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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies for absence received from Councillors Forward, S. Beaney and Turner
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting PDF 215 KB
Additional documents:
- Minutes Public Pack, 16/02/2022 Full Council , item 240. PDF 217 KB
- Minutes Public Pack, 17/02/2022 Full Council , item 240. PDF 464 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 9th February 2022 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings.
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 16th February 2021 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings.
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 17th February 2021 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings.
Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
Councillor
Item
Interest
Roark
9 (424) Cornwallis Street Car Park
Personal - Family member lives nearby to carpark
Cooke
9 (424) Cornwallis Street Car Park
Prejudicial – Lives nearby
Announcements from the Mayor and Leader
Minutes:
The Mayor gave thanks to Councillor Cox for chairing the Full Council meetings whilst he was self-isolating.
The Mayor announced that Councillor Kim Forward has stood down as the leader of the council and a new leader will be elected.
Election of Leader of the Council
Minutes:
Councillor Sinden proposes Councillor Barnett as the new leader of Hastings Borough Council seconded by Councillor Batsford.
14 votes for, 13 abstention and 1 votes against
RESOLVED that Councillor Paul Barnett be elected Leader of the Council until his term in office ends.
Councillor Batsford spoke for Councillor Barnett. He gave thanks to councillors Scott, Chowney, S. Beaney and Battley who are not standing at the next elections.
Councillor Chowney spoke for Councillor Forward. She is proud of the way that the Council, in partnership with others, has worked to meet the needs of residents and respond to the many demands placed on it. Thanks to all the Council officers and the lead members for their dedication. Hard work support throughout this difficult period.
Councillor Chowney spoke for Councillor Barnett and thanked Councillor Forward for her time as Leader of Hastings Borough Council. Her common sense, clarity of thought and purpose, and perceptive. Her welcoming of the new flexible ways of working. Hastings led the way, and that's helped keep us all safe, better informed, and more involved.
The Mayor also gave thanks to Councillors Scott, Chowney, S. Beaney and Battley who are not standing at the next elections. The Mayor gave thanks to Councillor Forward and congratulations to Councillor Barnett
Membership of Committees
To give effect to any request received from a political group for a change in their representation on committee(s).
Minutes:
Councillor Patmore proposed a motion regarding the membership of committees, as setout in the resolution below.
RESOLVED that the council adopt the following arrangements for the membership of committees
1. Councillor Hay replaces Councillor Fernando on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
To consider draft Corporate Plan update 2022/23 and proposed amendments PDF 203 KB
Additional documents:
- Enc. 1 for Budget and Corporate Plan consultation response and draft Corporate Plan update 2022/23, 07/02/2022 Cabinet , item 245. PDF 197 KB
- Green Group amendments to Corporate Plan update V1 , item 245. PDF 448 KB
Minutes:
The Mayor proposed suspending Rule 16.6b of the Council’s Constitution,
seconded by Councillor Beaver.
RESOLVED that council suspends Rule 16.6b of the Constitution to permit the substantive motion and any proposed amendments to be on the table and open for discussion at the same time.
Councillor Hilton proposed four amendments to the draft corporate plan update 2022/23.
1. Tackling homelessness, poverty and ensuring quality housing
Mobilise and monitor the pipeline of developments with partners to increase the supply of affordable rented homes by 500 units over the next 5 years.
ADD
Commit to these being built in alignment with the Healthy Homes principles as outlined by the Town and Country Planning Association.
2. Minimising environment and climate harm in all that we do
ADD
We will make creating a just transition that meets everyone’s needs within planetary limits the lens through which we examine every decision this council makes and we will commit to being the leader in our town to that commitment, challenging and working with all the key stakeholders and the wider community.
We need to be honest about the scale of the task ahead and will become a campaigning council actively calling on the government for the funding that local communities need to deliver this transition especially around the challenge of retrofitting local housing stock.
3. Ensuring the council can survive and thrive into the future
Lead and work with partners to enable citizen-centred services that tackle health inequalities, improve quality of life and benefit the breadth of our local community.
ADD
We will integrate this work with action on the climate and ecological emergency. We know for example that initiatives to increase walking cycling, gardening and growing your own veg all massively benefit mental and physical health and can contribute to reducing our town’s carbon footprint.
4. Making best use of our land, buildings, public realm and cultural assets
Harold Place – planning consent granted & legal agreement completed by end of quarter 1 and construction commenced by end of quarter 3.
