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Worthing Council Approves Major Redevelopments and Welcomes New Committee Members

In the past week, the Worthing Council held a Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, 19 June 2024.

Worthing Planning Committee

The Worthing Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday was significant for several reasons, including the introduction of new committee members and the discussion of two major planning applications.

New Committee Members

The meeting began with the introduction of new committee members: Councillor Hilary Schaan, Councillor Dominic Ford, Councillor Henna Chowdhury, and Councillor Josh Harris, who was sitting in for Noel Atkins. The committee also bid farewell to outgoing members Adul Bozkurt, Rosey Whorlow, and Russ Cochrane, acknowledging their contributions.

Planning Applications

Two major planning applications were discussed during the meeting:

Redevelopment of a Site Near Worthing Pier

The first application involved the redevelopment of a site near Worthing Pier. The proposal included converting a former amusement arcade and snooker club into a mixed-use development with retail, restaurant, and residential units. The key points discussed included:

Affordable Housing: The applicant had approached several housing associations, including Worthing Homes, Housing 21, and Southern Housing, to manage the affordable housing units. However, no positive responses were received. The committee was reassured that efforts to secure a housing association would continue, and a financial contribution would be made if on-site provision was not possible.
Design and Sustainability: The proposed design aimed to blend historic and contemporary elements, with sustainability features such as air source heat pumps and solar panels. The committee appreciated the effort to retain the building's character while enhancing its environmental performance.
Impact on Local Amenities: Concerns were raised about the impact on local amenities, particularly waste management and noise. Conditions were imposed to ensure proper waste disposal and noise mitigation measures.

The committee approved the application, subject to conditions, including the continuation of efforts to secure affordable housing and enhancements to waste management and noise mitigation.

New Construction Trade Centre at Northbrook College

The second application was for a new construction trade centre at Northbrook College. This project is part of the college's strategy to consolidate its campuses and improve facilities. Key points included:

Educational Benefits: The new centre will provide modern facilities for construction courses, supporting the local economy by training skilled workers.
Sustainability and Biodiversity: The building will feature renewable technologies and achieve a 'BREEAM Very Good' rating. The project also includes measures to enhance biodiversity, with a 34% increase in on-site habitat.
Noise and Screening: Concerns about noise from the workshops were addressed by including conditions for enhanced screening and noise mitigation measures.

The committee approved the application, with conditions to ensure noise mitigation and enhanced screening along the eastern boundary.

Summary

In summary, the key points from the week's meeting were:

The introduction of new committee members and acknowledgment of outgoing members.
Approval of the redevelopment near Worthing Pier, with conditions for affordable housing, waste management, and noise mitigation.
Approval of the new construction trade centre at Northbrook College, with conditions for noise mitigation and enhanced screening.

These decisions reflect the council's commitment to sustainable development, educational improvement, and addressing community concerns. The next steps will involve monitoring the implementation of these conditions to ensure the projects meet the council's standards and benefit the local community.

Worthing Council Approves Colonnade House Improvements and New Mayoral Gown Initiative

In the past week, the Worthing Council held three meetings: the Adur Licensing Committee on Monday, 10 June 2024, the Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Worthing) on Tuesday, 11 June 2024, and the Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Adur) on Thursday, 13 June 2024.

Adur Licensing Committee

The Adur Licensing Committee meeting scheduled for Monday was cancelled. No further details were provided.

Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Worthing)

The Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Worthing) meeting on Tuesday covered several significant topics, including the sourcing of an alternative mayoral gown, the approach to unlawful encampments, and plans to support local businesses in 2024/25.

Alternative Mayoral Gown

One of the key decisions was regarding the sourcing of an alternative mayoral gown. The council is exploring options, including working with students from Northbrook College to design a new gown. This initiative aims to involve the community and provide a cost-effective solution.

Unlawful Encampments

The committee also discussed the approach to managing unlawful encampments on council land, particularly at Goring Gap. The council provides basic facilities such as bins and toilets to reduce the impact on the settled community while legal processes are carried out. The administration is committed to finding long-term solutions in collaboration with stakeholders, including West Sussex County Council and Sussex Police.

Business Support Plans

Plans to support local businesses in 2024/25 were also highlighted. The council, in partnership with Adur District, has launched a business support programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Section 106 contributions. The programme includes consultancy support in areas such as start-up support, innovation, leadership, management, and sustainability. Grants will also be available to businesses, with a total programme value of £500,000.

Colonnade House Improvements

A significant agenda item was the approval of a project to deliver sustainability and accessibility improvements at Colonnade House. The project, supported by a grant from Arts Council England, aims to enhance the cultural hub's environmental performance and accessibility. The council will contribute £46,000 in match funding towards the £508,000 project.

Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Adur)

The Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Adur) meeting on Thursday did not have a video broadcast available, and no further details were provided.

Summary

In summary, the key points from the week's meetings were:

The cancellation of the Adur Licensing Committee meeting.
The Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Worthing) discussed sourcing an alternative mayoral gown, managing unlawful encampments, and supporting local businesses.
Approval of sustainability and accessibility improvements at Colonnade House, supported by Arts Council England funding.
The Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (Adur) meeting did not have a video broadcast available.

