problems before they become homeless.

 

123.4  In response to questions from members the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture confirmed that parking income had improved.

 

123.5  RESOLVED: That the Committee

 

(i)            Noted the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a potential forecast overspend risk of £6.573m. This includes an underspend of £0.345m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services.

 

(ii)          Noted that spending and recruitment controls will now remain in place until 31 March 2023 and, together with ongoing financial management actions, this is expected to improve the forecast by a further £2m by 31 March 2023 (outturn).

 

(iii)         Noted the forecast for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is currently an overspend of £1.295m.

 

(iv)         Noted the forecast position for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is currently an overspend of £0.053m.

 

(v)          Noted the forecast outturn position on the capital programme which is a forecast underspend of £1.002m and approve the variations and slippage in Appendix 6 and new schemes as set out in Appendix 7.

 

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124       Housing Revenue Account Budget & Capital Investment Programme 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy

 

124.1  The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Housing Neighbourhoods & Communities and the Chief Finance Officer regarding the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue and Capital Budget for 2023/24.

 

124.2  Members noted the Officer Amendment (Addendum 1).

 

124.3  RESOLVED:

 

(i)            That the updated HRA Revenue Budget for 2023/24 as shown in section 4 of the Housing Committee report (page 548) and Appendix 1 (page 559) to that report be agreed and recommended to Full Council for approval as amended by the Joint Labour/Green amendment set out on page 539 and described in the ‘Implications of amendments’ document on pages 517-537;

 

(ii)          A capital programme of £57.791m for 2023/24 and recommends to Full Council for approval the 5-year programme as set out in Appendix 3 (page 569) as amended by the Joint Labour/Green amendment set out on page 539 and described in the ‘Implications of amendments document on pages 517-537.

 

 

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125       Review of Council Pay Structures

 

125.1 This item was agreed without discussion.

 

125.2  RESOLVED: That Committee noted the work that has been undertaken and the conclusions set out in the report.

 

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126       Adult Social Care Charging Policy 2023-24

 

126.1  This item was agreed without discussion.

 

126.2  RESOLVED: That Committee approves an increase of 10% to the current carelink charges with effect from April 2023.

 

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127       City Development and Regeneration Building Regulation Application Fees

 

127.1  The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture.

 

127.2  Members asked why it was difficult to provide comparable figures to the fees charged by the private sector and were advised that it was because they did not publish their fees.

 

127.3  Members asked if the increase would enable planning applications to be processed more quickly and phones not turned off on certain days. Officers advised that the planning service performed well in terms of timeliness of decisions and customer service, with 91% of small applications determined within eight weeks which was above the national target of 70%. The phone lines were open from 9.30am to 3.30pm each day.

 

127.4  The Committee voted on the recommendations, and they were agreed with the Labour and Conservative members abstaining.

 

127.5  RESOLVED: That the Committee –

 

(i)            Agreed that planning and building control fees for 2023 be

  increased by 6%.

 

(ii)             Agreed for this increase to then be implemented with immediate effect in the current financial year 2022/23 allowing for lead in time to update systems, charging methods and notice periods.

 

 

127a   FEES & CHARGES 2023/24

 

127a.1 The Committee considered the report of Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture regarding the proposed 2023/24 fees and charges for the service areas covered by the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, in accordance with corporate regulations and policy.

 

127a.2 Members referred to car park charges in parks and asked if they would apply to Hollingdean Park and if so whether the Council intended to carry out any remedial work, and whether a report would be brought to the ETS Committee if there were any additional charges or ordering additional work to the parks. Officers advised that the report only related to parks where parking was already in place, and confirmed that if the Council were looking to introduce parking charges to other parks a report would be brought to the appropriate committee.

 

127a.3 The Committee voted on the recommendations which were agreed, with the Labour Group abstaining and the Conservative Group voting against.

 

127a.4 RESOLVED: That the Committee –

 

(i)            Agreed the proposed fees and charges for 2023/24 as set out within the report.

 

(ii)          Agreed the proposed fees and charges in paragraph 3.6 relating to Monitored Contractor Scaffold Licence, Brown Tourist Signs and Development Directional Signs, to be implemented with immediate effect in the current financial year 2022/23 allowing for lead in time to update systems, charging methods and notice periods.

 

(iii)         Agreed the proposed fees and charges in paragraph 3.19 relating to Traders permit and Business permit fees, to be implemented with immediate effect in the current financial year 2022/23 allowing for lead in time to update systems, charging methods and notice periods.

 

(iv)         Agreed the proposed fees and charges in paragraphs 3.35 – 3.36 relating to Garden Waste Collection Service fees, to be implemented with immediate effect in the current financial year 2022/23 allowing for lead in time to update systems, charging methods and notice periods.

 

(v)          Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Culture (in relation to paragraphs 3.5 - 3.39), the Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities (in relation to paragraphs 3.40 - 3.41) and to the Executive Director of Health & Adult Social Care (in relation to paragraphs 3.42 – 3.46) to change fees and charges as notified and set by central Government during the year.

 

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128       Items Referred For Council

 

128.1  No Items were referred to the 30 March 2023 Council meeting.

 

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129       Part Two Proceedings

 

129.1  There were no Part Two Items on the agenda.

 

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The meeting concluded at 6.45pm

 

 

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