The Joint Strategic Committee of Adur and Worthing Councils convened to discuss several key items, including financial monitoring, capital investment progress, treasury management, corporate risks, and property matters. A significant focus was on the future of the Grafton Multi-Storey Car Park, as well as a proposal to lease the Adur Outdoor Activity Centre to a new operator. The potential membership of the Sussex Chamber of Commerce in the Greater Brighton Economic Board was also up for consideration.

Financial Performance and Strategy

The committee was scheduled to review the first quarter revenue monitoring report for 2025/26. The report included the latest expenditure and income projections for both Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council. According to the 1st Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report, the projected outturn for Worthing Borough Council's General Fund was a net overspend of £1.47 million, while Adur District Council's General Fund was projected to have a net underspend of £624,000. The report stated that these projections assumed that budgeted contributions to rebuild reserves would not be possible without underspend outturn positions and surplus funds to transfer.

As part of the budget for 2025/26, the councils committed to savings of £1.008 million for Adur District Council and £1.86 million for Worthing Borough Council to produce a balanced budget.

The report also highlighted increasing cost pressures within housing needs and benefits services, as well as shortfalls against some income budgets, which could pose material future risks.

The Joint Strategic Committee was also scheduled to discuss the Joint 1st Capital Investment Programme Projects Monitoring 2025-26. The report provided an update on the progress of the 2025/26 Capital Investment Programme for both councils.

The committee was asked to approve the correction of the carry forward Adur Homes budget to 2025/26, the reprofiling of capital budget for Shadwells play area, and the reprofiling of capital budget for the Shoreham Centre air source heat pump.

A treasury management update was also included for noting.

The Annual Treasury Management Report 2024-25 ADC and WBC provided details of treasury management activities and portfolio positions for the 2024/25 financial year for both councils. The report confirmed that both Adur and Worthing councils complied with the approved policies and indicators agreed prior to the start of the financial year.

Corporate Risks and Opportunities

The Joint Strategic Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the management of the councils' corporate risks and opportunities. According to the Review of Corporate Risks and Opportunities, the Corporate Risks and Opportunities are key issues identified by the Leadership Team as having the potential to impact on the operations and delivery of the strategic objectives and priorities of both councils.

The Missions aligned Risk and Opportunities Registers - Corporate Risk register 6 1 indicated that there were 19 corporate risks and 2 corporate opportunities. The report noted that 13 of the risks were high risks, covering housing, the economy, financial matters and local government reorganisation/devolution.

The report stated that eight risks had an improved status since the previous report, while two risks were worse: corporate income and debt collection, and the strategic property investment fund.

Greater Brighton Economic Board

The committee was scheduled to discuss the membership of the Sussex Chamber of Commerce in the Greater Brighton Economic Board. The Greater Brighton Economic Board - Membership for Sussex Chamber of Commerce provided an overview of the benefits Adur and Worthing have gained from the councils' membership in the board, including securing funding, advocating for local infrastructure, and promoting economic development.

The report sought approval from the Joint Strategic Committee to confirm the Sussex Chamber of Commerce as members of the Greater Brighton Economic Board and to approve the required amendments to the board's head of terms.

Adur Outdoor Activity Centre

The committee was asked to consider a proposal to grant a new lease for the Adur Outdoor Activity Centre to Adur Outdoor Activities Centre Ltd. The 2025.09.11 - JSC - Agenda Item 11 - Adur Outdoor Activities Centre outlined the proposed transaction in the context of Adur District Council being the sole trustee of the 'Adur Recreation Ground' charity, on which the Adur Outdoor Activity Centre sits.

The report sought approval to progress with the transaction, subject to any representations received in relation to the section 121 Charities Act 2011 notice procedure.

The report stated that Adur Outdoor Activities Centre Ltd was selected based on being an incorporated body under relevant charities or company law, proven to be financially solvent, having the relevant experience and skills to manage the operation safely and successfully in accordance with the charitable objective, and having a licence to provide outdoor activities through the adventure activities licensing authority (AALA).

Grafton Multi-Storey Car Park

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Grafton Multi-Storey Car Park following a structural repair option study. The 2025.09.11 - JSC - Agenda Item 12 - Grafton Update included a detailed summary report prepared by HOP Engineering and MacConvilles Quantity Surveyors, commissioned to assess the options and associated costs of repairing the car park to a safe standard.

The report asked the committee to consider the options to re-open the car park and associated costing options for repair, detailed in the HOP/MacConvilles Summary Report dated August 2025, and to agree that the car park should remain closed for public use whilst the work to transfer the site for redevelopment is pursued.

The report also asked the committee to note the progress on the marketing of the site for redevelopment and to agree to support residents at Knightsbridge House by creating seven temporary parking bays in the access bays to the Grafton car park, for the exclusive use of residents, prioritisation to be based on accessibility needs.

According to the Structural Repair of Car Park Deck Option Study, HOP Consulting Limited and MacConvilles Chartered Surveyors considered four options for repairing the Grafton car park:

• Extending repair works by fitting supplementary beams.
• Replacing the existing concrete beams.
• Replacing the concrete decks with pre-formed concrete slabs.
• Replacing the concrete decks and creating an in situ slab on a new structure.

The report stated that full replacement of the deck offered the most robust long-term solution, but that if budgetary constraints render this approach unfeasible, a hybrid strategy involving the replacement of the most severely affected areas combined with targeted repairs to the remaining sections may present a viable alternative.