Now planning has been refused I would like to propose that this item is removed from the plan and replaced with the following text.
Harold Place – proposals for the former toilet block site will now be integrated into the wider Garden Town plans and alternative funding sources researched.
Councillor Carr seconded the amendments. Councillor Barnett accepted amendments 1,2 and 3.
Councillor Hilton agreed to withdraw amendment 4 subject to it being brought back to the next full Council meeting after the elections for consideration.
RESOLVED 17 Votes for 12 against
1. Full Council note and approve the draft annual update as amended to the corporate plan 2020-24.
2. That delegated authority be given to the Managing Director, after consultation with the Leader of the Council to make further revisions as is considered necessary.
3. That all those who submitted views as part of the consultation process be thanked for their contributions.
Reasons for Recommendations
1. The council needs to approve the annual update ... view the full minutes text for item 245.
Delegation of statutory powers (Assistant Director, Environment and Place) PDF 222 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED(unanimously)
Recommendation(s)
1. That Council agrees and approves the delegation of the statutory powers previously allocated to the Assistant Director Environment and Place to as set out in the attached Appendix.
Reasons for Recommendations
1. The council is required to delegate statutory powers which must be reserved to certain authorised officers to discharge the functions of the council. The powers that were previously delegated to the Assistant Director Environment and Place need to be re-allocated following the retirement of the post-holder. These are interim arrangements and will be reviewed as part of the organisational re-structure planned for early in the new municipal year 2022.
Reports of Committees
a) To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of any items considered while the public were excluded by the relevant committee because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 referred to in the minutes of the relevant committee.
b) To receive and consider the recommendations and any decisions of the following committees.
Subject
Cabinet Member / Chair
EMERGENCY DECISION – 16 FEBRUARY 2022
420.
Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF)
Chowney
CABINET – 7 MARCH 2022
424.
Cornwallis Street Car Park
Chowney
425.
Climate Change Strategy update and plans for 2022
Evans
426.
Energy Procurement – Electricity contract renewal
Chowney
427.
Management Response to the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendations on reviewing the process and procedure of motions submitted at Full Council
Rogers
428.
Leisure Services Externally Funded Projects update 2022-23
Barnett
429. (C)
Affordable Housing Development
Batsford
430. (C)
Hastings Contemporary
Chowney
431.
East Sussex Rough Sleeping Initiative - Commissioning Update
Batsford
EMERGENCY DECISION – 8 MARCH 2022
433.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Scheme Policy (Tranche 4 – Extended Scheme)
Chowney
Notes:1. The Mayor will call over the minutes and members will rise and indicate those items which they wish to have discussed.
2. No discussion shall take place at this stage upon part II minutes covered by the resolution 9a) above. Any such discussion shall be deferred to item 8 on the agenda.
Minutes:
The Mayor having called over the minutes set out in the agenda; the following minutes were reserved for discussion.
RESOLVED that under rule 13.3 the reports and minutes of committees set out
in the agenda, including those items on which a council decision was required,
be received and agreed. Only those items which were reserved were discussed
as follows:
Meeting
Minute
Councillor
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
420. Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund
(CARF)
Roberts
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
424. Cornwallis Street Car Park
Roark
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
425. Climate Change Strategy update and
plans for 2022
Marlow Eastwood
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
426. Energy Procurement – Electricity
contract renewal
Bishop
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
427. Management Response to the
Overview and Scrutiny Recommendations on reviewing the process and procedure of motions submitted at Full Council
Beaver
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
428. Leisure Services Externally Funded
Projects update 2022-23
Battley
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
Cox
Cabinet, 7th March 2022
Arthur
Minute 429 of Cabinet on 7th March 2022, Affordable Housing Development, was a
matter on which the Council was required to make a decision.
Councillor Batsford proposed approval of the minute, seconded by Councillor Rogers
RESOLVED 17 for 3 against 9 abstentions
Recommendations
1. To bring 6 units of accommodation at 12/13 York Buildings into use as affordable housing
2. That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that a detailed business case and initial surveys are commissioned to facilitate this for the development of land to the rear of 419 – 447 Bexhill Road at a cost of up to £75,000.
3. That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that a detailed business case and initial surveys are commissioned to facilitate this for the development of land at Mayfield E at a cost of up to £75,000.
