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political oppression and economic exploitation. We pray that they do for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza for an end to the war in Ukraine. And for an end to all violence and suspicion and distrust in those places we do not hear about in the news. We pray for the people of India as they seek to form a new government after their elections. And we pray for this land as we prepare for a general election to parliament. Prevent also Lord in all our doings with your most gracious favor and further us with your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name and finally by your mercy of T.M. everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] Thank you. [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] [BLANKAUDIO] I move that the minutes of the meeting of the council held on the 24th of April and of the annual council meeting hung on the 8th of May be approved as a correct record. Do I have a seconder? [BLANKAUDIO] Thank you. Do you wish to comment on the accuracy of the minutes? [BLANKAUDIO] Are you all in agreement that I am beside the minutes as in a correct record? [BLANKAUDIO] Thank you. Moving on to item three, fluctuations of interest from members. Does any member have any interest to declare in respect of any item on tonight's agenda? No, thank you. Moving on now to item four, announcements. There are no chairman's announcements. Leader, do you have any announcements? No, chairman. Thank you. Councilor Blackman, I believe you had an announcement. Thank you, chairman. I just want to announce the results of an electric vehicle event. We held here at orchim district council on the 24th of May. It was a resounding success, and amongst other benefits, the event demonstrated that electric vehicle uptake is very much on the minds of our residents and local businesses. The event was organized by orchim district council's environmental health sustainability, economic development and communications departments with support from Let's Experience Electric. It was a perfect strategic fit with all three strands of our climate action strategy, leadership, partnership and community. 11 local dealers brought 26 vehicles into be viewed, 13 of which were available for test driving. Representatives from each brand were on hand to answer questions. A divided exhibition space featured 15 stands with organizations, businesses and university representation relevant to sustainability and climate action take up. We had some good speakers, including Martin Affire, MBE, a celebrated former professional rugby player of whom there is an iconic statue outside Wembley Stadium. Martin is a longstanding Tesla driver who has taken on the role of brand ambassador for connected curb the EV charging infrastructure company. He works hard on reshaping perspectives on EVs, infusing a blend of positivity, growth mindset, success and sustainability into wider society. Representatives from Energy Savings Trust and West Sussex County Council did a good job on debunking some of the myths around EV take up and charging anxiety, as well as providing valuable information on grants and funding and charging installation. They were excellent at describing the transition we are currently living through, as well as the detailed work that is being done to anticipate, prepare for and roll out infrastructure as needed for the future. Hundreds of people attended the event and money took the opportunity for a test drive. We knew in advance that it was timely as we had 213 pre registrations and we heard afterwards from representatives of the London Electric Vehicle Company that a number of people had attended from outside Horsham, Kent, Brighton and Essex were mentioned, provided feedback and connectivity that the dealers found very useful and will help them with EV information share going forward. Media coverage was good. We have the front page of the West Sussex County Times in advance of the event and afterwards there was a report on BBC Southeast and in air quality news amongst others. We were completely delighted with the event, not least for the manner in which it offered practical help to our residents. As residents and local businesses approached the optimum time to change their vehicles, depending on personal circumstances, events such as this one provide the factual, all in one place, data needed to make informed choices that resonate with personal environmental values. My congratulations to the whole team here at Horsham District Council for putting it together and ensuring its success. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you. Moving on to item five, questions from the public. We have no questions from public. Moving on now to item six, recommendations from Cabinet. I invite Councilor Sam Rabe, Cabinet Member for Housing Communities and Wellbeing to present this item and move the recommendations. Thank you, Chairman. So, the Cabinet recommends that Council agrees to the increase in housing services budget and for the Council to receive additional homelessness prevention grants that has been allocated by the Department for leveling up housing and communities. The use of the additional homelessness prevention grant is restricted to preventing and relieving homelessness. And the Council was not aware of the extra grant when the annual budget was set for 24/25. And notification of the grant is received at the end of February 2024. This additional grant amounts to 266,546 pounds. Housing officers are currently investigating options for using the grant to reinforce prevention of homelessness in the district. The additional grant will relieve significant pressure on the general fund. So, the Cabinet approved the expenditure of the grant in the sum of 206,546 pounds on the Council's homeless prevention and relief service and this was subject to Council approval because of the size of the funds. So, our recommendation to Council is to approve, approve receiving this money, this homelessness prevention grant, and then also to improve, to approve the increase in the housing services revenue income and expenditure budgets. The same amount, 266,500,546 pounds. And that will enable us to receive this and then to spend it to prevent homelessness in the district. I just want to give, that all sounds very dry, but it's one of the most important things that we can do as a district council is to help people who get into difficulty break up a family's illness or accident in the family or just simply the money coming in isn't enough to cover rent and people are at risk of not having anywhere to live. Our housing services work incredibly hard. We've increased the number of units of temporary accommodation. That's one of the big things that we can do. So, although people may be in temporary accommodation, unlike some of the tragic cases, particularly in London, and some of the bigger cities that have got huge pressures on them. When