These meetings highlight the council's ongoing efforts to address community concerns, support local businesses, and enhance cultural and environmental initiatives.

Flood Defences and Houseboat Enforcement: Key Decisions from Worthing Council Meetings

In the past week, the Worthing Council held two meetings: the Adur Planning Committee on Monday, 03 June 2024, and the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 06 June 2024.

Adur Planning Committee

The Adur Planning Committee meeting on Monday was notable for its discussion on the planning application for the houseboat known as Kingfisher at Mariners Point. The key issue raised was the inadequate flood defences at Mariners Point, which have been a concern for residents for some time. Steve Stefton from the Mariners Point Resident Association presented a detailed account of the problems, including video evidence of preventable flooding and structural defects in the flood defence measures.

Stefton emphasized several critical points:

The flood defence wall at Surrey Hard is too low and has physical and installation defects.
There is no effective flood evacuation plan in place.
Residents had to fit demountable flood defence barriers themselves during a flood event, highlighting the inadequacy of the current system.

The committee decided to delegate officers to hold a site meeting with councillors, residents, and the Environment Agency to inspect the flood defences and report back at a future meeting.

Another significant topic was the retrospective planning application for a houseboat, which the applicant withdrew just days before the meeting. Despite the withdrawal, the committee had to consider whether enforcement action was necessary. The planning officer, Gary Peck, presented the case, highlighting that the houseboat did not comply with the council's houseboat guidance, particularly regarding its height and appearance.

Councillor Albury raised concerns about the sewage disposal from the houseboat, questioning whether new builds should be allowed to discharge raw sewage into the river. Gary Peck clarified that while this is a separate issue from planning permission, it is a valid concern that needs addressing.

The committee voted to issue enforcement action to remove the unauthorised development, with a compliance period of three months. This decision underscores the council's commitment to maintaining the character and safety of the river community.

Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee

The Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday focused on several key areas, although the transcript was not available at the time of writing. Typically, this committee reviews the performance and effectiveness of council services, ensuring that policies and decisions are implemented effectively and provide value for money.

Summary

In summary, the key points from the week's meetings were:

The ongoing issues with flood defences at Mariners Point and the council's decision to inspect and address these concerns.
The enforcement action against the unauthorised houseboat development, reflecting the council's adherence to planning guidelines.
The role of the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee in overseeing council performance and ensuring accountability.

These meetings highlight the council's proactive approach to addressing community concerns and maintaining the integrity of its planning and oversight processes.

Audit Backlog and Financial Transparency: Key Takeaways from Worthing Council's Latest Meeting

In the past week, the Worthing Council held a Joint Audit and Governance Committee meeting on Tuesday, 28 May 2024. This meeting was chaired by Nigel Coulston, the newly elected Councillor for Hillside Ada.

The key focus of the meeting was the Statement of Accounts for 2022-23. Officer Emma Thomas provided an update on the accounts and the external audit position. Due to a national backlog caused by the pandemic, resourcing issues, and increased audit regulation requirements, the external audit for the 2022-23 accounts has not been completed. This backlog is a nationwide issue, not specific to Worthing.

Emma Thomas explained that if the audit is not completed by 30 September 2024, the accounts will receive a disclaimed opinion. This means that the audit will not be fully completed, and the accounts will not be fully verified. This situation could potentially impact the audit opinions for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years as well.

The government is proposing measures to address this backlog, including a reset and the introduction of backstop dates to ensure external audits are completed by 30 November of the following year by the 2026-27 financial year. Emma Thomas emphasized that this is a national situation and not unique to Worthing.

A significant discussion point was the difference between a value for money audit and a traditional financial statements audit. The value for money audit looks at the arrangements in place to ensure economy, efficiency, and effectiveness, rather than the specific numbers in the accounts. This distinction is crucial for understanding the implications of the disclaimed opinion.

Councillor Lindsay raised concerns about the feasibility of completing the audit by the September deadline, given the pressure on Ernst & Young, the external auditors. Emma Thomas assured that the audit report would explain the situation and that there would be significant communication from the national audit office and other partners to provide clarity.

The meeting also covered the external audit planning reports for the 2023-24 financial year. The audit risks identified include management override, inappropriate capitalization of revenue expenditure, and the valuation of land, buildings, and investment properties. The audit fees for 2023-24 have significantly increased due to the additional work required.

The internal audit annual reports were also discussed. Sam Lowe from Mazars presented the draft annual report, highlighting the progress of internal audits and the implementation of recommendations. There were concerns about the number of recommendations not yet implemented, and a motion was passed to provide a detailed breakdown of these items by the next meeting on 26 September 2024.

In summary, the key points from the meeting were:

The national backlog in external audits and its implications for Worthing's accounts.
The government's proposed measures to address the backlog.
The distinction between value for money audits and traditional financial audits.
The increased audit fees for 2023-24.
The progress and challenges in implementing internal audit recommendations.

The council's efforts to address these issues and ensure transparency and accountability in its financial management are ongoing. The next steps will be crucial in navigating the audit backlog and maintaining the integrity of the council's financial reporting.