4. That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that delegated authority is given to the Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing to finalise the specification for the business case and procure these services
Reasons for Recommendations
1. Delivery of new affordable housing in Hastings has failed to keep pace with rising demand. A shortage of affordable housing is creating additional pressures and costs to the council, particularly the rising use of temporary accommodation. The council has agreed a commitment to increase the supply of new affordable rented homes by 500 units over the next 5 years
Minute 430 of Cabinet on 7th March 2022, Hastings Contemporary, was a
matter on which the Council was required to make a decision.
Councillor Chowney proposed approval of the minute, seconded by Councillor Batsford
RESOLVED(unanimously)
Recommendation(s)
1. To recommend to Full Council that delegated authority be granted to the
Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Assistant Director
Regeneration and Culture and the Leader of the Council to agree terms to
accept a surrender of the lease to Gallerium Establishment Ltd (GEL)
2. To recommend to ... view the full minutes text for item 247.
To consider the recommendations and decisions of committees (if any) which the Council has resolved should be discussed after the exclusion of the public from the meeting.
Minutes:
None.
Questions (if any) from: PDF 74 KB
a) Members of the public under Rule 11
b) Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
a) Members of the public under Rule 11
None received.
b) Councillors under Rule 12
Subject
Reply given by
Councillor Patmore
Lack of affordable housing
Whats the difference between Tilekiln and Harrow Lane playfields regarding affordable housing being built.
Councillor Batsford replied that you have to careful with assets. Heads of Terms and a solid business plan were requested for the Tilekiln site. Councillor Barnett has arranged meetings with Hastings Football Club to move forward. The Harrow Lane site has had outline planning permission been given to it for a long time.
Councillor Batsford
Councillor Hilton
Citizens lab
Can the website be revised?
Councillor Barnett will respond in writing
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Battley
Cost of living
With the rising costs of fuels and energy and rent and food. What are the leaders thoughts on the crisis and his ask of the government to do more to tackle the crisis?
Councillor Evan answered on behalf of Councillor Barnett. The cost of living crisis is uppermost in residents minds. Inflation is near eight percent. Officers have been asked how we can expand our emergency fund for next winter and open it to local donations from residents who can afford to donate their winter fuel grant
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Beaver
Bulverhythe Development
Is the leader expecting the resignation of the Lead member for housing due to the expense of the Bulverhythe housing project?
Councillor Barnett will respond in writing
Councillor Barnett
Councillor Roberts
Tax rebate
How and when will residents receive their council tax rebate?
Councillor Chowney replied a new software is being used. People who pay by direct debit should start to receive their rebate at the end of the month. Non direct debit will have to go through an application process.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Pragnell
Cycle Path
Will the bye laws for Alexandra Park be amended to allow a new cycle path?
Councillor Evans replied that last year there was a consultation for six weeks. That resulted in 42 responses. That consultation was then sent to the Secretary of State for levelling up housing and Communities seeking their approval. The Secretary of State approved the bylaws in January. There was a further consultation with 39 responses. There is a report going to Cabinet in May or June and the report will go to Full council after that.
Councillor Evans
Councillor Roark
Local authority finance
With the rise in homelessness costs, the cost-of-living crisis and the need to respond to the climate emergency, do you think the current model of local authority finance is fit for purpose?
Councillor Chowney replied that the current model for Council financing isn’t sustainable. There is no funding from government to help tackle climate change. The new homes bonus scheme is not a fair system.
Councillor Chowney
Councillor Sinden
Burst water mains
With the burst water mains in West St Leonards, will southern water or the environment agency be giving an update?
Councillor Batsford replied for Councillor Barnett. Upon visiting the site of the latest ... view the full minutes text for item 249.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Batsford to propose:
This Council, on behalf of the residents of Hastings, agrees to declare a housing emergency.
With rents soaring out of control, thousands of families are left buried in debt and under the threat of losing their home. Many remain stuck on the Council housing list, with little or no chance of an affordable secure home. The problem is made worse by a huge increase in the use of section 21 notices to secure ‘no fault evictions’ of tenants, destroying family homes as landlords take advantage of unprecedented price rises and sell up.
The Hastings Local Housing Allowance (which determines the maximum level of Housing Benefit that can be paid) now is at least 40% below the market value of most rented properties, once again driving families into debt, with rent arrears blocking them from seeking another home when they’re evicted. The government has just announced that LHA rates are to be frozen for another year, while the rents tenants have to pay continue to escalate with no controls on the level of rents landlords can charge.