somebody's in temporary accommodation, in Horsham, they may well be in a flat or a house where a family can continue living in the district, continue living a normal life. Not sharing a bathroom, not sharing a kitchen with strangers. It's a hugely important area that the council works on. It's one of the most important things for our residents, and this money will be incredibly well spent. It saves us money because if we end up getting families in bed and breakfast accommodation, it's terrible for them, and it can smash the finances of the council. If you look at Crawley, they're spending multiple millions of pounds with people in bed and breakfast accommodation, which is making it impossible for them to spend the time. It's almost impossible for them to spend on the other things that residents need, and the residents are suffering because they're not in appropriate accommodation. So, I think it's hugely important, and I'd really like to make sure that everybody votes this through, because it'll be really well used by the officers. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Raby. Is there a seconder for the motion? Councillor interjecting. Yes. Thank you, Councillor BUNG. Do you wish to speak now or later? I'll speak later if needed. Councillor circus. Do you wish to speak now? No, no. Thank you. No, thank you, Councillor Crookun. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Crookun. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair. Councillors interjecting. Okay. Right. Thank you, Chair. My understanding in the study earlier on, this grant was tied to resettling Ukrainian refugees. Is that the case this time or not? No, no, that's a separate piece of funding to buy specific properties. This is specifically for our general residents. So any residents in our district, it's unrelated to resettling refugees. Thank you very much for explaining that. Thank you. Since there are no further questions, I invite Councillor BANE and the seconder of the motion to speak. Just very briefly, Chair. Clearly, if we didn't accept this in Council, then the only option would be to return the money. And we wouldn't have it at all and nobody would benefit. So I'm guessing that's not a good idea. Thank you, Councillor. I now extend the right of reply to Councillor Rwhaby to make his closing comments. I've got nothing further. Thank you, Councillor. We'll now vote. All those in favour, approve the recommendations on Page 33 of the agenda, please show. That's unanimous. Thank you. The motion is carried. Moving now to item 7, recommendations from committees. I invite Councillor poor Clark, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to introduce this item and move the recommendation set out on page 35 of the agenda. Thank you, Chairman. This report provides a summary of the work done by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee during the period 2324, per year. Basically, under the constitution, this report comes to Council to clarify and illustrate what the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has done over the period of time leading up to now. Reports quite clear. You may note that the committee did receive a note, many reports, and my intention in this new term is actually for the committee to be more proactive and questioning its own right rather than just receiving and noting reports. Hence, we have two Task and Finish groups that are underway. There is another that is awaiting the completion of one of the first two because of resource implications, and members might be interested to note that we've. I've initiated an urgent Task and Finish group to look at a specific topic, which is a bit, which I don't think we've overdone before, but it is a very concentrated effort which will take place in a very short period of time on a specific topic. But in the meantime, I wish to refer this report to the Council and recommend approval of the note as it is. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Councillor CLOCK, and I just thank you in part of everybody for the fabulous work that you and your committee have done over the last two months. Is there a seconder for the proposal? Thank you, Councillor Dennis. Does anybody wish to speak on this item? Thank you, Councillor interjecting. I just want to say I'm pleased to second the overview of the scrutiny annual report together with the work program to Council. And it's for the noting, and it says again, In accordance with Council's Constitution. I personally look forward to being an active participant, as Vice Chairman of the committee for 24/25 Unisable Year. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor. Council is asked to note the contents of this report, and I trust that you are all agreed. Thank you. Moving now on to item 8, pay policy statement, financial year 24/25 on pages 37 to 46 of your papers. I invite Councillor Martin Boffee, leader of the Council to introduce this item and move the recommendation. Thank you, Chairman. This report seeks members approval to the Council's pay policy statement for the financial year 24/25. The Localism Act sets out a provision that requires local authorities to prepare and publish an annual pay policy. That policy is substantially unchanged from last year, other than that it now shows the updated salary increases that were backdated last year, and the resulting new pay ratios. The Council follows the national joint agreed—joint Council agreed pay increases and is also committed to adjust pay in line with the National Living Wage Foundation's recommendations. Therefore, the Council is recommended to approve the pay policy 24/25 for publication. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Boffee. Is there a seconder for the proposal? Thank you, Chair. Do you wish to speak now or later? Thank you. Are there any questions, comments from Councillors? Okay, thank you. I now invite Councillor MEGAN, a seconder of the motion to speak. Thank you, not much to say, Chairman, but it's always slightly back to front in a way. Back to front in a way when we have this every year, because, of course, the negotiations with these staffs are still ongoing, and normally we don't get an outcome from that until September, October, so there will be a further report to Council. I do, of course, I would anticipate. Thank you. I now extend the right to Councillor Boffee. Thank you. I'll just, nothing further to add. Okay. Thank you. All those in favour of approving the recommendations on page 43 of the agenda, right, and please show. Councillor interjecting. Thank you. The motion is carried. Now moving on to item 9 on your agenda. Reports of representatives. Do we have any representatives here this evening? No, we don't. Right. We'll move on to item 10. Members, questions. We've had no questions from members. Moving on to item 11, there are no urgent matters. I therefore declare this meeting closed. I nearly did it. I nearly did it. [BLANK_AUDIO]