Siraj Choudhury
Council: Crawley
Committees:
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
71 meetings · Page 1 of 15
Planning Committee - Tuesday, 14th October, 2025 7.30 pm
19 attendees, 6 documents, 1 media files
Decisions from Meetings
190 decisions · Page 35 of 38
Crawley Borough Council and Horsham District Council Statement of Common Ground (updated)
From: Constitution - Monday, 27th October, 2025 - October 27, 2025
The decision to approve the Crawley Borough Council and Horsham District Council Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) was approved by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development on 19 July 2023. Whilst there was no legal requirement for that decision to be taken by the relevant Cabinet Member, as the Head of Service had authority to take that decision under the Council’s delegation scheme, it was preferred that the decision be taken at Cabinet Member level if time allowed. However, following that decision, Horsham District Council raised some minor amendments to the version considered by Crawley Borough Council Cabinet Member. Therefore, it has been necessary to make minor amendments the approved SoCG. Consequentially, on 25/7/23, the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, took the decision to make those minor amendments to the SoCG to take into account the updates made between the two authorities. The revised SoCG is attached.
Recommendations Approved
Reinstatement of Taxi Fee post Constitutional Change
From: Constitution - Monday, 27th October, 2025 - October 27, 2025
The Southern Internal Audit Partnership, a body separate to Crawley Borough Council, has been undertaking an audit of the licence driver application process for individuals wishing to become licensed drivers, a function that falls within the Taxi Licensing Service. An anomaly was identified within the Licensing Committee Functions which conflicts with decisions that have been delegated to the Head of Community Services in relation to fees and charges where no objections have been received. The Licensing Committee is required to make decisions on fees and charges when objections have been received. If objections are not received, this is delegated to the Head of Community Services in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, and an unintended consequence of Function A of the Constitution prior to revision by Full Council on 19/07/23 created an unintended conflict which means that all decisions relating to fees and charges for licensing functions are required to be made at Licensing Committee regardless of the receipt of objections. This identified that an anomalous function as was listed within Section 9 of the Council’s Constitution (Licensing Committee Functions) that conflicts with current practice in relation to the review of fees and charges outside of the Budget set at Full Council. The Taxi Licensing regime is self financing and fees must be set, and mechanisms need to be in place to allow for an increase or other change in fees outside of the budget set at Full Council to ensure the efficient adjustment of fees and charges can be made without requiring the Licensing Committee to convene each time. An additional fee of £15 was included as part of the hackney carriage and private hire licence process to take account of additional regulatory and compliance checks required as part of the fit and proper test for individuals, several of which have been brought about due to new Statutory Taxi Standards, Right to Work Requirements and HMRC checks. This sum was agreed by the Leader of the Council as well as the former Chair and Vice Chair (remaining) of the Licensing Committee. Once the anomaly was identified, this fee was suspended and those who have already paid it will be refunded over the next 12 months. This Significant Operational Decision is to reinstate the £15 fee from 1st October 2023, following the required revisions to the Constitution at Full Council on 19/07/23 and agreement from the Licensing and Governance Committees.
Recommendations Approved
Water Neutrality Statement of Common Ground
From: Constitution - Monday, 27th October, 2025 - October 27, 2025
National Planning Policy requires each Local Planning Authority to demonstrate effective and on-going joint working with its neighbouring authorities/other authorities in the sub-region and other prescribed bodies, through the preparation and maintenance of Statements of Common Ground (SoCG). These must be agreed by the point of Submission of each Local Plan for its independent Examination. As part of the Crawley Borough Local Plan Review, substantial joint working with all of the neighbouring authorities and Prescribed Bodies has taken place and a number of SoCG have already been agreed. This is set out in the Crawley Duty to Cooperate Statement (May 2023): https://crawley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/Duty%20to%20Cooperate%20Statement%20May%202023%20%28low%20res%29.pdf A Statement of Common Ground has been prepared by the Joint Sussex North Water Resource Zone (WRZ) Authorities, confirming a joint commitment by all signatories to ensuring water neutrality in the WRZ. The Sussex North WRZ covers a large area within northern West Sussex, including almost the entirety of the administrative boundary of Horsham District Council, the north east part of Chichester District Council, a significant part of Crawley Borough Council, and a small portion of Mid Sussex District Council. Some of the area is also located within the boundary of South Downs National Park Authority. West Sussex County Council is the relevant upper tier authority for all these areas. The Statement of Common Ground has been agreed and signed by Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, South Downs National Park Authority and West Sussex County Council. It has been endorsed by Natural England, the Environment Agency and Southern Water.
Recommendations Approved
Crawley Borough Council and Horsham District Council Statement of Common Ground
From: Constitution - Monday, 27th October, 2025 - October 27, 2025
... to approve the signing of the Horsham District Council and Crawley Borough Council Statement of Common Ground, July 2023, which documents strategic cross-boundary matters to demonstrate effective joint working for the Crawley Borough Local Plan Review and support the Horsham District Local Plan.
For Determination
Northern West Sussex Statement of Common Ground and Northern West Sussex Housing Needs Statement of Common Ground
From: Constitution - Monday, 27th October, 2025 - October 27, 2025
National Planning Policy requires each Local Planning Authority to demonstrate effective and on-going joint working with its neighbouring authorities/other authorities in the sub-region and other prescribed bodies, through the preparation and maintenance of Statements of Common Ground (SoCG). These must be agreed by the point of Submission of each Local Plan for its independent Examination. As part of the Crawley Borough Local Plan Review, substantial joint working with all of the neighbouring authorities and Prescribed Bodies has taken place and a number of SoCG have already been agreed. This is set out in the Crawley Duty to Cooperate Statement (May 2023): https://crawley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/Duty%20to%20Cooperate%20Statement%20May%202023%20%28low%20res%29.pdf Updates to the existing SoCG and a new Statement have been agreed between the Northern West Sussex Authorities (Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council) in relation to the Crawley Borough Local Plan. The Northern West Sussex Statement of Common Ground has been agreed and signed by Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council. The Northern West Sussex Housing Needs Statement of Common Ground has been agreed and signed by Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 71
Average per Month: 3.2
Decisions Recorded: 190