The shortage of genuinely affordable rented homes is causing a long-term problem too. But significant numbers of empty homes and identified housing sites, particularly brownfield sites, remaining undeveloped, ‘land banked’ by property speculators who prefer to wait for local housing values to increase still further. Councils can do little about this, as they lack the cost-neutral CPO powers to bring empty homes and land-banked land back into use for genuinely affordable, social rented housing.
Like many tourist towns, residential homes in Hastings are also being stripped out of the rental market through the increase in homes being used as holiday lets, and being bought for second homes. We recognise that holiday cottages for short-term lets are an important part of the local tourist economy. However, second homes remain empty for most of the year, and are of little local value, as well as depriving local people of a potential home to live in. Councils need powers to control the proliferation of holiday homes, and to discourage people from using properties as second homes.
All these factors have led to a huge escalation in homelessness, with hundreds of millions of pounds wasted each year across the country providing unsatisfactory temporary accommodation, when it should be spent on building affordable homes and paying realistic levels of housing benefit.
All these factors combine to precipitate a real housing crisis. We are only at the very start of this perfect storm which will condemn current and future generations of Hastings residents to insecure, unaffordable and substandard housing. A safe, secure and affordable home is a basic human right.
In recognition of the above, this Council:
1. calls on the Leader of Hastings Council, and encourages the Conservative opposition leader to join her, to write to the Hastings and Rye MP and the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing, Michael Gove, demanding that he:
• abolish section 21 notices; ... view the full agenda text for item 250.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Barnett to propose:
Following the appalling sewage leak at Bulverhythe last summer, our residents have been rightly calling for action to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Since then, Hastings BC has been working to hold Southern Water to account.
This Council now calls for:
* Southern Water to be returned into public ownership
* Regular meetings with Southern Water at the highest level to hear current plans to improve both the sewage system and clean water supply for everyone, everywhere, in Hastings
* Further letters to be sent to both our MP and Government expressing severe reservations about the performance of Southern Water
* Stronger action from the Environment Agency, Ofwat and the Consumer Council for water to enforce sea water and domestic water supply standards in Hastings
* Residents of Hastings to continue to report concerns about water on the Hastings Borough Council website
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Arthur to propose:
Climate change is threatening hundreds of millions of lives, livelihoods across every continent and is putting thousands of species at risk. The burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas – is by far the major contributor to climate change and is responsible for almost 80% of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution. In addition to being the leading source of emissions, there are local pollution, environmental and health costs associated with extracting, refining, transporting and burning fossil fuels.
These costs are often paid by Indigenous peoples of the Global South as well as marginalised communities here in the UK. Hastings is one of the most deprived towns in the country, residents are forced to spend an ever-increasing proportion of their income meeting the exponentially rising costs of energy. Standards of living and health are directly impacted. It is not sustainable to continue to extract and globally transport fossil fuels when genuinely sustainable methods of production may exist locally to meet demand.
Globally, egregious industry practices have led to human rights violations and a fossil fuel system that has left billions of people across the globe without sufficient energy to lead lives of dignity. Failure to meet the ultimate goal of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement (to limit global warming to 1.5°C) risks pushing the world towards catastrophic global warming.
Yet, the Paris Agreement has no mention of oil, gas or coal and the much anticipated COP26 deal was disappointingly weak. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel industry continues to plan new projects. Banks continue to fund new projects. Closer to home, despite calls from the Labour-led Hastings Borough Council since 2016, East Sussex Pension Funds continue to invest in fossil fuels.
According to the most recent United Nations Environment Programme report, 120% more coal, oil, and gas will be produced by 2030 than is consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C. Efforts to meet the Paris Agreement and to reduce demand for fossil fuels will be undermined if supply continues to grow.
The solution is clear: fossil fuels must be kept in the ground. We therefore agree:
1. To endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (https://fossilfueltreaty.org). That is, for world leaders to work together in a spirit of international cooperation to:
• End new expansion of oil, gas and coal production in line with the best available
science as outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and United
Nations Environment Programme;
• Phase out existing production of oil, gas and coal in a manner that is fair and
equitable, taking into account the responsibilities of countries for climate change and
their respective dependency on fossil fuels, and capacity to transition;
• Invest in a transformational plan to ensure 100% access to renewable energy globally, support dependent economies to diversify away from fossil fuels, and enable people and communities across the globe to flourish through a global just transition.
2. To write to Rother District Council, Wealden District Council, Lewes District Council, Eastbourne ... view the full agenda text for item 252.
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